I Know What Ego Maniac Trump Is Really Fixated On

The Daily Beast Podcast

The Daily Beast

News

4.6 • 8.4K Ratings

🗓️ 19 June 2026

⏱️ 51 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles examine why Donald Trump's critics believe his biggest defeat isn't the war in Iran but the strange obsession now consuming the White House: remaking Washington into a permanent monument to himself. Drawing on fresh reporting from inside the administration, Wolff reveals why Trump is fixated on ballrooms, arches, the Kennedy Center and the National Mall even as foreign policy, the economy and the midterms hang in the balance. They also break down Trump's escalating feud with Senate Republicans, the political gamble behind a UFC spectacle on the White House lawn, and why his drive for personal legacy could be reshaping his presidency more than any policy victory ever could. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	At HSBC UK, when you invest in your business, we're invested too.
0:04.0	Whether it's borrowing to buy new equipment, to invest in energy saving or in new technology,
0:09.0	we cut through the noise with our sector specialists, regional expertise in tailored finance solutions.
0:14.0	So if you're looking to grow your business, we lend more than money.
0:18.0	To get insights on how UK businesses are borrowing for growth,
0:26.1	search HSBC business finance. Lending is subject to status, eligibility criteria and tis and C supply. There are those who have the edge with 5G plus on EE and others, not so much.
0:36.6	Those who can download a kids' film while boarding a plane,
0:39.9	or those who can't.
0:42.2	Those who book the only taxi nearby,
0:44.8	or those that are like...
0:46.2	We're going to have to walk, Sarah.
0:48.0	Stay one step ahead when you get the edge with 5G plus on EE,
0:52.4	the UK's Best Network.
0:54.1	Search EE Best Network. Search EEBEST network.
0:55.9	Rood Metricsator H225, verify at EE.orgatuk slash claims.
0:58.9	Check coverage at EE.com.
1:00.3	Your team just added its 67th AITL and also your 67th security blindspot.
1:06.6	The good news, the Vantor agent works like a GRC engineer in the background, finding every app your team uses, scoring the risk and drafting fixes for you.
1:16.1	Vanta is the platform used by over 16,000 fast-moving companies like Synthesia, Nandoz and Granola, who are shaping the future with AI and staying ahead of AI risk.
1:27.7	Get started at Vanta.com.
1:30.5	This is top of his agenda.
1:32.4	This is taking more time within the White House than any other issue.
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 16 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Daily Beast, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of The Daily Beast and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.