The Daily Beast Podcast

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.

Transcribed - Published: 3 December 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 2 December 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 1 December 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 30 November 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 28 November 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 27 November 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 26 November 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 25 November 2025

The Daily Beast’s unmissable guest, Dr. John Gartner, joins Joanna Coles to break down what key moments reveal about Donald Trump’s cognitive decline. From trouble saluting at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to odd noises at a McDonald’s event, Gartner explains patterns of psychomotor decline, word salad, and disinhibited behavior. They discuss how stress, existing personality issues, and potential dementia intersect, offering a rare psychological lens on the president’s bizarre behavior. This episode peels back the curtain on what’s really happening inside Trump’s brain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 24 November 2025

Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles as he pulls back the curtain on one of the strangest constants inside Trump World: the curated, interchangeable circle of young women who drift through Trump’s orbit, all uncannily similar in look, style, and purpose. Wolff walks Joanna through how this pattern shapes Trump’s self-image, reinforces his craving for adoration, and becomes a kind of visual armor whenever scandal—like the Epstein files—comes roaring back. From the way these women are selected to the way they’re deployed, Wolff maps out the psychology behind the tableau Trump insists on staging around himself. As the conversation widens, Joanna pushes Wolff on what this says about Trump’s aging, his fears, and the hollow myth he keeps trying to resurrect. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 23 November 2025

Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles as the Epstein story floods the zone. Wolff walks Joanna through why the recurrence of Epstein’s name so deeply rattles Trump and how old secrets keep re-emerging at the worst possible moments. They also dissect the chaotic legal maneuvers inside Trump’s circle, including Lindsey Halligan’s high-profile missteps and what her performance reveals about the administration’s strategy and priorities. It all builds toward the unsettling question hanging over the week: if this story “finally, finally” breaks open, what does Trump look like on the other side? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 21 November 2025

Anthony Scaramucci joins Joanna Coles and reveals why, really, Trump can’t stand ‘South Park’—and how that anger connects with his deep insecurity. Scaramucci unpacks a visibly faltering Trump: exhausted, erratic, and sliding in the polls, struggling to control the swirl of unanswered claims online. He and Joanna trace the ripple effects through Washington, from anxious MAGA insiders to allies quietly rehearsing their post-Trump moves. With the mythology under strain and the movement showing cracks, is this finally the week everything starts to unravel? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 20 November 2025

Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to dig into the unresolved contradictions around Jeffrey Epstein’s death and the evidence that may have vanished with him. Wolff presses on the implausibility of both the official story and the idea of a flawless cover-up, forcing Joanna to confront how a Trump-remade DOJ and FBI might handle “inconvenient” files. Together they explore whether possibly destroyed Polaroids, buried reports, or silenced insiders could really stay hidden—and what it means if they have. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 19 November 2025

Andrew Lownie joins Joanna Coles to examine wild new reporting that Jeffrey Epstein tried to hire a British sniper to kill Prince Andrew — a story now echoed by two separate sources. Joanna presses into the fever-dream paranoia that surrounded Epstein in his final years and the ripple effects now hitting the palace. Lownie, author of the bombshell book ‘Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York,’ explains why, if true, this plot reframes Epstein’s reach and the danger surrounding everyone in his orbit. And Joanna ends by asking the blunt question lingering under all of it: what else was Epstein willing to do that we still don’t know? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 18 November 2025

Mary Trump joins Joanna Coles to pull back the curtain on the Trump family and the man at its center. She recounts a childhood spent seeing her uncle everywhere, the opulent parties that doubled as power plays, and the lessons learned about a man who thrived on attention and control. Mary dissects Donald’s core pathologies—from his craving for wealth and status to the public slips and impulsive behaviors that now define him. She warns that the real danger isn’t just Trump himself, but the enablers who prop him up and profit from his rise. From her perspective as a clinical psychologist and family insider, Mary asks: when the myth collapses, what happens to those left in its wake? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 17 November 2025

Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles as the Epstein email deluge crashes straight into Donald Trump’s White House, leaving the president uncharacteristically mute and visibly cornered. Wolff argues this is the moment he’s warned about for years—the Trump–Epstein relationship finally breaking into full view. As newly released emails hint at suppressed testimony, secret negotiations, and a “dog that hasn’t barked,” Joanna presses Wolff on why MAGA is demanding total transparency even as it risks politically detonating Trump himself. Wolff explains why Ghislaine Maxwell’s family may now be threatening leaks to pressure the White House, and why Trump’s go-to strategy—delay—may not work against a story that resurfaces again and again. What does Trump do when the one scandal he can’t outtalk finally catches up with him? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 16 November 2025

Jonathan Karl joins Joanna Coles to reveal the chaos inside Donald Trump’s orbit. Karl, ABC News’ chief Washington correspondent and author of the new book Retribution, calls Trump’s relationships “abusive,” with aides, journalists, and anyone nearby alternately lavished with attention and publicly humiliated, praised, and discarded. They also dig into reports of Trump’s poor diet, bad sleep hygiene, and total aversion to exercise, which open up a larger conversation about a leader showing unmistakable signs of physical wear. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 14 November 2025

Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to shed light on his email correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein and its impact on President Donald Trump. Drawing on leaked emails, private conversations, and years of reporting, Wolff exposes how the resurfacing of the Epstein files is reopening dangerous cracks inside Trump’s circle. Coles pushes him on what’s fact, what’s myth, and what Epstein really knew. As Trump fights to control his comeback narrative, Wolff posits one haunting truth: Epstein’s shadow may be the one story he can’t spin away. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 13 November 2025

Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to unpack Trump’s tangled web of the Epstein files and Ghislaine Maxwell’s looming possible pardon. From the back in action Congress maneuvering to demand documents across the FBI, Justice Department, and multiple federal districts, to the astonishing perks Maxwell enjoys behind bars, Wolff and Coles trace the threads that link influential players, past crimes, and potential cover-ups. They dive into the “out-in-the-open” maneuvers protecting key witnesses, and what it all means for Donald Trump’s ongoing exposure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 12 November 2025

Symone Sanders Townsend joins Joanna Coles to break down the moment Donald Trump struggled to stay awake for twenty minutes in the Oval Office, and why the fact that no one around him reacted is the real story. Sanders, co-host of “The Weeknight,” on MSNBC soon to be MS NOW starting on November 15th, outlines the mystery of who’s really running the White House to the gold “Oval Office” signage, the secretive East Wing demolition, and the advisers suddenly speaking in “I” and “we,” Symone exposes a presidency drifting without leadership. In the end, Symone leaves us with the fundamental question: If Trump can fall asleep on camera and his deputies shrug, who’s actually in charge? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 11 November 2025

The Daily Beast’s must-read columnist David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles to dissect Trump’s mounting political peril. As dissent grows within his own party—over foreign aid, tariffs, and radical Senate moves—Rothkopf warns that Trump is “staring death,” with his political survival hanging by a thread. This episode explores the stakes of a president confronting resistance from his base and the chilling question: how far will he go to stay relevant? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 10 November 2025

Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to examine the looming legal battlefield of Trump’s 2026 strategy, where every move is filtered through lawyers and litigation. As the White House braces for the possibility of losing both the House and Senate, Wolff reveals the unraveling logic guiding a president who cannot course-correct, while aides scramble to protect their careers. From redistricting schemes to potential Supreme Court battles over voting rights, this episode shows how Trumpworld is preparing for an election fought not just at the polls—but in the courts. Joanna asks the central question: Can anything stop this legal juggernaut? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 9 November 2025

Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to examine the one thing Trump can’t spin: a morning of losses he instantly tries to recast as wins. Wolff brings the voices inside the West Wing, describing Trump pacing between TVs, hunting for a villain, mangling the numbers, and turning Mamdani into his next made-to-order enemy. They cut through the chaos—shutdown brinkmanship, Prop 50 conspiracies, the Cuomo curveball, and a GOP leadership frozen in his glare—to reveal a president who can’t adapt, only blame, and a movement suddenly feeling less inevitable than it claims. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 7 November 2025

Dr. Bandy X. Lee, forensic and social psychiatrist, joins Joanna Coles to sound the alarm regarding President Donald Trump’s dire mental health problems. She explains how Trump’s paranoia, fear of exposure, and relentless need for power drive his behavior—from deploying guards to manipulating supporters—and how these patterns spread through society, creating true mental health contagion. Dr. Lee asks: How do we contain a leader whose fragility fuels his power? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 6 November 2025

Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to dissect the latest unraveling in Trumpworld: the controversial CBS News settlement, followed by their soft-ball sit‑down with Donald Trump. They question: Is this real journalism or a pay‑for‑play fluff piece? Later, they turn to JD Vance’s weekend spectacle—the public message to his Hindu wife, the viral hug with Erica Kirk, and what it reveals about Vance’s naked ambition to court MAGA while lacking the requisite authenticity to appeal truly. Along the way, they chart how the conservative media ecosystem is shifting, how Trump’s polling collapse and foreign‑policy chaos are fueling the vacuum around Trump, and how ambition, extreme rhetoric, and charged cynicism have become the new tools of power in Washington. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 5 November 2025

Andrew Lownie returns to break down the latest fallout for Prince Andrew. Lownie, the author of the book 'Untitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York,' breaks down Andrew’s exile to Sandringham and whispers of his Middle East escape to avoid legal scrutiny. Lownie parses how the Epstein scandal and financial allegations have dramatically reshaped the royal landscape. He explains the palace’s response, the public outrage, and why Andrew’s ties to Epstein and business dealings abroad make him vulnerable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 4 November 2025

Dr. Steven Hassan, world-renowned cult expert and author of The Cult of Trump, joins the Beast’s Hugh Dougherty to unravel how Trump’s movement mirrors the classic architecture of a political cult, from manufactured grievances to the online ecosystems that keep followers locked in. Then, with recent Epstein materials resurfacing, they explore the contradictions, alliances, and unexplored vulnerabilities that continue to haunt Trump and his inner circle. Together, they connect the domestic chaos to the global actors who have spent decades studying and exploiting Trump’s psychology. As the crises converge, Hugh asks the question hanging over 2025: how long can Trumpism survive when the truth keeps breaking through? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 3 November 2025

Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to reveal how White House insiders are now dubbing the East Wing the “Epstein Ballroom.” From the persistent shadow of Jeffrey Epstein over Trump and Prince Andrew’s dramatic fall from royal privilege, to the explosive crypto pardons benefiting the Trump family, Wolff’s latest thorns to burrow into Trump’s side. They discuss Rupert Murdoch’s role, the birthday letter that exposed Trump’s connections, and the intricate web of influence stretching from Norfolk to Washington. With the latest Trump polls tanking and the government shutdown nearing a record, this episode captures the tangled, high-stakes universe of Trump’s presidency in real time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 2 November 2025

Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to posit the president’s next astonishing move: Donald Trump’s plan to demolish the West Wing of the White House. They trace how that impulse connects with the East Wing teardown, a $300 million ballroom project, and the greater ambition of remaking the presidency in his image. Along the way, they explore how Trump’s real estate instincts are emerging as his most effective shock-and-awe tactic. With the foreign policy collapse in China, the polling crisis at home, and the disappearance of oversight in Congress, this episode asks: As Trump tears down the White House, what remains of the presidency? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 31 October 2025

John Della Volpe, Polling Director at the Harvard Kennedy School, joins Joanna Coles to break down the dramatic shift in young male voters, once Trump’s strongest base. From Charlie Kirk’s legacy to the collapse of Trump’s net favorable rating among young men, Della Volpe explains how inflation, chaos, and the unmet promise to release the Epstein files are reshaping politics. They also weigh in on Turning Point USA’s new leadership, the rise of faith communities, and the anti-establishment mood driving 2026 and 2028. Can Democrats turn this disillusionment into an advantage, and is Trump’s hold on young men slipping for good? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 30 October 2025

Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to reveal Trump’s hasty plan to demolish the East Wing and build a massive Trump Ballroom, his push to bypass political limits, and his obsession with control. They break down Steve Bannon’s wild Trump third-term schemes and Melania’s conspicuous absence on the president's Japan trip. Wolff explains how Trump’s real estate instincts shape his decisions in Washington and why Trump’s once seemingly impossible authoritarian dreams suddenly feel possible in an America where business and political leaders are genuflecting to Trump. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 29 October 2025

Writer E. Jean Carroll, who triumphed over Donald Trump with an $83 million defamation verdict after accusing him of rape in the mid-1990s, is joined by her attorney Roberta Kaplan and Joanna Coles to unpack their historic courtroom victories. From tense depositions to a landmark judgment, they reveal how strategy, resolve, and fearlessness dismantled Trump’s aura of invincibility. Carroll discusses how she’ll use her winnings to support women’s rights, while Kaplan explains why Trump’s appeals are likely doomed. Can Trump honestly be held accountable, and what does their win mean for justice and women across America? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 28 October 2025

Don Lemon joins Joanna Coles to assess how Donald Trump’s hasty East Wing tear-down, building a tacky McMansion-style ballroom while the country stalls, mixing supposed opulence with power, and blurring public duty with private ego. Lemon, a veteran reporter and anchor, brings his sharp and uncompromising voice to the conversation. Together with Coles, he examines Trump’s architecture of excess —the corporations and their leaders acting as his handmaidens —and asks: when the symbol of American democracy becomes a personal trophy house, what does that mean for the rest of us, and how long can the facade hold? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 27 October 2025

Stephen Miller is the ultimate suck-up, a master of shameless flattery whose influence keeps him at the center of Trump’s orbit. Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to unpack how Miller’s relentless devotion to Trump reflects the chaos and destruction in the East Wing. The two also touch on how Wolff’s countersuit against Melania has spurred a bizarre AI-generated TMZ story that falsely claimed he was writing a tell-all about the first lady. They preview their first live ‘Inside Trump’s Head’ event at the Museum of the City of New York, where Wolff promises more revelations about Trump, Epstein, and the ecosystem that enables them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 26 October 2025

Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to tackle his startling new announcement: a billion-dollar countersuit against Melania Trump. The two dissect Jeffrey Epstein’s well-documented friendship with Donald Trump and connect the dots to Trump’s East Wing demolition, showcasing the president’s strategy for destruction. Wolff and Coles also unpack Stephen Miller’s hardline crusades, exposing the strange psychology that drives one of Trump’s most maniacal members of his inner circle. As the legal walls close in, one question lingers: how much of Trump’s chaos is calculation, and how much is pure compulsion? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 24 October 2025

Dr. John Gartner joins the Beast's Joanna Coles to assess the unraveling of Donald Trump’s mind. The clinical psychologist and former Johns Hopkins professor, who warned early about Trump’s “malignant narcissism,” now says the president shows clear signs of cognitive decline, comparing his confusion and grandiosity to dictators in their final stages. Coles presses Gartner on whether Trump’s dementia makes him more dangerous or simply more delusional, and what that means for the remainder of Trump's second term and beyond. Is America being led by a man losing touch with reality, or is Trump still cunning enough to conceal his growing symptoms? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 23 October 2025

Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to dig into the one fear that continues to dog Donald Trump, the lingering specter of Jeffrey Epstein. As new oversight leaks reveal redacted names and unreleased evidence, Wolff explains why the Epstein files continue to rattle Trump and shape his thinking. They explore how this aversion affects his decisions, fuels his late-night rants, and exposes cracks in Trumpworld’s loyalty. Why do Epstein’s secrets haunt Trump, and what do his international allies and enemies know? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 22 October 2025

Harry Sisson joins the Beast's Joanna Coles to discuss being the target in an AI viral video by President Trump, complete with a crown, a jet, and a very messy payload. He shares his disbelief, how he sees the attack as proof of Trump’s obsession with online feuds, and why he welcomes the attention. Sisson also explains how Democrats can use social media effectively without stooping to the same tactics, highlighting creators like Zohran Mamdani and Gavin Newsom. This episode explores the power of social media, the challenges of political engagement, and the fight to push back against MAGA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 21 October 2025

Sam Mangel, a former Federal prison inmate and current prison consultant, takes the Beast’s Joanna Coles inside Ghislaine Maxwell’s unusual life in a Texas prison camp. Sentenced to 20 years for sex trafficking, Maxwell is receiving unprecedented privileges and security. Mangel explains how other inmates react, the strict lockdowns during secret visits, and why her celebrity inmate treatment is frustrating staff and fellow prisoners. He also explores speculation about her potential early release via a possible deal with the Trump administration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 20 October 2025

Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to dissect Trump’s euphoric “victory tour” of the Middle East, where he cast himself as a global peacemaker while ignoring protests and chaos at home. Wolff unpacks Trump’s boastful talk of “Tomahawks for peace,” and the widening rift between Trump and his MAGA base. Both wonder why the “no kings” protests aren’t aimed at Epstein and the powerful men who enabled him. As his self-image balloons beyond control, Joanna and Michael ask: has Trump’s triumphalism become its own form of delusion? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 19 October 2025

Michael Wolff shocks Joanna Coles by abruptly changing his view on Donald Trump’s desire to run for a third term. The veteran Trump biographer now believes that the president has been radicalized by his growing authoritarianism and is now likely to consider running again in 2028. Drawing on insights from inside the White House, they discuss how the Supreme Court’s recent decisions could pave the way for him to subvert the Constitution and maneuver for a third term. Wolff and Coles also explore how Trump monetizes loyalty and power, and ask whether Trump is setting the stage for an unprecedented extension of his influence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 17 October 2025

The Daily Beast’s David Gardner and Sarah Ewall-Wice join Joanna Coles to unpack Trump’s latest obsession, a $200 million Arc de Trump slated to lord over the Potomac. Is it legacy-building or pure delusion? From secret Oval Office blueprints and questions over who’s really bankrolling Trump’s $200 million ballroom to Pete Hegseth’s war on the press fallout, Coles and company expose a capital consumed by Trump’s ego and unravel what his monument mania reveals about the man who can’t stop trying to carve himself into history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 16 October 2025

Trump Chronicler Michael Wolff joins the Beast’s Joanna Coles to unpack the Time magazine cover that ignited Trump’s fury and how the slow-walked political prosecutions of his perceived enemies, including James Comey, Adam Schiff, and Chris Christie, spurred Trump to install Lindsey Halligan. Meanwhile, Melania reemerges with her documentary hustle, prompting questions about her new visibility and even her reported communications with Putin. And with new fractures appearing in Trump’s once blindly faithful MAGA movement and fresh enemies on his list, Joanna asks: Is Trump losing control of the world he built or remaking it in his own image once again? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 15 October 2025

Kurt Andersen joins the Beast’s Joanna to unpack the surprising Jekyll and Hyde nature of Donald Trump, from his once fawning desperation to be covered warmly by Andersen to his snide takedown once Andersen was no longer useful. Drawing on insights, Andersen and Joanna Coles explore what Trump’s split personality reveals about his nature, his calculated self-presentation, and his ascent to the White House. Along the way, they tease out the contradictions between the Trump we see in public and the Trump we hear about in private. Is this the side of Trump no one really notices, or the one he wants you to notice? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 14 October 2025

The Beast’s Joanna Coles and Trump Chronicler Michael Wolff dive deep into Donald Trump being snubbed for the Nobel Peace Prize and the forces driving his obsession with recognition. They explore the pivotal role of Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, who balances family loyalty, high-stakes diplomacy, and billion-dollar business opportunities in the Middle East. From navigating complex deals with the Saudis and Qataris to leveraging influence for both profit and power, Coles and Wolff reveal how Trump’s desire for validation intersects with Kushner’s strategic maneuvering. The episode unpacks ambition, risk, and reward at the highest levels, showing how peace, personal gain, and political calculation collide in the Trump crucible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 12 October 2025

Trump chronicler Michael Wolff joins the Beast’s Joanna Coles to unpack Trump’s latest delusions of grandeur. This time, namely, his fantasy of winning a Nobel Peace Prize for “ending seven wars” that never existed. Wolff recounts a disturbing encounter involving Jeffrey Epstein, the head of the Nobel Committee, and alleged Polaroids of Trump, while Pam Bondi, now heading the DOJ, pointedly refuses to discuss them. From showy Middle East tours to Chicago photo ops with the National Guard, Joanna and Michael explore how Trump’s obsession with power, spectacle, and apparent paranoia, tinged with fear, continues to reshape his presidency. Is Trump intending to occupy cities like Chicago indefinitely or just seeking attention?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 10 October 2025

Rep. Ro Khanna joins the Beast’s Joanna Coles to reveal what he calls Washington’s most dangerous cover-up. The California congressman explains how the Epstein files hold explosive information and why his bipartisan effort to release them has been stonewalled during the government shutdown. He links Trump’s role in the stalemate to a broader system that shields the powerful rather than the public. From congressional gridlock to moral reckoning, Khanna argues that transparency is the only way to restore trust in democracy. Is Trump protecting national secrets or defending himself? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 9 October 2025

Michael Wolff returns with Joanna Coles for a blistering look at the latest fractures inside Trump’s MAGA coalition. From Trump’s resurfacing of Epstein anxieties and his strange new pardon predicament with Ghislaine Maxwell, to his growing unease over Israel and the rise of Christian nationalism, Wolff sketches a portrait of a president losing control of the populist movement he created. The Daily Beast’s Chief Content Officer Joanna Coles presses Wolff on Tucker Carlson’s ambitions, online swirling Charlie Kirk conspiracies, and J.D. Vance’s quiet maneuvering for power. Together, they dissect how Trump’s cult of loyalty is turning on itself and why his old tactics may finally be failing. Is Trump still the master of the MAGA hivemind, or has he become just another voice in the chaos he unleashed? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 8 October 2025

Anthony Scaramucci joins the Beast’s Joanna Coles for a no-holds-barred look inside Trump’s turbulent second term. Trump's former first-term Communications Director and longtime Trump confidant-turned-critic calls Trump “the wicked witch of the West Wing” and predicts the moment he finally melts. Scaramucci revisits his infamous 11 days in the White House, missing his son’s birth, and the cost of blind loyalty. He tears into the GOP’s pretenders to Trump’s throne from J.D. Vance’s obsequiousness to Marco Rubio’s shape-shifting. Coles keeps the chaos sharp, pulling out Scaramucci’s rawest insights on power, ego, and redemption. And it all builds to one cutting question: if Trump’s the wicked witch of the West Wing, who’s bold enough to throw the water? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 7 October 2025

The Daily Beast’s must-read legal columnist Shan Wu joins the Beast’s Hugh Dougherty to dissect Trump’s shaky case against James Comey. Wu, a former federal prosecutor, explains why the indictment reeks of politics: a weak grand jury vote, rookie prosecutors sent to do Trump’s dirty work, and a DOJ reshaped into a loyalty machine. He lays out the defense playbook, from motions to dismiss to jury battles, and warns how much damage the spectacle will inflict on Comey and the justice system itself. With Trump burning political capital chasing old enemies as crises mount at home and abroad, the question becomes: is this justice or just Trump’s vengeance dressed up in legal robes? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 5 October 2025