The Daily Beast Podcast

Latest Episodes:

I Know Dark Secret Truth About Missing Mitch: Guru Jul 30, 2026

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Steve Schmidt returns to the Daily Beast Podcast to discuss the extraordinary mystery surrounding Mitch McConnell’s disappearance from public view, why he believes McConnell’s team may be hiding the true extent of the senator’s condition, and what Kentucky’s governor can and can’t do about it. Schmidt also takes aim at Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran war, argues that the conflict has already spiraled into a much larger global confrontation, and delivers a blistering assessment of Lindsey Graham’s political legacy. Plus, he explains why Democrats are blowing a crucial opportunity ahead of the midterms and why a Trump defeat could actually make the MAGA movement even more extreme.

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This Is What Trump Is Plotting Instead of Death Jul 29, 2026

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Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles take a look at Donald Trump’s obsession with outlasting everyone around him, from the strange question of how Trump wants to be remembered to the political future he may be plotting from Mar-a-Lago. They also dissect JD Vance’s new book and the remarkable contradictions at its center: a man searching for God while relentlessly pursuing power, trying to distance himself from Trump while positioning himself to inherit MAGA, and presenting himself as a reluctant participant in a political life he has clearly hustled to achieve. Along the way, Wolff and Coles expose the gaps between Vance’s carefully constructed story and the reality behind it—and why his book may reveal far more about his ambitions than he intended.

Presented by PMI U.S., US Businesses of Philip Morris International. Share a prediction on America's future for a chance to be featured on The Daily Beast Podcast: https://beast.pub/america250

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This Is the Proof that Trump Fears the Grim Reaper Jul 28, 2026

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David Rothkopf and Joanna Coles discuss a whirlwind week of political chaos, from Donald Trump’s rocky White House Correspondents’ Dinner performance and late-night Truth Social barrage to growing questions about the administration’s handling of the Iran conflict and the Pentagon’s casualty figures. They examine why Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Benjamin Netanyahu all appear increasingly boxed in by wars and political pressure, dig into the high-stakes Saudi nuclear negotiations, and explore what Ukraine’s battlefield successes could mean for Russia’s future. The conversation also dives into the Tate brothers’ latest legal troubles and the widening cracks in Trump’s political strategy, delivering sharp analysis, insider context, and the bigger picture behind the headlines as global events collide in ways that could reshape the months ahead.

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This Is My Dark Prediction for How Trump Will Die Jul 27, 2026

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Kurt Andersen returns to the Daily Beast Podcast to discuss his provocative new novel The Breakup, a chilling vision of America's future that imagines the country pushed to its breaking point after Donald Trump's death sparks nationwide unrest. Andersen explains why the political chaos of the past few years forced him to make his fictional America even darker, whether the country is already living through a national tragedy, and why he believes imagining uncomfortable futures may be the only way to prepare for them. Joanna Coles and Andersen debate whether AI will make us smarter or stop us from thinking altogether, dissect Jon Ossoff's standout performance against Pete Hegseth, size up the most alarming figures in Trump's orbit, and explore why today's political theater increasingly resembles professional wrestling. Head to https://www.tryfum.com/BEAST and use promo code BEAST to get your free gift with purchase, and start The Good Habit today! #ad Use code BEAST at the link below to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan: https://incogni.com/beast #ad

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This Is What Happens After Trump’s Public Meltdown Jul 26, 2026

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Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles dive into a week that reveals Donald Trump’s deepest fixations and growing political vulnerabilities, from his unwavering obsession with tariffs to the mounting risks surrounding RFK Jr., soaring measles cases, and a White House increasingly consumed by its own crises. They debate whether Trump’s widely criticized appearance at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was a show of confidence or desperation, reveal why one long-dead television host may still have more influence over Trump than anyone in his inner circle, and examine what rising oil prices, Iran, and the midterm elections could mean for his presidency. Plus, they break down Trump’s surprising embrace of Darline Graham and the politics behind her rapid rise, the strange role of health supplements in MAGA, the chaos surrounding JD Vance, and the revealing clues that point to what may really be happening inside the president’s mind.

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Why This Trump Leak is The Most Devastating Yet Jul 25, 2026

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Presented by PMI U.S., US Businesses of Philip Morris International. Share a prediction on America's future for a chance to be featured on The Daily Beast Podcast: https://beast.pub/america250 #ad

Joanna Coles and Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty trace the cracks spreading through Donald Trump’s White House as a flood of new leaks reveals an administration gripped by chaos, infighting, and mounting pressure over the escalating conflict with Iran. They dig into reports of Trump’s Oval Office outbursts, the controversy surrounding fallen American service members, Laura Loomer’s stunning reversal on Ukraine, and the growing questions surrounding Mitch McConnell’s prolonged absence from the Senate. They also reveal fresh reporting on the battle to replace Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat, explore the latest twists in the Jeffrey Epstein saga, and examine how the Tate brothers’ legal troubles could create new political headaches for Trump’s inner circle.

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Melania Is Trying to Ruin Me For Daring to Sue Her Jul 24, 2026

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Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles break down Donald Trump's latest chaotic moves, starting with his immediate renegotiation of a brand-new Saudi nuclear deal and the astonishing legal escalation in Melania Trump’s lawsuit against Wolff. Coles and Wolff expose the political desperation behind the administration's sudden push for teenage abstinence, alongside Trump's retro attacks on Senator Jon Ossoff and other rising Democrats. They also examine JD Vance's latest book, his sudden spiritual pivot, and consider what the Vice President’s dark fixation on demons reveals about his unbridled ambition.

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Why Trump's Ballroom Bunker Proves He's Terrified Jul 23, 2026

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See if your SSN is for sale right now. My sponsor Cloaked will tell you for free in 2 seconds here: https://cloaked.com/dailybeast ✅ #ad Ruth Ben-Ghiat, historian and authoritarian expert speaks with Joanna Coles about whether America is already experiencing the early stages of autocracy, why Donald Trump's behavior follows patterns seen in strongmen throughout history, and what happens when leaders surround themselves with loyalists instead of truth-tellers. Drawing on decades of research, Ben-Ghiat explains why weakening leaders can become more dangerous, how propaganda, humiliation, corruption, and loyalty tests reinforce authoritarian power, and why wars and economic turmoil often accelerate a strongman's decline.

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This Moment Proves Trump's Brain Is Pure Porridge Jul 21, 2026

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David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles to discuss Donald Trump's awkward World Cup appearance. A moment complete with loud boos and a bewildered walk across the championship stage, sparks a broader conversation about a president increasingly disconnected from reality at home and abroad. They examine Trump's rambling public appearances, the mounting toll of his foreign policy decisions, and why his critics argue his presidency is becoming defined by ego, chaos, and an alarming lack of empathy. David and Joanna delve into the growing influence of the “Manosphere” inside MAGA, the arrest of Andrew and Tristan Tate, the administration's controversial priorities, and what they reveal about the culture surrounding Trump. From E. Jean Carroll collecting her judgment to fears over election integrity, international legal exposure, and the expanding web of political corruption, they connect the week's biggest stories into a sobering portrait of an administration consumed by loyalty, image, and self-preservation—and explain why the consequences of today's headlines may be felt long after Trump's presidency comes to an end.

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I Know the Men’s Issue Pete Hegseth Has Really Got Jul 20, 2026

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Jennifer Welch returns to the Daily Beast Podcast after setting off a political firestorm, revealing how one comment about homeschooling landed her in the crosshairs of the Department of Education and conservative media before she and Joanna Coles turn their attention to the week's biggest political battles. From Pete Hegseth's obsession with testosterone and Jennifer's blistering critique of the MAGA movement to Mitch McConnell's health, Andy Beshear's political future, Todd Blanche, the Epstein files, and the growing fractures inside both parties Jennifer delivers some of her most provocative takes yet as she explains why Democrats need to stop playing defense, why Republican infighting is only getting worse, and why the stories dominating Washington are far from over.

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