The New Abnormal

Kurt Andersen and Joanna Coles dive into the spectacle, symbolism, and political theater surrounding Donald Trump's latest White House ambitions, from plans for a UFC-style event on the South Lawn to a MAGA-branded America 250 celebration that's already losing major performers. Andersen explains why Trump's embrace of entertainment, celebrity culture, and grievance politics was visible decades ago, tracing the roots of what he calls America's long-running “Fantasyland” obsession with self-created narratives. Along the way, they unpack the cabinet's astonishing displays of loyalty, Trump's fixation on revenge, the unraveling politics around Iran, and a startling 1991 MAD Magazine cartoon that seemed to predict Trump's future with uncanny accuracy. It's a conversation about power, performance, and why some of the strangest moments in American politics may reveal more than the biggest headlines. Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/BEAST to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you. #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles unpack another week of chaos inside Trumpworld, from a judge forcing Donald Trump to strip his name from the Kennedy Center to a court challenge threatening his controversial $1.8 billion IRS settlement fund. They dig into Trump's newly disclosed weight gain, his obsession with public enemies, and why Wolff believes targeting figures like E. Jean Carroll matters more to Trump than winning in court. The pair also explore the growing influence of Todd Blanche, the fallout from the Epstein files controversy, and signs that Trump may already be turning on J.D. Vance as a potential successor. Along the way, they re-open the book on Usha Vance's baffling podcast, the deepening Iran crisis that Trump can't seem to escape, and the reality-show logic that continues to drive the presidency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jennifer Welch returns to the Daily Beast Podcast and unloads on the “broken people” surrounding Donald Trump, from Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth to JD Vance, Jeff Bezos, and the billionaire class she says has traded conviction for obedience and spectacle. In a blistering conversation with Joanna Coles, Welch argues Trump is entering a “deathbed confession era,” openly admitting the impulses that now define his presidency as cabinet members compete to flatter him, Democrats stumble through what she calls a once-in-a-generation political layup, and MAGA figures turn loyalty into humiliation rituals. They dive into Trump's obsession with punishing perceived disloyalty, the escalating “rat-fucking” of JD Vance, the strange psychology of the ultra-rich bending the knee to Trump, the return of the Epstein fallout, and why Welch believes Democrats are still failing to meet the moment even as Trump openly declares he doesn't care about the midterms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles trace the panic, paranoia, and raw volatility swirling around Donald Trump as he insists he “doesn't care” about the midterms while privately sounding trapped, furious, and increasingly dangerous. From comparisons to Stalin's inner circle and the cult-like loyalty inside Trump's cabinet, to the political gamble of backing scandal-plagued Ken Paxton in Texas, the episode dives deep into a presidency that appears to be running on grievance, chaos, and reality-show instincts. They unpack Trump's escalating obsession with E. Jean Carroll as the Justice Department targets her after she beat him twice in court, explore how Iran may be outmaneuvering him in the Strait of Hormuz crisis, and examine why Trump's promise to avoid endless wars is collapsing in real time. Plus, Michael reveals another surreal chapter from his Jeffrey Epstein encounters involving Bill Gates, billionaire fantasies, and the strange power games unfolding inside Epstein's Manhattan mansion. Visit https://ffrf.us/TRUMP or text TRUMP to 511511 to learn more and join. #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Rothkopf and Joanna Coles dive into the unraveling chaos surrounding Donald Trump's latest political gambles, from the shocking rise of scandal-plagued Texas firebrand Ken Paxton to mounting questions about Trump's health after yet another visit to Walter Reed. Rothkopf tears into MAGA's “doubling down” strategy as polls collapse, Trump allies turn on each other, and the White House transforms into what he calls a gaudy monument to excess with a $60 million UFC spectacle on the South Lawn. The conversation veers from Trump's physical decline and Jeff Bezos' defense of the administration to the fallout from America's escalating Iran crisis, stalled oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, and fears that the country is becoming dangerously weaker on every front. Try QUO for free and plus get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.quo.com/BEAST #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles dissect Donald Trump's declining health as the president heads back to Walter Reed for another physical exam and questions swirl around whether the nearly 80-year-old can physically survive a second term. From Trump's repeated cognitive tests and mounting exhaustion to behind-the-scenes panic over Iran, Cuba, Marco Rubio, JD Vance, and the future of the MAGA succession fight, the episode spirals through paranoia, power, and the growing sense that the pressure around Trump is finally starting to show. Wolff also reveals extraordinary new details from his legal war with Melania Trump, including how Trump-appointed judges, Boris Epshteyn, and Todd Blanche fit into what he describes as a justice system now reshaped around Trump himself, before Joanna Coles caps things off with the surreal spectacle of Usha Vance's baffling new children's web series and the increasingly strange cast orbiting the Trump universe. INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/beast #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special episode of The Daily Beast Podcast, Joanna Coles speaks with Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Bruce Davidson about the alarming signs they believe point to Donald Trump's physical and cognitive decline, from garbled speeches and late-night posting frenzies to what Davidson argues are visible symptoms of a past stroke. The two doctors break down Trump's increasingly erratic public behavior, explosive decision-making, obsession with personal glorification, and troubling verbal confabulations, while warning about the risks of unchecked power in the hands of a president they believe is rapidly deteriorating. Drawing on decades of medical experience and years of closely tracking Trump's behavior, Gartner and Davidson deliver a chilling analysis of the man currently commanding America's military and political future. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at https://shopify.com/dailybeast #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Steve Schmidt returns to the Daily Beast Podcast with a blistering warning about Donald Trump's unraveling grip on power, the Republican Party's “Shakespearean” collapse into cowardice, and why he believes MAGA is heading toward a political wipeout. In a conversation that ricochets from the Epstein files to the future of American democracy, Schmidt tears into GOP leaders he says have “lashed themselves to the mast,” predicts a brutal reckoning in 2028, and unleashes a stunning critique of John Fetterman, calling the Pennsylvania senator unfit for office after his stroke and accusing Fox News of psychologically manipulating him in public. Schmidt also paints a deeply alarming picture of America's standing abroad, arguing the U.S. is already losing a hidden war with Iran while Trump drifts toward another dangerous foreign adventure in Cuba, all as gas prices soar and public frustration boils over. Schmidt then turns his fire on Jeff Bezos and the billionaire class he says chose submission over resistance, framing this political era not just as a fight over power, but as a historic test of national character that future generations will study with disbelief. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles unpack a week of chaos inside Trumpworld, beginning with Wolff's explosive courtroom setback in his legal fight with Melania Trump and delving into what they describe as a justice system warped by Trump's influence. From a mysterious $1.8 billion “slush fund” settlement and the ongoing culture of intimidation around the media, to Don Jr.'s lavish Bahamas wedding conspicuously missing one major guest—his own father—the episode peels back the dysfunction, rivalries, and raw narcissism driving the Trump family. Wolff and Coles also dissect Tulsi Gabbard's abrupt exit, Pete Hegseth's latest foreign policy blunder, Jeff Bezos publicly praising Trump while cashing in on the new political order, and the surreal possibility that former Brexit architect Steve Hilton could become governor of California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Coles and Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty reunite for a blistering breakdown of what they call the most brazen Trump grift yet: a staggering $1.7 billion taxpayer-funded “victims” fund that could benefit January 6 rioters, MAGA loyalists, and even Trump allies accused of crimes, all while Republican lawmakers panic behind closed doors over the political fallout. They trace the astonishing timeline from Trump's hidden tax returns to a surreal legal battle in which Trump effectively sued his own government, before unpacking explosive new polling showing his support collapsing amid outrage over Iran, ICE, and mounting corruption allegations. The conversation also veers into the mysterious disappearance of New Jersey Congressman Tom Kean Jr., the turmoil consuming CBS and 60 Minutes after Anderson Cooper's dramatic exit, and Trump's late-night obsession with Stephen Colbert as his approval numbers spiral downward. For a limited time, Honeylove is offering up to 50% off sitewide during their Memorial Day sale at honeylove.com/DAILYBEAST. #honeylovepod #ad Try QUO for free and plus get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.quo.com/BEAST #ad Visit https://ffrf.us/BEAST or text "BEAST" to 511511 to join or learn more about protecting the separation of church and state as America approaches its 250th anniversary. #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles trace the unraveling inside Donald Trump's shrinking inner circle as the president turns to disgraced Hollywood director Brett Ratner as his newest confidant amid collapsing poll numbers, growing political panic, and what Wolff describes as a breathtaking $1.8 billion “slush fund” designed to protect Trump and reward loyalists before the walls close in. From Ratner's sudden return from Hollywood exile through Melania's documentary, to Trump's revenge campaigns against Republicans and increasingly erratic foreign policy moves, the episode follows a White House spiraling deeper into grievance, paranoia, and self-interest. Wolff and Coles unpack Trump's fixation on loyalty over competence and the surreal cast of characters now surrounding him as longtime allies fall away and new opportunists rush in, creating one of the clearest portraits yet of a presidency operating without restraint or even the pretense of normal politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. John Gartner returns to The Daily Beast Podcast to deliver an urgent, chilling analysis of Donald Trump's rapidly deteriorating clinical condition as he approaches his 80th birthday. Moving far beyond typical signs of aging, Dr. Gartner details to Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty the alarming behavioral symptoms pointing toward frontotemporal dementia—including a complete loss of empathy, dangerous disinhibition, and increasingly disorganized thought processes. Dr. Gartner unpacks the psychology behind Trump's late-night postings, his shocking new delusions of grandeur, and a calculated effort to "groom" the American public for an unthinkable nuclear conflict. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty trace what they argue is a dramatic turning point for Donald Trump as collapsing poll numbers, a grinding Iran conflict, and mounting political backlash leave him increasingly isolated and searching for new loyalists in unexpected places. From Wolff's explosive reporting on Trump's growing friendship with disgraced Hollywood director Brett Ratner to the bizarre White House ballroom obsession, the episode connects Trump's personal fixations, grievance politics, and fear of failure into what Wolff calls the clearest view yet inside Trump's unraveling mindset. They also unpack a jaw-dropping new “weaponization” settlement fund that critics say resembles a presidential slush fund, the return of the Greenland controversy, rising evangelical pressure over abortion, and the lingering shadow of Jeffrey Epstein as Wolff previews shocking new revelations from his Epstein Diaries series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Rothkopf and Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty break down the growing signs of political and personal collapse surrounding Donald Trump, from brutal new polling numbers and deepening economic anxiety to accusations of corruption, authoritarianism, and a White House increasingly lashing out at critics. The conversation moves from Trump's legal maneuvers and mounting scrutiny over his finances to the administration's attacks on the press, evangelical power plays in Washington, and what Rothkopf describes as Trump's simultaneous political and physical “free fall.” Along the way, they unpack the GOP's loyalty to a weakening president, the culture of grievance and grift driving MAGA politics, and the fears inside Washington that Trump's behavior is becoming more erratic as pressure closes in from every direction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rep. Jamie Raskin speaks to Sarah Ewall-Wice about what he calls a “completely lawless situation” inside Donald Trump's second term, laying out allegations of political slush funds, crypto corruption, pardons for allies, and the weaponization of government power for personal profit. Raskin argues that Trump has transformed the presidency into a machine for enriching himself and rewarding loyalists, comparing the administration to “The Sopranos” as he details billion-dollar deals tied to foreign governments, January 6 pardons, and what Democrats see as an unprecedented assault on democratic norms. The conversation also turns toward Trump's mental fitness, the 25th Amendment, fears surrounding presidential war powers, and the growing push among Democrats to investigate the White House if they regain control of Congress, with Raskin warning that the country is now facing what he describes as a full-scale civic emergency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty unpack Trump's bruising return from China, where the man who built his political identity around confronting Beijing now finds himself accused of capitulation, spinning shaky victories while China emerges stronger than ever. Wolff gets inside Trump's mindset as mounting crises close in at once: a worsening Iran conflict with no clear exit, rising inflation and gas prices, ICE raids fueling backlash inside and outside MAGA, explosive questions about Trump family business dealings, and a White House culture driven by grift, loyalty tests, and surreal characters like Natalie Harp shadowing the president with a portable printer full of praise. From Trump Mobile phones reportedly made in China to Kash Patel scandals and billion-dollar settlement controversies, the episode maps out an administration trapped between performance and collapse while Trump searches for a way to declare victory in situations even his closest allies can't explain away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Rothkopf and Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty break down Donald Trump's lackluster China trip, the explosive fallout from his Iran crisis, and the growing signs that the president is struggling to maintain control on the world stage. From tense meetings with Xi Jinping to Trump's angry outbursts aboard Air Force One, the conversation tracks a presidency that increasingly looks weakened, isolated, and consumed by chaos. Rothkopf details how China dictated the terms of the summit, why Trump came home empty-handed on Taiwan, trade, and Iran, and how the president appeared both physically and metaphorically diminished beside Xi as America's stature seemed to shrink alongside him. The episode also digs into Trump's public meltdowns, mounting questions about his mental decline, and why even some longtime observers now believe the Trump era is entering its final unraveling. Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/BEAST to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you. #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at https://shopify.com/dailybeast with promo code dailybeast. #ad Michael Wolff and Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty unpack Trump's chaotic China trip and the increasingly surreal inner workings of his orbit, from Xi Jinping visibly outmaneuvering a diminished Trump on the world stage to the bizarre cast of loyalists, tech billionaires, and media personalities surrounding him abroad. Wolff argues that Trump's mental decline is no longer possible to ignore, pointing to his overnight Truth Social rants, escalating paranoia, and what aides privately fear is behavior spinning further out of control, while Dougherty details why even major media outlets are finally starting to acknowledge it. The conversation also turns to the growing instability inside the administration itself, including Kash Patel's mounting controversies at the FBI, RFK Jr.'s increasingly alarming role in public health, and the quiet panic spreading among Trump insiders as scandals, firings, and public humiliations pile up behind the scenes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get 15% off OneSkin with the code BEAST at https://www.oneskin.co/BEAST #oneskinpod #ad Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) speaks with Sarah Ewall-Wice about what he calls the alarming transformation of Donald Trump's Justice Department into a tool for loyalty, intimidation, and political retribution, while sounding the alarm over the administration's handling of the Epstein files and the growing secrecy surrounding millions of unreleased documents. Goldman argues that Trump's inner circle is covering up damaging information, warns that the president's behavior and mental acuity are becoming increasingly erratic behind the scenes, and predicts explosive investigations if Democrats retake the House. The conversation moves from threats against the press and alleged weaponization of federal power to the Iran war fight in Congress, rising inflation, redistricting battles, and why Goldman believes the next election could reshape the balance of power in Washington. 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 Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty trace the cracks spreading across Donald Trump's world, from Wolff's prediction that Marco Rubio is headed for a brutal fall after becoming too competent and too visible inside the administration, to Trump's escalating crisis with Iran and a high-stakes trip to China that Wolff argues could end with America “giving away the store.” The conversation moves from inflation fears and the politics of populist collapse to why Trump's obsession with spectacle may be colliding with geopolitical reality, before turning into a gripping deep dive on Wolff's explosive new Jeffrey Epstein reporting, where he draws chilling parallels between Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump as two men obsessed with inventing myths about themselves. Along the way, they unpack Nigel Farage's rise in the UK, Rupert Murdoch's shadow influence, and why Wolff believes Trump remains dangerously incapable of listening, focusing, or handling the details of power even as the world's biggest adversaries learn exactly how to play him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Go to https://zbiotics.com/DAILYBEAST and use code DAILYBEAST at checkout for 15% off your first order of ZBiotics probiotics. #ad David Rothkopf and Joanna Coles break down Donald Trump's high-stakes China trip as the White House scrambles to escape the political fallout from Iran, plunging poll numbers, and growing global instability. Rothkopf explains why Chinese officials jokingly call Trump “Comrade Nation Builder” because, in their view, every chaotic move he makes strengthens Beijing's hand while weakening America's standing in the world. The conversation tears into Trump's obsession with strongmen, fears that he could privately bargain away leverage on Taiwan in exchange for help with Iran, and the increasingly awkward roles being played by Marco Rubio and JD Vance inside an administration that looks more fractured by the week. From Xi Jinping preparing an imperial-style welcome to questions about whether Trump is setting Rubio up to absorb the blame for the Iran crisis, the episode pulls apart the spectacle, the strategy, and the dangerous consequences behind one of the most consequential foreign trips of Trump's presidency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Head to https://biologica.com/BEAST to take the Quick Hormonal Life Stage Quiz and get up to 32% off your first subscription order. #ad Joanna Coles speaks with journalist and author Anand Giridharadas about Donald Trump, the Epstein files, and the powerful network he calls the “Epstein class” — a web of billionaires, politicians, professors, royals, financiers, and cultural elites who protected each other while ordinary people paid the price. Giridharadas argues that Trump's Iran escalation may have conveniently shifted attention away from explosive revelations tying the president and other influential figures to Jeffrey Epstein's orbit, while exposing what he describes as a deeper culture of elite impunity in America. From Prince Andrew's downfall to Jeffrey Epstein's enduring influence over Wall Street, academia, and global power brokers, the conversation digs into why so many people stayed silent, how the rich shield each other from accountability, and what real justice would actually look like for the survivors at the center of the scandal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/DAILYBEAST to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you. #ad Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles unpack a strange new chapter in the Trump orbit as Melania Trump publishes a cliché-ridden Mother's Day op-ed, sparking questions about whether the first lady is quietly building a business identity separate from Donald Trump himself. From Melania's “strategic absences” and growing concerns within White House to Wolff's update on his legal battle with the first lady, the discussion moves through media capitulation, Trump's escalating attacks on ABC and the press, and a startling Virginia court decision that could reshape the 2026 midterms by giving Republicans a major structural advantage. The episode also explores Britain's political upheaval under the rise of Nigel Farage, mounting fears that Trump can manipulate the electoral system despite worsening political headwinds, and the eerie details surrounding Epstein's death and purported suicide note, which Wolff says sounded disturbingly Trumpian. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Coles speaks with Glenn Kirschner, former federal prosecutor and host of Justice Matters, about what he calls America's accelerating constitutional crisis, from Donald Trump's “unconstitutional war” with Iran and Pete Hegseth's role in deadly military actions to the explosive fallout over the Epstein files and the firing of Pam Bondi. Kirschner explains why he believes Trump is using global conflict to distract from mounting Epstein scrutiny, why the Department of Justice has become “Donald Trump's DOJ,” and why accountability for January 6, classified documents, ICE shootings in Minneapolis, and even Trump himself could still come after 2028. In a stunning final stretch, Kirschner openly questions the official narrative around Jeffrey Epstein's death, drawing on his decades prosecuting homicide cases to explain why he remains deeply unconvinced by the newly released purported suicide note and why the fight over the Epstein files is far from over. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles dive headfirst into the chaos consuming Donald Trump's world—from the unraveling Iran conflict and Trump's desperate declarations of “victory” to the political panic spreading from Washington to Westminster. Wolff compares Trump's crumbling Middle East strategy to his increasingly performative marriage with Melania, while Coles unpacks how Jeffrey Epstein's shadow is now destabilizing British politics and weakening Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The two also dissect Trump's obsession with revenge, the bizarre loyalty he still commands inside the Republican Party, and the surreal spectacle of Usha Vance and Cheryl Hines starring in what may be the most uncomfortable political podcast ever created. Along the way: Rudy Giuliani's tragic downfall, RFK Jr.'s increasingly strained marriage, Trump's looming China trip, and the growing sense that the people orbiting Trump always end up paying the price. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Coles speaks with Rep. Seth Moulton in a blistering, no-holds-barred conversation on the escalating crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, Moulton warns the U.S. is losing ground to Iran while accusing the Trump administration and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of catastrophic missteps, legal overreach, and dangerous misinformation. He slams Trump as acting like a petulant child and becoming an increasing threat to U.S. troops, national security, and the economy, while unpacking the fallout from abandoning the Obama-era nuclear deal and the growing risk of a nuclear-armed Iran. From the reality behind so-called “ceasefires” to dysfunction in Washington, Moulton connects global instability to domestic political failure, outlines his Senate ambitions, and argues Democrats must embrace a new generation ready to confront AI, economic anxiety, and a rapidly shifting world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Nico Hines, the Daily Beast's Global Editorial Director, dissect a week where everything around Donald Trump seems to be unraveling at once—starting with the stark cautionary tale of Rudy Giuliani, once “America's mayor” and now a symbol of what loyalty to Trump can cost, abandoned and politically ruined. From there, they pivot into the escalating crisis with Iran, where Trump's strategy has left the White House cornered, oil prices surging, and insiders quietly admitting they have no clear way out of a conflict increasingly defined by drone warfare and global instability. The conversation then veers into the surreal overlap of politics and culture, as figures like Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez become unlikely players in Trump's orbit, turning elite spaces like the Met Gala into symbols of shifting allegiances and reputational risk. Layered on top of it all: brutal new polling showing Trump's support collapsing—not just with independents, but within his own base—raising the possibility that the very forces that once made him untouchable are now eroding in real time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to https://honeylove.com/DAILYBEAST ! #honeylovepod David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles to assess what he describes as a visibly weakening Trump presidency, with intelligence sources warning of mounting instability inside the White House. Rothkopf argues Trump is “fading” physically and politically as crises escalate abroad—from Iran tensions to the Strait of Hormuz—and pressure builds at home over policy, polling, and party loyalty. Rothkopf examines a strained cabinet, shifting Republican loyalties, and public fractures emerging even among Trump's strongest allies. As figures like Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth are pulled into increasingly exposed roles, Rothkopf asks whether the system around Trump is starting to hedge—and whether MAGA itself is entering a period of quiet unraveling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Coles and Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty dive into a jaw-dropping investigation revealing Donald Trump's relentless late-night posting habits—hundreds of Truth Social rants fired off in the dead of night—raising urgent questions about sleep deprivation, decision-making, and what it means for a sitting president navigating war, plummeting polls, and mounting chaos inside his own administration. From the unraveling strategy in Iran and Pete Hegseth's bruising congressional testimony, to a stunning Trump polling collapse so severe it “broke the chart,” and a live TV meltdown from Trump defender Scott Jennings, the conversation spirals through a presidency under visible strain, where erratic behavior, internal pressure, and political fallout are colliding in real time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles examine a White House spiraling under the weight of Donald Trump's collapsing authority, as disastrous poll numbers sink into the 30s and panic spreads through his inner circle; they trace the quiet unraveling of RFK Jr. as his anti-vax crusade backfires and allies plot a face-saving exit, while a bitter, calculating Tucker Carlson turns on Trump and positions himself for 2028, exposing the raw opportunism driving the movement; all of it unfolds against the grinding uncertainty of the Iran war, a conflict with no clear victory, no public support, and no exit, leaving Trump increasingly isolated, his team turning on itself, and the entire project teetering toward a reckoning that no one inside seems able to control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Upgrade your wallet today! Get 10% Off @Ridge with code BEAST at https://www.Ridge.com/beast #Ridgepod #ad Representative Jason Crow (D-CO) speaks with Joanna Coles about what he calls a dangerous web of corruption surrounding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, detailing how a little-known figure, Tim Parlatore, allegedly bypassed vetting, dodged Senate confirmation, and is advising on national security at the highest level. Crow methodically lays out how loopholes were exploited to embed political loyalists inside the Pentagon and connects it all to a broader pattern of pay-to-play politics, military promotions influenced by loyalty over merit, and a war in Iran he argues was launched without a plan, leaving American troops exposed. As tensions escalate in the Strait of Hormuz and questions swirl about backchannel influence, Rep. Crow makes clear his strategy isn't resignation or impeachment but relentless exposure—aimed squarely at Donald Trump himself—framing this as not just incompetence but a systemic breakdown that could take years to fully unravel. Statements from Tim Parlatore and a Spokesperson for the Office of Congressman Crow can be read here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to dissect a White House in visible disarray, tracing a week where Donald Trump basks in the glow of a royal visit he barely understands while King Charles III delivers a devastatingly elegant rebuke—uniting Congress, charming the room, and exposing a stark contrast in leadership that may linger through the midterms. Wolff argues Trump misses the insult entirely, even as his administration spirals: looming firings, a farcical indictment of James Comey, a ballooning Hormuz crisis choking global oil markets, and a wildly unpopular White House ballroom project that feels like a metaphor for overreach. As Trump doubles down—on vengeance, on war, on spectacle—the question isn't whether the warning signs are visible, but whether he's capable of seeing them at all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to https://honeylove.com/DAILYBEAST ! #honeylovepod Go to https://zbiotics.com/DAILYBEAST and use code DAILYBEAST at checkout for 15% off your first order of ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol Probiotic Drink. Tom Sykes joins Joanna Coles to unpack a royal visit that was supposed to be a diplomatic triumph, but it somehow also managed to expose the tensions and stresses of a family at war with itself. As King Charles delivers two near-flawless speeches that win bipartisan applause in Congress, charm Donald Trump, and reinforce the fragile U.S.-U.K. alliance, Harry and Meghan drop a perfectly timed media bombshell while William and Kate release anniversary images that threaten to eclipse the King at the height of his moment. Sykes, host of The Royalist podcast, pulls back the curtain on the calculated timing, the deepening feud between the brothers, and the simmering power struggle between Charles and William as questions swirl about succession, reconciliation, and control of the monarchy. The conversation reveals a dynasty juggling global diplomacy abroad and dysfunction at home—so can Charles hold the crown together when his own family won't stop undermining him? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan at https://incogni.com/beast #ad Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles dive straight into the chaos engulfing Trump's orbit, from the escalating Melania–Jimmy Kimmel feud that's backfiring inside the White House to the stunning realization among insiders that Melania has shifted from quiet asset to liability, dragging Epstein questions and an unraveling public image back into the spotlight. As King Charles's high-stakes visit collides with Trump's ego and obsession with optics, the contrast between royal discipline and White House dysfunction becomes impossible to ignore, especially against the backdrop of a White House Correspondents Dinner thrown into literal and political turmoil. With assassination scares reframed as political currency, media missteps fueling Trump's grievances, and a presidency increasingly defined by chaos as strategy, Wolff reveals a West Wing gripped by anxiety, miscalculation, and a growing sense that everything—from foreign policy to late-night comedy—is spiraling in ways no one can fully control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Try QUO for free and get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.quo.com/BEAST David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles for a breakdown of a surreal and unsettling weekend in Washington, where what should have been a glittering White House Correspondents' Dinner spiraled into something far darker—and far more revealing about Donald Trump. As details emerge about the attempted attack and the security lapses surrounding it, Rothkopf argues the real “lone wolf” isn't the would-be assailant but Trump himself, a president who thrives on chaos, weaponizes crisis, and immediately turned the moment into political theater—complete with a self-mythologizing press conference and renewed distractions from mounting crises abroad, including a deadly and destabilizing conflict in the Middle East. With insiders rattled, conspiracy theories spreading, and Trump's poll numbers slipping, is this just another fleeting spectacle—or a revealing prism into a presidency defined by performance, paranoia, and power at any cost? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Head to https://Biologica.com/BEAST to take the Quick Hormonal Life Stage Quiz and get up to 32% off your first subscription order. #ad Get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan at https://incogni.com/beast #ad Steve Schmidt returns to the podcast to unload a blistering critique of Donald Trump, King Charles III, and the global political order they're reshaping, arguing the King's upcoming U.S. visit is not just ill-timed but a historic moral failure tied to Trump's assaults on democracy and alliances. Speaking to Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty, Schmidt connects the dots from royal controversies and Jeffrey Epstein to Trump's late-night social media tirades and questions about his mental fitness, warning of a dangerous erosion of institutional checks at the highest level of power. He predicts a political collapse for MAGA, a brutal electoral reckoning, and an internal unraveling fueled by conspiracy and infighting, while also torching both Republican complicity and Democratic weakness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles pull back the curtain on the most enigmatic relationship in American politics, dissecting the strange, transactional marriage between Donald and Melania Trump and what it could mean for his presidency as pressure mounts from all sides. From her physical absence from the White House and reported separate life in New York to a calculated push to build her own multimillion-dollar brand, they trace how Melania may be quietly redefining the role of First Lady while distancing herself from her husband's scandals, including the lingering shadow of Jeffrey Epstein. As Wolff reveals details of his explosive lawsuit and the possibility of forcing sworn testimony, a more volatile question emerges: whether Melania herself has become a political liability, even a potential threat, holding leverage that could shake the foundation of Trump's carefully constructed image and expose truths his allies would rather keep buried. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anthony Scaramucci speaks with Daily Beast Political Reporter Sarah Ewall-Wice in a no-holds-barred conversation that rips through the chaos inside Trump's orbit—from volatile Iran brinkmanship and soaring energy fears to explosive claims of late-night insider calls shaping markets in real time. Scaramucci paints a picture of a president unrestrained and increasingly unpredictable, clashing with allies, sidelining his own vice president, and operating without the guardrails that once kept his impulses in check, while Washington figures scramble to keep up or cash in. As they dig into the unraveling dynamics of power, loyalty, and influence—from Wall Street whispers to White House infighting—the episode builds toward a stark warning about what comes next if the current trajectory holds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to analyze a White House increasingly defined by self-inflicted constraint. At the center is the escalating Hormuz crisis, where Trump's aggressive posture collides with the realities of this critical global chokepoint and the strategic blowback it's incurring. Which comes as MAGA coalition fractures widen: Tucker Carlson breaks publicly over foreign policy, RFK Jr. stumbles through repeated hearings while defending unpopular anti-vax positions, and key officials scramble to distance themselves from decisions they helped shape. The throughline is an administration in which impulse destroys strategy, and in which Trump's own style of decision-making increasingly functions less as power and more as a self laid trap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get 15% off OneSkin with code BEAST at https://www.oneskin.co/BEAST #oneskinpod Go to https://zbiotics.com/DAILYBEAST and use code DAILYBEAST at checkout for 15% off your first order of ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol Probiotic Drink. Timothy Snyder joins Hugh Dougherty to argue that the U.S. is not just in decline but is experiencing what he calls a “superpower suicide,” in which political choices, institutional weakening, and short-term self-interest are actively eroding national power. In a wide-ranging conversation, Snyder, American historian and University of Toronto history professor, links this decline in American global power to a mix of incompetence and grift at the top of the Trump administration, explores why this doesn't resemble traditional fascism, and lays out how “competitive authoritarianism,” media dynamics, and grassroots organizing will shape whether American democracy can still correct course. 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 examine the looming post-Trump power vacuum, mapping out a chaotic and deeply personal succession battle as Donald Trump edges toward lame-duck status and a Republican party already turning on itself. From a flailing JD Vance to an ill-fitting Marco Rubio, a wildcard Tucker Carlson, and the unpredictable rise of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., they unpack a Republican field defined less by ideology than by ego, media power, and proximity to Trump himself. As rival factions circle, alliances fracture, and even loyalists like Marjorie Taylor Greene begin to reposition, Wolff reveals a darker dynamic driving it all: Trump may ultimately sabotage any successor to preserve his own dominance, setting the stage for a brutal, zero-sum fight for the MAGA base where loyalty is fleeting, ambition is naked, and the future of the party hinges on who can survive Trump—while still needing him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles as the White House hits messy overdrive, trying to contain war abroad and chaos at home. From an Iran conflict Trump reportedly can't manage to illegal tariffs sparking corporate backlash to a cabinet mired in scandal, including Kash Patel under fire, and Pete Hegseth losing the room, Rothkopf, The Daily Beast's unmissable columnist, paints a picture of an administration held together by optics, not strategy, and his now showing signs that he's scared about it. With insiders panicking ahead of the midterms and questions mounting about Trump's fitness and control, they ask: How long can the illusion hold before it all collapses? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Coles welcomes back Kurt Andersen to dissect what he argues may be Donald Trump's most unhinged week yet, from surreal AI depictions casting himself as Jesus to a deepening spiral of contradictions, conspiracies, and political theater that even longtime observers find startling. Drawing on decades of watching Trump up close, Andersen revives his now-infamous “Venn diagram” of lies, ignorance, and instability—warning that the overlap is expanding in real time—while unpacking the bizarre collision of religion, ego, and power now shaping the MAGA movement. The conversation covers the Pope's unexpectedly deft pushback to the growing discomfort inside Trump's own coalition, before zeroing in on RFK Jr.'s chaotic tenure, public health fallout, and a trail of denials that mirror Trump's own reality-warping playbook. As cabinet figures maneuver, allies hedge, and whispers of exits and fractures grow louder, Andersen paints a picture of a political universe edging toward something far more volatile than spectacle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/DAILYBEAST to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you. #ad Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles summarize a confounding week in Trumpworld with a blunt reality: no one, not even Donald Trump, seems to know what's happening as a volatile war disrupts global markets and threatens the Strait of Hormuz. Wolff describes Trump ricocheting between declaring victory and hinting at escalation, while figures like JD Vance, Marco Rubio, and Jared Kushner struggle to keep up with a shifting, unclear strategy. As midterms approach, Trump leans on rising markets even as his coalition fractures, clashing with the Pope and drawing pushback from voices like Tucker Carlson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/BEAST to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you. #ad Joanna Coles welcomes back psychologist Dr. John Gartner as the conversation takes a chilling turn, with Dr. Gartner arguing that Donald Trump has crossed from grandiosity into full-blown psychosis, pointing to a barrage of erratic late-night posts—including AI images portraying himself as Jesus—as evidence of a manic, delusional spiral unfolding in real time. Dr. Gartner lays out a stark clinical case, connecting sleep disruption, cognitive decline, and escalating “messianic” fantasies to dangerous decision-making on the global stage, from impulsive foreign policy moves to a growing appetite for conflict. What emerges is a portrait of a leader increasingly detached from reality, alienating his own base while doubling down on grandiose claims, as insiders scramble, critics demand cognitive testing, and the stakes climb toward something far more consequential than political controversy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In their 100th episode Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles mark the milestone by diving into a presidency they describe as veering into chaos—where a muddled, potentially deepening war meets wildly inconsistent messaging, and figures like Pete Hegseth are pushed out front to sell narratives that don't match reality. They unpack how Donald Trump's solo decision-making has led to a costly, open-ended conflict now entangled in the Strait of Hormuz, while back in Washington RFK Jr.'s anti-vax messaging threatens to weigh Republicans down even further. Layered on top: a surreal showdown with the Pope, allies quietly breaking ranks, and Trump fixating on legacy projects as pressure mounts from every direction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices