The Daily Beast Podcast

In this special episode of the Daily Beast Podcast, Joanna Coles brings together a revealing collection of conversations about the forces reshaping America, from the psychology and behavior of strongmen to the increasingly visible signs of political and institutional upheaval. Dr. Ruth Ben-Ghiat explains why authoritarian leaders become more paranoid and dangerous as they accumulate power, how corruption and humiliation become tools of control, and why she believes Donald Trump may be on a trajectory toward failure. Kurt Andersen discusses his new novel The Breakup, his vision of an America fractured by political violence, and why the country may be living through an American tragedy. Plus, Farrah Tomazin reports from Washington on Trump's physical transformation of the capital, the troubled Reflecting Pool project, and the surprisingly empty Great American State Fair.

#ad Get 15% off OneSkin with the code BEAST at https://www.oneskin.co/BEAST #oneskinpod

#ad Download the Kalshi app and use code TDB to get $20 when you trade $20. https://kalshi.com/r/tdb
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jennifer Welch, Nell Scovell and Joanna Coles take a sharp, often hilarious look at the women who have managed to get under Donald Trump’s skin—from Taylor Swift and Rosie O’Donnell to E. Jean Carroll, Caitlin Collins and Marjorie Taylor Greene. They explore why Trump seems unable to tolerate women who reject him, challenge him or simply refuse to play along, and how his fixation on female approval exposes something deeper about his ego. Jennifer Welch also takes aim at the women and men surrounding Trump, from Melania and Ivanka to Susie Wiles, JD Vance and Marco Rubio, arguing that dysfunction, submission and entitlement are central to the Trump orbit. Nell revisits her bizarre connection to the E. Jean Carroll case, Trump’s obsession with his own sex appeal, and the extraordinary history of women who have refused to flatter him—and paid a price for it.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sarah Ewall-Wice joins Hugh Dougherty for a jaw-dropping tour through the latest scandals engulfing Trump’s Washington, from Fox News star Maria Bartiromo’s sudden firing after allegedly sharing internal network communications with the White House, to the extraordinary leaks exposing a growing revolt against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth inside the Pentagon. They reveal Hegseth’s brutal new nickname, the military brass openly pushing back against his orders, and why the chaos could spell trouble for one of Trump’s most controversial Cabinet picks. Then comes Trump’s very own “Trumpapalooza” midterm spectacle, where vulnerable Republicans are scrambling to stay away—and Melania Trump’ snub to said event. Sarah also brings the latest on Mitch McConnell’s mysterious absence, the growing questions surrounding Susan Collins and John Fetterman, and the revelations about Fetterman blowing off veterans and a children’s hospital while making time for Fox News. And just when the scandals seem impossible to top, Hugh and Sarah turn to the Inspector General’s explosive findings about former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, involving a strip club, taxpayer-funded security, alleged drinking on the job, and an alleged affair that takes Trump-era Cabinet chaos to an entirely new level.

#ad Go to https://leesa.com and use promo code DAILYBEAST for 30% off select mattresses plus an extra $50 off, exclusive for The Daily Beast Podcast listeners.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles look at Donald Trump’s long-standing appetite for power, from his determination to get around courts and regulations to the possibility that he could use his enormous political war chest to maintain influence long after leaving office. They examine the growing crisis around Pete Hegseth, why Trump appears threatened by competence, and how the war with Iran is exposing deeper failures in American leadership. They also trace the economic risks tied to tariffs, interest rates and the massive AI boom, before turning to the increasingly volatile 2026 midterms, dark money, mail-in voting and the presence of U.S. Marshals at polling places.

#ad Download SAILY's app and use code beast at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase! For further details go to https://saily.com/beast
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Carville returns to the Daily Beast Podcast with a blunt prediction for the midterms, arguing that Donald Trump’s grip on Republicans could become their biggest liability as voters head to the polls. Carville weighs in on Republicans trying to distance themselves from Trump, the spectacle and price tag of Trump’s upcoming Dallas convention, and why he believes Democrats should cover it relentlessly. He also delivers a stark warning about Pete Hegseth’s impact on the military, argues that Trump could walk away from the presidency when Republicans turn on him, and makes a striking prediction about who will control the Senate in January.

#ad Go to https://ro.co/dailybeast to see if you qualify and get started on Ro. For side effects of GLP-1 medications, including Boxed Warning, go to https://ro.co/safety
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices