The New Abnormal

Liz Plank joins Joanna Coles for a scorching postmortem on the Venice wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez—a $50 million display of “confetti capitalism” that collided head-on with a collapsing middle class. Plank, whose viral Substack column captured the online fury, recounts watching the foam-drenched bacchanal while her paper straw dissolved in her mouth and seniors were zip-tied at the Capitol protesting Medicaid cuts. She argues the grotesque contrast isn’t just offensive—it’s politically clarifying. As celebrities scrambled for camera time and Vogue’s fawning coverage backfired, Plank points to a growing revolt: from Zohran’s shock primary win in New York to Hungary’s defiant pride march. She connects the dots from Bezos’s billionaire cosplay to the Democratic Party’s disconnect with working people—and calls for all to use their voice, both online and off, to advocate for real political change.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Published: 30 June 2025

Brian Tyler Cohen joins Joanna Coles for a dissection of the digital age’s political battleground. Cohen—solo creator of one of the largest progressive platforms in America—reveals how he turned a dead-end acting career into a media empire with 4.5 million subscribers and zero writers. Cohen explains that Trump’s chaos isn’t incompetence—it’s a strategy: flooding the zone, exploiting the slow reflexes of legacy media, and redefining the presidency as a form of cultural warfare. He blasts the Democratic Party’s gerontocracy, their obsession with MSNBC over TikTok, and their chronic failure to meet the moment. As Trump installs loyalists like Pete Hegseth and Dan Bongino into key roles, Cohen warns the real danger isn’t just Trump—it’s the bootlickers willing to weaponize law enforcement on command. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Published: 29 June 2025

Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles’s to unpack the latest twist in Trump’s Iran debacle—a truth bomb dropped by U.S. intelligence. Wolff, Trump biographer and author of 'All Or Nothing' explains how Trump, obsessed with showbiz and "bragging rights," staged a “perfect war” for TV that is now unraveling in real time. The leaked intelligence contradicts Trump’s declaration of a triumphant mission, showing Iran’s nuclear capabilities remain largely intact—sending the West Wing into a tailspin of blame and recrimination. Susie Wiles launches a frantic leak hunt. Tulsi Gabbard is thrown under the bus. Pete Hegseth scrambles to avoid Trump’s wrath, which Wolff describes as “frightening,” and akin to being “treated like dogs.” Wolff uncovers Trump’s sugary mood swings to his government-by-whim—“a reality TV presidency with nuclear stakes.” Coles and Wolff reflect on how the U.S. went from a system of institutions to one man’s ego show, powered by candy, rage, and a desperate fear of losing the narrative. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 26 June 2025

Joanna Coles and Michael Wolff are back with a newsflash pod after President Trump dropped an unprecedented F-bomb on the White House lawn. Wolff—the author of 'All or Nothing'—joins Coles to unpack the deeper meaning behind Trump's outburst about Israel and Iran: "They don't know what the f*** they're doing." Wolff reveals how the comment wasn't a gaffe but the latest act in Trump's attempt to script what he calls "the perfect war"—a PR-driven spectacle shaped entirely by headline management, emotional whim, and circular phone calls. Coles and Wolff dissect how Trump has taken personal ownership of a war he likely doesn't intend to finish. With Trump's unkept performance—tie off, hair unruly, language raw it's a revealing look at a president desperate to direct a global conflict like a reality show finale. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2025

Former Obama chief of staff and Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel joins Joanna Coles to unpack the stunning news that Donald Trump bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities—against the judgment of his own intelligence agencies. Emanuel, whose two sons serve in the U.S. Navy, lays out a sobering, real-world framework for how a president should handle such a volatile decision, and why Trump’s impulsive, “instinct-driven” approach endangers global stability. He warns that Tulsi Gabbard and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth represent a dangerous, unserious national security apparatus—and says plainly that the current commander-in-chief lacks the discipline, curiosity, or character for the job. Emanuel, who's also a CNN contributor, opens up about sleepless nights, military service, and his own possible 2028 run for president—and what it would take to make the American Dream affordable again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 24 June 2025

Trump biographer Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to pull back the curtain on a White House in disarray. The author reveals how the president’s impromptu, last-minute decision-making around Iran—epitomized by a series of frantic Friday phone calls and a dismissive “fuck Tucker”—turned what insiders claimed was a long-planned operation into a mad scramble. Wolff explains that while official narratives try to dress up the moment as a flawless, strategic maneuver, in reality the president dithered until the very end, leaving everyone guessing and scrambling for their next move. Coles and Wolff dissect the chaos behind the rhetoric—how rival factions from the MAGA base to neocon advisors vied for his attention—and expose a leader who shifts his course with every call, embodying a breathtaking blend of uncertainty and dangerous improvisation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Published: 23 June 2025

Author Evan Osnos joins Joanna Coles to parse the twisted games the world's wealthiest play with and aboard their crazy expensive yachts. As tech billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg snap up megayachts, Osnos, author of 'The Haves and Have-Yachts,' unpacks what these floating palaces reveal about a seismic shift in American wealth and power. He explains why Donald Trump shut down the KleptoCapture task force, how oligarch envy shapes Trump's worldview, and what it means that he once owned a Saudi arms dealer's yacht—but hated being on it. From Adnan Khashoggi to Elon Musk, Osnos traces the rise of ostentatious wealth, the decline of discretion, and why the modern billionaire isn't satisfied with private jets—they also want political control. Plus, how Musk crossed a line even Andrew Carnegie didn't, and why Americans may finally be waking up to a new, gilded threat. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 22 June 2025

James Carville joins Joanna Coles for a bracing tour through the foreign policy civil war inside MAGA—and why it could tear the coalition. As Israel and Iran square off, so do Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, and Tulsi Gabbard versus Trump, Pete Hegseth, and Mark Levin. Carville breaks down the long-simmering ideological rift now boiling over, and why Trump’s strategic confusion—especially in the Middle East—is dangerous not just for Republicans, but for global stability. He explains why Trump “couldn’t find Iran on a globe,” how Tucker’s pro-Russia leanings go back decades, and why Americans aren't nearly scared enough about what’s coming. Plus: what Carville says is the real cost of Republican loyalty to Trump, and how Democrats can seize this moment—if they’re smart. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 19 June 2025

Trump biographer Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to discuss how the president's $45 million attempt at creating a "menacing" military parade backfired into a yawning, low-budget cosplay. The author of 'All or Nothing' reveals the real reason Trump was furious at the troops, what Pete Hegseth got wrong, and why the U.S. military has moved on while Trump is still stuck in 1965. Coles and Wolff explore how Israel's strike on Iran played out while Trump sat bored on a D.C. bleacher—and why the war made him look weak, used, and irrelevant.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 17 June 2025

The Daily Beast’s David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles to unpack the chaos behind Israel’s strike on Iran—and the confusion inside the the Trump administration's response. From Marco Rubio claiming America had nothing to do with Israel's attack, to Trump scrambling to take credit, Rothkopf lays out why nobody seems to know who approved what, or when. He explains why Trump’s “deal guy” approach to foreign policy has failed everywhere from Gaza to Ukraine, and why Trump’s inner circle of golf buddies and yes-men leaves America weaker and more isolated than ever. Rothkopf calls Trump “the most impotent president in living memory”—and warns that our enemies are laughing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 14 June 2025

Joanna Coles unpacks global chaos colliding with American absurdity: a California senator thrown to the ground, Israel striking Iran, and the man in charge of U.S. diplomacy? Trump’s golf buddy Steve Witkoff. Who else to make sense of this than Michael Wolff, the chronicler of Trump’s chaos. Wolff dives into Trump’s racist tirade after the arrest of Senator Padilla, and how Gavin Newsom accidentally became the face of Democratic leadership—thanks to Trump himself. Plus, Wolff paints a jaw-dropping picture of Trump’s “phone monologues,” Witkoff’s terrifying Middle East power grab, and why American politics now runs on height, hair, and real estate credentials. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 13 June 2025

Joanna Coles is joined by Russian and American Journalist M. Gessen, whose reporting from both Putin’s Russia and Trump’s America has made them a singular voice on creeping autocracy. Gessen explains why Americans' faith in endless progress is misplaced—and how Trump, like Putin before him, overwhelms the system by attacking everything, everywhere, all at once: courts, media, universities, even law firms. They argue that the biggest danger isn’t sudden collapse, but slow adaptation—that Americans are already getting used to living in a crumbling democracy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 13 June 2025

California governor Gavin Newsom tells Joanna Coles how he is going head-to-head with Donald Trump and Stephen Miller's cruelty and chaos—and why the country has never faced such a crisis before. He goes scorched earth on the "carny bulls**t artist" president and say what he thinks about being nicknamed "Gavin Newscum." Newsom has harsh words for Speaker Mike Johnson and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, warning their loyalty to Trump's authoritarianism shows how weak they are. And he spells out what is next in his fight against Trump and why he doesn't regret hosting MAGA stars like Steve Bannon on his podcast.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 11 June 2025

Joanna Coles is joined by Anthony Scaramucci, the infamously short-lived Trump first term White House communications director and longtime Trump confidant-turned-critic. The Mooch brings a blisteringly informed look into what happens to those, like Elon Musk, who get too close to Donald Trump—and why Musk is the latest casualty. Scaramucci explains why Ro Khanna is the only Democrat with the foresight to try and win Musk back, how Potomac fever has infected Silicon Valley, and why Trump's orbit inevitably burns anyone drawn into it. He reveals how Trump really fired him and why Howard Lutnick may be the next domino to fall. Plus, Scaramucci argues that a Musk-backed centrist third party won't be able to win the presidency—it could break the political duopoly for good. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 10 June 2025

Joanna Coles returns to dissect the latest turn in the Trump–Elon Musk war—and who better to decode the thoughts in Donald Trump's head than Michael Wolff, Trump's biographer. Wolff explains how the feud puts JD Vance's future in question because Vance's "only hardcore support" is from within the tech community. Wolff reminds us that Trump's Epstein connection still hangs over Trump like a sword Damocles. And Wolff shares that within the White House, people are saying "Thank God for LA" and the mass protests against ICE agents, which have stolen the American people's attention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 9 June 2025

Joanna Coles welcomes Scott Galloway—the irreverent marketing professor, tech provocateur, and self-declared “really f***ing rich” man—to understand into the dark ballet between DonaldTrump and Elon Musk. Galloway calls Musk to a “rabid addict with a checkbook,” and unpacks how Tesla’s collapsing brand is a case study in boardroom paralysis, loyalty bought with billions, and a CEO in free fall. He then turns his fire on Brand America, the Democrats’ allergy to confrontation, and why the resistance feels like a “rebel force without Luke Skywalker.” It’s a high-octane, unfiltered diagnosis of power, cowardice, and the price of silence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 8 June 2025

Joanna Coles is back with an emergency podcast to reveal just what is going on with the Trump–Elon Musk blow-up—and who better to explain it than Michael Wolff, Trump’s biographer and longtime chaos whisperer. Wolff explains why Musk is “Elon Bannon," revealing how he’s stolen Bannon’s role as Trump’s dark twin. And he unpacks why both men are deploying Trump’s ultimate fear: Jeffrey Epstein. From Epstein’s Manhattan mansion, where Bannon coached the disgraced financier on media comebacks, to Elon’s furious tweets, Wolff traces a toxic triangle of power, revenge and secrets. And he explains why Musk may be the first man rich and ruthless enough to truly go to war with Trump—and win. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 6 June 2025

Joanna Coles calls an emergency podcast for the biggest fall-out in political history: Donald Trump and Elon Musk. And it's the perfect guest to explain EVERYTHING: Michael Wolff, the Trump biographer—who already predicted what would happen. He unpacks a "nuclear" break-up and why Musk has used the weapon Trump fears most: Jeffrey Epstein. Wolff reveals his own extraordinary moment of interviewing Trump and what happened when he raised the pedophile financier. He talks about the predator and the president's long friendship. And he explains why Musk is now Trump's perfect enemy—bigger than Harvard and of course the Democrats. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 6 June 2025

Joanna Coles sits down with Michael Wolff, the best-selling biographer of Donald Trump who has become his definitive chronicler. Wolff reveals Trump's the real reason for the president's pick-me-energy hair. He tells how Trump has been making an extraordinary racially charged observation to West Wing visitors about modern college students—and Wolff reacts to Trump going after him for saying that the war on Harvard was a revenge attack because 18-year-old Donald didn't get in. Wolff reveals what's really being said inside the president's inner circle about the Lucifer-like fall of Elon Musk and explains what it really means about the prospects for anyone who put themselves in Trump's orbit. And he resurfaces Stormy Daniels' very telling anecdote about who blew up Trump's phone when the two were engaged in their tryst—which of course, Trump still denies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 5 June 2025

Joanna Coles sits down with MSNBC’s own Stephanie Ruhle—seasoned financial journalist and host of The 11th Hour—for a sharply insightful breakdown of the economic theater inside Trumpworld. Ruhle dissects the tensions between truth and loyalty for financiers like Scott Bessent, who finds himself defending Trump-era trade policies he once publicly opposed, and contrasts him with Trump loyalists like Howard Lutnick, ever willing to sell the show. With a signature mix of Wall Street fluency and media savvy, Ruhle unpacks the deeper motivations behind Elon Musk’s quiet exit from Washington, the strategic silence of major investors, and how grift has gone from subtle to spectacular in the Trump era. Follow @SRuhle for her razor-sharp takes on money, power, and the political theater that binds them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 3 June 2025

Joanna Coles welcomes back David Rothkopf, the seasoned national security expert and former Clinton official, for a no-holds-barred analysis of the Democrats' curious case of Trump envy. Rothkopf breaks it down into two camps: the mild, who admire Trump’s decisiveness (however impulsive), and the dangerous, who want to emulate his ruthless authoritarian swagger wholesale. He warns that Democrats risk losing their identity—and their base—by chasing "neoliberal" Wall Street donors and selling their authenticity to the top bidder. Rothkopf also weighs in on Gavin Newsom’s podcast pivot and why being “Trump-lite” might just be the fastest way to burn out in both politics and entertainment. Follow @djrothkopf for his latest bold takes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 1 June 2025

Joanna Coles welcomes back Michael Wolff, the bestselling author of “Fire & Fury” and “Siege,” to dissect the latest act of the Trump show—this time targeting elite American universities. Wolff unpacks the curious logic behind Trump’s crusade against institutions like Harvard, suggesting it’s less about policy and more about showmanship, headlines, and perhaps even old grudges. He weighs in on the persistent mystery surrounding Melania Trump’s absence and the transactional nature of the Trump marriage, and explains why every public outing together appears to be the the result of a strict negotiation. Wolff also shares how Trump has transformed the Oval Office into a bizarre open-call performance space—complete with gold décor, packed audiences, and surprise video screenings for world leaders. Also, Wolff dives into why accusations of racism are viewed as a sort of badge of honor in the Trump world. Follow @MichaelWolffNYC for more of his inside takes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 29 May 2025

Joanna Coles unpacks the maddening paradox of Donald Trump: a man who rages against the media while being entirely made by it. Joining her is former CNN senior media reporter Oliver Darcy who lays bare the uncomfortable truths — how Trump lost control of the narrative he once mastered, why media giants like Disney are bending the knee, and the chilling tactics being used behind the scenes to reshape the fourth estate. It’s a gripping look at power, ego, and the fragile state of American media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 27 May 2025

Joanna Coles talks with author and TV producer Daisy Goodwin about her injectable weight loss drug journey. Goodwin explains how she learned to stop worrying and love the fat shot. After grappling with the stigma and shame of taking GLP1s, Goodwin admits that losing 50lbs also helped her shed anxiety and depression. She credits the medicine with forever changing her life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 25 May 2025

Joanna Coles sits down with legendary Democratic strategist James Carville, the “Ragin’ Cajun” who helped elect Bill Clinton and has never been shy about saying what his party needs to hear. Carville unloads on why Trump’s media circus is a deliberate smokescreen, keeping Americans distracted from real economic anxieties—rising costs and disappearing job security. He breaks down why Democrats are failing to cut through the noise and warns that "pronoun" obsessed liberals are more trouble than they’re worth and should go off to start their own party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 22 May 2025

Anthony Scaramucci, the man famously fired by Donald Trump as his director of communications after just 11 days sits down with Joanna Coles to dish on why every one of the current cabinet will suffer his fate—or worse. He predicts the fate of Trump's would-be successors JD Vance, Marco Rubio and more. The Mooch, who campaigned relentlessly against Trump in 2020 and 2024 tells which Democrats can win the White House in 2028, why and what big moves they need to make now. And he tells Democrats to do the unthinkable and get Elon Musk on their side.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 20 May 2025

The Daily Beast’s brilliant columnist David Rothkopf tells Joanna Coles what’s really going on in the Oval Office. From dumbed-down intelligence briefings to the truth about why he backed off tariffs, Rothkopf spells out who’s really calling the shots—and why the answer should worry every American. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 18 May 2025

Joanna Coles talks with Susan Dominus, author of the new book, 'The Family Dynamic'. Dominus demystifies why certain families produce super successful children. Through research, she reveals how some families are able to cut through the morass of day to day life and engage their children, yielding hyper-productive siblings. Joanna is also joined by Emmy-award winning actor, writer, and producer Dan Bucatinsky. The 'Hacks' star shares what life is like in Rome with his 20-year-old daughter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 15 May 2025

Joanna Coles sits down with author Michael Wolff, the man whose bestsellers including "Fire & Fury" and "All or Nothing" are the definitive guide to Donald Trump's presidencies. Wolff lifts the lid on what's really going on in Trump's marriage to Melania and what the report that she's only been at the White House 14 times should have said. He reveals why Trump is crazy about his $400 million free plane from the Qataris. And he predicts exactly what is going to happen to Trump for the next three years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 13 May 2025

Joanna Coles and Samantha Bee sit down with ex-CNN White House correspondent Jessica Yellin who reveals how she copes with the doomscrolling chaos of Trump—by rewiring the news for her 750,000 Instagram followers. Yellin founded "News Not Noise" to tune out the chaos and give people information—not a heart attack. She shares her tips on meditation and mindfulness in an age of chaos. And Sam and Joanna share an important conversation on mental health awareness and exactly how close to home it is. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 11 May 2025

Joanna Coles and Samantha Bee sit down with the man who gave Donald Trump the insult which has got under his skin for decades: "Short-fingered vulgarian." Kurt Andersen, who edited Spy magazine in the 80s, dishes on how he went toe-to-toe with Trump when he was just a property developer—and skewered the millionaire's son from Queens every time. Andersen spills his theory of why Trump married Melania and reveals why the president couldn't bully Canada's new leader, Mark Carney, in the Oval Office. And Met Gala guest-turned-skeptic Joanna gives her thoughts on the celebrity night while Sam reveals what icon she has embroidered into her underwear. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 8 May 2025

The Daily Beast's Chief Content Officer Joanna Coles unpacks the two biggest reality shows of our time: Britain's royal family and Donald Trump's presidency. First she lifts the lid on what's really going on in the White House and Mar-a-Lago with the Beast's Executive Editor Hugh Dougherty and finds out who's been voted off the island, who's been pitted in a brutal head-to-head contest and why Warren Buffett just delivered a stinging rebuke with a personal sting in the tail. Then Coles turns to the Beast's European Editor-at-Large Tom Sykes for revelation after revelation about the British royals. Why is Prince Harry really pleading for reconciliation with his father, King Charles? And why is the California exile hinting that someone wants him dead like his mom, Princess Diana—and who exactly does he mean? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 6 May 2025

The Daily Beast Podcast is as wildly exciting, energizing, and entertaining as the topics it covers. Hosted by Joanna Coles, Chief Content Officer of the Daily Beast, every episode brings you more of the people, politics, and pop culture coverage you need straight from the Daily Beast newsroom. Amazing conversations have included Amber Ruffin, Tiffany Haddish, Mika Brzezinski, Don Lemon, John Oliver and more! New episodes every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. If you’re not already a subscriber to The Daily Beast, it’s easy! Just go to thedailybeast.com to sign up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 5 May 2025

On the final episode of The New Abnormal, hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie react to President Donald Trump’s chaotic first 100 days of his second term as White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller rolls out MAGA’s indoctrination plan to protect children from “communists.” Levy quipped, “Is woke losing its power as a pejorative? Did they have to bring back communists like it's the 1950s or 1980s?” Thank you all so much for listening for the last 5 years. Please stay tuned to this feed for what The Daily Beast has next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 4 May 2025

On this episode of The New Abnormal, hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie theorize why Trump fired National Security Adviser Mike Waltz over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following several Signalgates. Plus, David Sirota, founder and editor-in-chief of The Lever, breaks down Trump’s chaotic first 100 days. Then, Media Matters for America’s senior fellow Matt Gertz examines MAGA’s media spinning of collapsing poll numbers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 2 May 2025

The New Abnormal host Danielle Moodie and guest host Jesse Cannon weigh in on President Donald Trump’s record-low polling and how the Democratic Party can capitalize off the small wins showing that his “dam is breaking.” Then, Sarah Hinger, the deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Racial Justice Program, stops by to discuss the Trump administration’s attacks on DEI. Plus! Bible scholar Daniel McCLellan is here to talk about his new book, “The Bible Says So: What We Get Right (and Wrong) About Scripture’s Most Controversial Issues.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 29 April 2025

On this episode of The New Abnormal, hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie think it might be time to close up shop on the White House press pool as press secretary Karoline Leavitt muddies the water with “new media.” Plus, Katya Schwenk and Luke Goldstein, reporters at The Lever, investigate how Trump's tariffs are helping corporations hike prices on consumers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 27 April 2025

The New Abnormal hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie weigh in on President Donald Trump’s big meeting with the CEOs of three of America’s biggest retailers this week, and why executives seem to be done with his tariff policies. Then, Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah stops by to discuss why she won’t back down after Columbia University canceled her course on race and media. Plus, Courtney Hagle, the research director at Media Matters, joins the podcast to talk about the state of pro-Trump media in a post-tariff climate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 25 April 2025

The New Abnormal hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie reflect on Pope Francis’ death at 88 and why the late pontiff was such a “breath of fresh air” in the current climate. Then, Garrett Graff, publisher of Doomsday Scenario, joins the podcast to discuss his latest piece on how the Trump administration’s defiance of the courts impacts the rule of law. Plus, ProPublica reporter Alec MacGillis stops by to talk about what a halt of data collection at the government means for climate change and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2025

On this episode of The New Abnormal, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gives a masterclass in gross incompetence as he waxes unpoetically about an “autism epidemic” during a news conference at the Department of Health and Human Services. “Everything he says is just wrong, and that has real-life repercussions because of the position that he's been given in this administration,” co-host Andy Levy said. Plus, science writer Adam Becker discusses his new book, More Everything Forever: AI Overlords, Space Empires, and Silicon Valley's Crusade to Control the Fate of Humanity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 20 April 2025

On this episode of The New Abnormal, co-hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy are convinced that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s signature cross necklace is for display purposes only. “She violates the ninth commandment about not bearing false witness,” Levy said. Plus, MSNBC analyst and author Eddie Glaude, Jr., discusses how racism became America’s blindspot. Then legal scholar Andy Craig delves into how the Trump administration’s refusal to return Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia challenges the foundations of U.S law. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 18 April 2025

The New Abnormal hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie think the Trump administration’s handling of Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s wrongful deportation is a bad omen for its view of the constitution. Then, Douglas Rushkoff, author of Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires, joins the show to talk about all things tech bros. Plus! Formal federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner stops by to explain why America is in the midst of a constitutional crisis—and what to expect next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 15 April 2025

President Trump appears to conflate political asylum seekers with mental asylums—much to the chagrin of The New Abnormal hosts Danielle Moodie, Andy Levy, and producer Jesse Cannon. “It's giving, they're eating the dogs, they're eating the cats,” added Cannon. Plus, Noliwe Rooks, professor of Africana Studies at Brown University, explores the uneven effects of school integrations in her new book, Integrated: How American Schools Failed Black Children. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 13 April 2025

On this episode of The New Abnormal, Republican math isn’t math-ing for hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy after the GOP-led House passed a budget framework to fund tax cuts for billionaires that would add $5.7 trillion to the government deficit. “That doesn't seem like a recipe for balancing a budget to me,” says Levy. Plus! New York Times chief TV critic James Poniewozik dissects Kristi Noem’s Homeland Security social media dramedy, and Vanderbilt University professor Dr. Jonathan Metzel on higher education’s crash course on authoritarianism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 11 April 2025

The New Abnormal hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy say MAGA billionaires like Bill Ackman can’t act shocked by the Trump administration’s economic policies when the president ran on them. Then, The Bulwark editor Jonathan V. Last discusses why he believes the American-led world order is over. Plus, Semafor finance and business editor Liz Hoffman talks about why Wall Street is suddenly panicking about Trump's economic agenda. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 8 April 2025

On this episode of The New Abnormal, Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert’s attempt to throw sticks and stones embarrassingly backfires as she confuses filmmaker Oliver Stone for conservative political strategist Roger Stone in a congressional hearing on the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy Jr. Plus! Author Chad Lewis examines how foreign interests have influenced Trump’s inner circle in his new book ​​The Persuasion Game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 6 April 2025

On this episode of The New Abnormal, Republican dissent against President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs has co-hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie convinced that this could be the beginning of the end for blind MAGA fealty. Plus! President and executive director of Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Damon Hewitt explains how the Trump administration is attempting to dismantle its legal opposition. Then, Columbia Classics Professor Joseph Howley discusses the university's response to student protests and a broader crackdown on dissenting voices. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 4 April 2025

The New Abnormal host Andy Levy and guest host Jeb Lund think there’s only one way to respond to President Donald Trump’s talks of a third term and it isn’t polite. Then, activist and author Sandy Hudson stops by to discuss her new book, Defund: Black Lives, Policing, and Safety for All. Plus! Tech journalist Brian Merchant joins the podcast to talk about all things propaganda and protest in America’s new era. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 1 April 2025

On this episode of The New Abnormal, President Donald Trump gives some very Trumpy reasons for why he wants to give pardoned January 6 rioters taxpayer money—“but they’re all bad,” said co-host Andy Levy. Plus, congressional candidate Kat Kat Abughazaleh, a former Media Matters video editor, on how she aims to change the Democratic Party for good. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 30 March 2025

Fox News hosts are running out of ways to spin the massive Signal intelligence leak, Matt Gertz of Media Matters tells The New Abnormal hosts Danielle Moodie and Andy Levy. Then, Lawfare senior editor Anna Bower talks about the Trump administration’s escalating legal battles over its efforts to test the limits of presidential power. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcribed - Published: 28 March 2025