The Daily Beast Podcast - podcast cover

The Daily Beast Podcast

The Daily Beast, Joanna Coleswww.thedailybeast.com
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, each episode delivers the people and politics coverage you need—straight from the Daily Beast newsroom. Conversations have featured voices like John Oliver, Mary Trump, and Governor Gavin Newsom, alongside sharp, incisive takes each week from show regular David Rothkopf. It’s like the best dinner party you’ve ever been to, just without the food. New episodes every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday; early drops on YouTube. If you’re not already a subscriber to The Daily Beast, it’s easy! Just go to thedailybeast.com to sign up.
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Episodes

Why Trump’s Grift and Destruction Will Doom Him

Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) returns to the Daily Beast Podcast to break down why he believes America is repeating the same costly mistakes in the Middle East, what years of combat taught him about war, and why he says the latest agreement with Iran leaves the U.S. weaker than before. Rep. Crow tells Joanna Coles what Republican lawmakers tell him behind closed doors about Donald Trump, explains why he thinks Congress has abandoned its constitutional responsibilities, and lays out his plan to investig...

Jun 25, 202640 minSeason 1Ep. 721

Why Trump's Slimy Humiliation Is Driving Him Mad

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles examine the strange new fixation consuming Donald Trump as the White House grapples with wars abroad, slipping poll numbers, and growing political trouble at home. Drawing on Wolff's conversations with insiders, they explore why an algae-filled reflecting pool has become the president's overwhelming obsession, what it may reveal about his state of mind, and why even longtime aides are struggling to explain it. They also unpack Trump's surprising foreknowledge of Ke...

Jun 24, 202655 minSeason 1Ep. 129

I Know Why Trump's Slimy Goon Squad is Unravelling

David Rothkopf and Joanna Coles unpack a weekend of political chaos that stretches from the collapsing Iran negotiations to the algae-filled disaster of Trump’s reflecting pool renovation, exposing a presidency built on grift, dysfunction, and spectacle. As JD Vance is dispatched to Switzerland to negotiate an impossible peace deal, Trump’s public undermining of his own vice president becomes a window into the increasingly fragile state of Trump’s inner circle. David and Joanna dive into the biz...

Jun 23, 20261 hr 4 minSeason 1Ep. 720

I Know Why the Tech Broligarchs Went Full MAGA

Jonathan Weber joins Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty to explain how San Francisco became the proving ground for the forces reshaping American politics, business, and culture. Drawing from his new book, City on the Edge, Weber traces the rise of the tech billionaires who transformed the city, why so many Silicon Valley power players embraced Donald Trump, and how figures like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, and Nancy Pelosi emerged from the same p...

Jun 22, 20261 hr 8 minSeason 1Ep. 719

This Is Why the World is Humiliating Trump: Wolff

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles examine why Donald Trump may have stumbled into a new political reality as European leaders stop trying to placate him and begin pushing back instead. They unpack JD Vance's increasingly complicated role in the White House, whether he's positioning himself as Trump's heir or setting himself up to take the blame, and what his new book reveals about ambition, faith, and political reinvention. They also break down Trump's latest clash with Giorgia Meloni, the arrival ...

Jun 21, 202658 minSeason 1Ep. 128

Trump and Melania’s Weird Bedroom Secrets Exposed

Joanna Coles and Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty unpack a remarkable week inside Donald Trump's White House, from explosive new reporting on his late-night routines and the startling revelations in Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan's forthcoming book to questions about Melania Trump's absence, mysterious health concerns, and what these private details reveal about the presidency. They also examine the backlash over Trump's botched Reflecting Pool renovation, the sharp contrast betwee...

Jun 20, 202659 minSeason 1Ep. 718

I Know What Ego Maniac Trump Is Really Fixated On

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles examine why Donald Trump's critics believe his biggest defeat isn't the war in Iran but the strange obsession now consuming the White House: remaking Washington into a permanent monument to himself. Drawing on fresh reporting from inside the administration, Wolff reveals why Trump is fixated on ballrooms, arches, the Kennedy Center and the National Mall even as foreign policy, the economy and the midterms hang in the balance. They also break down Trump's escalating...

Jun 19, 202654 minSeason 1Ep. 127

Why Cornered Trump Is In Full Iran Denial Mode

Anthony Scaramucci joins Joanna Coles to explain why he believes Donald Trump knows his Iran strategy has failed—even as he doubles down in public—and why the White House is increasingly driven by one man's instincts rather than any real decision-making process. Drawing on his time inside Trump's inner circle, Scaramucci unpacks the psychology behind Trump's denial, the hidden panic among administration officials, why Democrats still haven't found a candidate capable of taking on the MAGA moveme...

Jun 18, 202658 minSeason 1Ep. 717

I Know The Truth About Trump's Sex Life: Wolff

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles examine Donald Trump's strange relationships with the women closest to him over the course of his 80 years—from Ivana and Marla Maples to the enduring mystery of Melania Trump's absence from public life. They explore how his marriages, obsession with image, and lack of genuine intimacy have shaped the man now occupying the Oval Office, revisiting his connections to Jeffrey Epstein, the world of beauty pageants and models, and the late-night Truth Social posts that ...

Jun 17, 202656 minSeason 1Ep. 126

Why Trump’s ‘Peace Deal’ is a Sham: Rothkopf

David Rothkopf and Joanna Coles take apart Donald Trump’s bizarre White House UFC spectacle, his heavily hyped “deal” with Iran, and what they argue is a presidency increasingly defined by spectacle and self-preservation. From accusations of turning the South Lawn into a political carnival, to a blistering debate over whether Trump’s Iran agreement is diplomacy or surrender, the pair connect the dots between foreign policy, political theater, and the looming battles that could define the next ph...

Jun 16, 202644 minSeason 1Ep. 716

Doctor Alarmed by Trump’s Dangerous Health Crisis

Dr. John Gartner returns to The Daily Beast Podcast to mark Donald Trump’s 80th birthday with a deeply provocative conversation about aging, cognitive decline, power, and the presidency. Speaking with Joanna Coles, Gartner argues that the public is witnessing something far more serious than normal aging, laying out his assessment of Trump’s behavior, speech patterns, late-night social media activity, health concerns, and decision-making as global crises escalate. The discussion explores dementia...

Jun 15, 202642 minSeason 1Ep. 715

I know Why Trump Is Dreading His 80th Birthday

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles mark Donald Trump entering his ninth decade with a special episode revealing new details about private discussions inside Trump’s circle over his age, health, legacy, and the future of his presidency, culminating in a striking prediction about what may lie ahead during the next two and a half years of the Trump era. On the eve of Trump turning 80, Wolff also traces the astonishing rise of a man who went from a Queens real-estate promoter to perhaps the most famous ...

Jun 14, 20261 hr 2 minSeason 1Ep. 125

Why Trump’s 80th Birthday Bash Is So Fully Corrupt

David Rothkopf and Joanna Coles recap a week in which Donald Trump stumbled from one self-inflicted crisis to the next, from mounting questions over his handling of Iran and another controversial intelligence pick to renewed scrutiny of the Epstein files and a White House increasingly consumed by political damage control. They also unpack Trump's plan to stage a UFC fight on the South Lawn of the White House as part of the celebration for his 80th birthday, examining the ethics, symbolism, and p...

Jun 13, 202639 minSeason 1Ep. 714

White House’s New Epstein Scapegoat Is Revealed

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles unpack a week in which the Jeffrey Epstein saga once again consumed Washington, examining explosive new reporting about panic, leaks, and finger-pointing inside the White House while asking who is really trying to shape the narrative around Donald Trump. Wolff argues that the most revealing detail is not Epstein himself but the apparent effort to cast JD Vance as an outsider to the president’s inner circle, exposing the rivalries and survival instincts driving the ...

Jun 12, 202651 minSeason 1Ep. 124

Why Trump's Blatant Grift Will Cost Him Dearly

Stephanie Ruhle joins Joanna Coles for a candid and incisive conversation examining the economic fallout from Trump’s escalating conflict with Iran and expands into a sharp examination of wealth, power, political influence, and the growing disconnect between Wall Street and everyday Americans. Ruhle breaks down why soaring energy costs, healthcare struggles, and what she calls a new era of American oligarchs could reshape the political landscape, while offering candid insights into Trump’s inner...

Jun 11, 202659 minSeason 1Ep. 713

Why Trump's Boundless Ego Is Sabotaging Him: Wolff

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles dive into a week that may reveal the limits of Donald Trump’s political dominance, from being loudly booed at a packed Knicks playoff game to turning the White House lawn into a UFC spectacle for his birthday celebration. Wolff argues that Trump’s drive to stamp his name on everything—from sports to immigration to the World Cup—is creating a growing list of political liabilities that now point directly back to him, while Coles recounts seeing firsthand how little a...

Jun 10, 20261 hrSeason 1Ep. 123

Trump Chaos Hits a Breaking Point

David Rothkopf and Joanna Coles dive into a week of extraordinary political turmoil, from alarming warnings about Donald Trump’s reshaping of America’s national security apparatus to growing fears over the future of democratic institutions, the intelligence community, and a rapidly escalating Middle East crisis. Along the way, they unpack protests erupting overseas over Trump-linked business ventures, the fallout from Trump’s explosive confrontation with NBC’s Kristen Welker, and the stunning up...

Jun 09, 20261 hr 4 minSeason 1Ep. 712

How My Uncle’s Con Is Fully Exposed: Mary Trump

Mary Trump returns to the Daily Beast Podcast on the week of her uncle Donald's 80th birthday to deliver one of her starkest assessments yet of a president she says is facing pressures unlike anything in his life. Drawing on her perspective as both a clinical psychologist and a member of the Trump family, Mary argues that Donald Trump is struggling to maintain control of the narrative as political setbacks, growing criticism, and the fallout from his decision to strike Iran begin to converge. Sh...

Jun 08, 202643 minSeason 1Ep. 711

Spineless GOP Are Finally Turning Against Trump

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles dissect the growing backlash against Donald Trump's inner circle, from Stephen Miller's escalating deportation agenda to the stunning appointment of Bill Pulte to oversee America's intelligence apparatus. They explore why Republican senators are suddenly questioning the loyalty-first culture that has defined Trump's administration, examine the political fallout from Todd Blanche's rise at the Justice Department, and reveal why even some of Trump's allies are strugg...

Jun 07, 20261 hr 14 minSeason 1Ep. 122

How Trump's 'Stupid' Move Backfired on Him

Ben Rhodes, former Deputy National Security Advisor to President Obama, speaks with Joanna Coles about why he believes Donald Trump is repeating the mistakes the Obama administration spent years trying to avoid, from Iran and the Strait of Hormuz to the unraveling of decades of American diplomacy. Drawing on his firsthand role in the Iran nuclear negotiations and the reopening of relations with Cuba, Rhodes explains how complex deals are actually made, why expertise matters in moments of crisis,...

Jun 06, 20261 hr 1 minSeason 1Ep. 710

Why Trump’s Now Losing on a ‘Daily Basis’: Wolff

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles dive into what Wolff argues is the beginning of a dramatic unraveling of Donald Trump’s political project, tracing how the fallout from the Iran conflict, slipping poll numbers, congressional resistance, and growing fractures inside the Republican Party are exposing deeper weaknesses in Trump’s leadership. Along the way, they unpack Trump’s relationship with Benjamin Netanyahu, the blame game unfolding inside the administration, the chaos surrounding CBS News and 6...

Jun 05, 20261 hr 5 minSeason 1Ep. 121

How I’ll Hold Royals to Account Over Epstein Ties

Andrew Lownie returns to the Daily Beast Podcast to discuss the explosive new paperback edition of his hit book Entitled, revealing how fresh disclosures, newly surfaced Epstein-related material, and a widening police investigation have intensified scrutiny of ex-Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson, and the wider royal family. Lownie argues that what began as a story about one disgraced royal has evolved into a far larger reckoning over privilege, secrecy, and accountability at the heart of the monarc...

Jun 04, 202636 minSeason 1Ep. 709

I Know Why Trump Is in His Shameless Cash Grab Era

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles unpack into a week of chaos inside the Trump White House, from a failed attempt to push through what Wolff calls an unprecedented political “grift” to Trump’s growing frustration over a war he can’t seem to escape. They unpack reports of a furious showdown with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the surprising rise of loyalists with little traditional experience, the mounting political cost of RFK Jr.’s influence, and new questions surrounding Trump’s healt...

Jun 03, 202658 minSeason 1Ep. 120

This Is Why Trump’s Dark Fantasies are Crumbling

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 ...

Jun 02, 202650 minSeason 1Ep. 708

I Know Why Trump's Pathetic Circus Is Collapsing

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-create...

Jun 01, 20261 hrSeason 1Ep. 707

I Know Why Mad King Trump Loves to Sue: Wolff

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 fa...

May 31, 20261 hr 4 minSeason 1Ep. 119

This Is the Proof Trump Is in His Deathbed Confession Era

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 s...

May 30, 202649 minSeason 1Ep. 706

How I Know Trump's at His Most Dangerous: Wolff

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 in...

May 29, 20261 hr 3 minSeason 1Ep. 118

How Trump Is Blinded by His Lunatic MAGA Faithful

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....

May 28, 202658 minSeason 1Ep. 705

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

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 aroun...

May 27, 202658 minSeason 1Ep. 117
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