The Daily Beast Podcast

This Is Why Trump’s Dark Fantasies are Crumbling 02.06.2026 50min

David Rothkopf and Joanna Coles dive into a week of chaos surrounding Donald Trump, from a weekend barrage of Truth Social posts and increasingly bizarre self-mythologizing to mounting questions about his health, judgment, and grip on reality. Rothkopf argues that Trump’s latest behavior reveals a president trapped by crises of his own making—from Iran and a crumbling political coalition to what he describes as a dangerous fantasy world where everyone else plays the victim. The pair also unpack the growing signs of Republican unease, the political fallout heading into the midterms, and why a larger generational reckoning may be reshaping global leadership. As the conversation builds toward a chilling conclusion about power, aging, and the risks of desperation, Rothkopf delivers one of his starkest assessments yet of the man occupying the Oval Office. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I Know Why Trump's Pathetic Circus Is Collapsing 01.06.2026 1h

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

I Know Why Mad King Trump Loves to Sue: Wolff 31.05.2026 1h 3min

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

This Is the Proof Trump Is in His Deathbed Confession Era 30.05.2026 48min

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

How I Know Trump's at His Most Dangerous: Wolff 29.05.2026 1h 2min

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

How Trump Is Blinded by His Lunatic MAGA Faithful 28.05.2026 58min

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

The Trump Mental Health Issue We Don't See: Wolff 27.05.2026 57min

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

Doctors Speak Out On Trump's Decline 26.05.2026 59min

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

I Know Trump’s Favorite Dem Is 'Unfit' for Office 25.05.2026 55min

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

My Melania Legal Battle Has Only Just Begun: Wolff 24.05.2026 51min

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

How Trump Is Exposing His Bottomless Grift 23.05.2026 45min

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

I Know How Melania Found Trump's Creepy BFF: Wolff 22.05.2026 53min

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

How Trump, 79, Is Declining in Plain Sight: Doctor 21.05.2026 43min

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

I Know the Secret of Trump’s Creepy New Friendship 20.05.2026 58min

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

I Know Why Desperate Trump Is in Free Fall 19.05.2026 42min

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

How I Will Stop Trump’s Brazen Grift: Jamie Raskin 18.05.2026 32min

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

Why Desperate Trump Can’t Spin This Failure 17.05.2026 59min

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

This Proves Trump Is Shrinking In Every Way 16.05.2026 39min

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

How Trump Is Exposing Own Psychotic State: Wolff 15.05.2026 57min

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

I Know DOJ Is Covering for Trump on Epstein: Rep 14.05.2026 51min

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