Published by The Daily Beast, Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles
Society & Culture
News
Character is destiny and no character has defined or deformed the 21st century more than Donald Trump. In this new podcast series, the definitive Trump biographer Michael Wolff joins forces with the Daily Beast’s provocateur-in-chief Joanna Coles to crack open the psyche of the man the world can’t stop watching. Coles and Wolff balance candor with curiosity as they dissect Trump’s thoughts and actions and try to answer the ultimate question: what drives the most powerful man alive? This is the analysis no one else has the access, authority, or ambition to deliver. Ignore it at your peril. New episodes every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday; early drops on YouTube. If you’re not already a subscriber to The Daily Beast, it’s easy! Just sign up here.
Why Trump’s Desperate Ploy to Be Serious Is a Sham
Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles argue that Donald Trump's trip to Camp David wasn't a show of strength but a sign of growing desperation, as he tries to project presidential gravitas while, they contend, becoming trapped in a war he cannot win and surrounded by advisers whose public loyalty masks private disbelief. They break down why Todd Blanche may be discovering the true cost of working for Trump, how a powerful Trump fundraiser is amassing a staggering war chest for his post-White House influence, and why Trump's grip on the Republican Party could outlast his presidency even as his poll numbers slide. Plus, they dissect the unraveling of the James Comey investigation, the bizarre role of Sammy "The Bull" Gravano, the dropped charges against Olympian Davey Hearn, and what Mitch McConnell's prolonged absence says about Washington's aging power structure in a conversation that reveals how the spectacle around Trump may be obscuring far more consequential shifts behind the scenes. 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 #ad If you’re ever injured in an accident, you can check out Morgan & Morgan. You can start your claim in just a click without having to leave your couch: https://ForThePeople.com/TRUMP #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why Trump Is Melting Down Over His Unsolvable Mess
Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles trace what they argue is a turning point for Donald Trump as the consequences of his biggest political bets begin to close in around him. They break down why Trump's Iran strategy has left him boxed in with no clear exit, how the war has reshaped his standing at home and abroad, and why even his closest allies may now be adding to his problems instead of solving them. They also examine the fallout from Lindsey Graham's funeral, Darlene Graham's Senate ambitions, Anthony Fauci's newly revealed diaries, RFK Jr.'s growing influence over vaccine policy, and the surprising White House tensions that expose deeper cracks inside Trump's orbit. Start your free trial today at https://shopify.com/dailybeast #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This Is What Trump Is Plotting Instead of Death
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This Is What Happens After Trump’s Public Meltdown
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Melania Is Trying to Ruin Me For Daring to Sue Her
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. Go to https://ground.news/BEAST for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off the Vantage plan for unlimited access to world wide news coverage through my link. #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why Melania's New Grab Is Terrifying Trump: Wolff
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 Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles reveal why the cracks inside Donald Trump's inner circle may be growing faster than anyone realizes, from Melania Trump's increasingly distant relationship with the president to the private negotiations reportedly required for her rare public appearances. They also explore how Trump's personal grudges continue to shape White House decisions, why his Middle East strategy risks becoming the very kind of forever war he once promised to avoid, and how resistance from Republican senators could complicate his agenda heading into the midterms. Along the way, they discuss J.D. Vance's long-term ambitions, shifting power dynamics inside the Republican Party, and why Trump's second presidency may already be entering a very different and far more unpredictable phase. Use code BEAST at the link below to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan: https://incogni.com/beast #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why Loser Trump Melted Down In Front of Me: Wolff
Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles confront one of the most unsettling questions of Donald Trump's presidency yet, arguing that his relentless fixation on the 2020 election may be more than political theater as they explore what it could mean for a commander in chief they believe has lost his grip on reality. They break down Trump's increasingly erratic speech, the networks that refused to air it, the growing influence of Natalie Harp, the mystery surrounding Melania Trump's disappearance from public view, and the latest controversies engulfing Truth Social. They also trace the subtle but unmistakable ways JD Vance is positioning himself for a post-Trump Republican Party through his comments on Iran, Jeffrey Epstein, and Joe Rogan's podcast, while examining the power struggles and shifting loyalties that could define the months ahead. 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 #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This Is The Truth About Hegseth's Bizarre HRT Plan
Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles trace the latest twists inside Trump's political strategy, from Pete Hegseth's testosterone push and what it could reveal about the battle for the MAGA base in 2028, to Todd Blanche's confirmation hearing and the extraordinary moment that exposed how Trump views the Justice Department. They explain why Blanche's role goes far beyond one nomination, how Trump's obsession with the 2020 election continues to shape every major decision inside his administration, and why his sinking approval ratings aren't changing his approach. The conversation also explores the political fallout from ICE shootings, the growing backlash over AI data centers, and the high-stakes speech Trump is preparing to deliver as Republicans quietly worry about what he'll say next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This Is The Dark Reason Trump Terrified Graham
Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles dig into the political fallout from the sudden death of Lindsey Graham, revealing what Trump was really thinking behind his public tributes, how Truth Social posts are crafted inside his inner circle, and why Graham's complicated relationship with the president was driven as much by fear and access as loyalty. They also dissect the growing speculation surrounding Mitch McConnell's health, Trump's increasingly inescapable Middle East conflict despite his promise to avoid forever wars, and why Michael believes the president is trapped by his own inability to change course. Finally, they turn to an unexpected force reshaping the Democratic Party, making the case that Bernie Sanders may have had a far greater impact on American politics than even his critics are willing to admit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why Trump Is Raging at Enemy Who Keeps Beating Him
Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles break down a moment when Donald Trump appears trapped on multiple fronts, from an Iran conflict that refuses to bend to his demands to mounting questions about his political instincts, shrinking leverage, and growing frustrations inside the White House. They explore whether relentless threats against Trump are weighing on him, why his fixation on Air Force One may reveal more than it seems, how the Epstein controversy could resurface through Todd Blanche's confirmation fight, and whether aggressive immigration tactics are creating a political backlash that could reshape the midterms. Along the way, they dissect Trump's latest Truth Social outbursts, the mystery surrounding Mitch McConnell, the administration's escalating clashes with the press, and why Michael believes Iran has found a way to keep Trump locked in a conflict he cannot control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why Trump's Thirst for Attention Will Unravel Him
Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles reveal what they argue is Donald Trump's true guiding principle: not policy, power, or ideology, but an unrelenting pursuit of attention. From Trump's NATO performance and the mystery surrounding his abandoned Qatari "Grift Force One" to the latest twists in E. Jean Carroll's legal victory, they examine how personality continues to shape the presidency. They also break down the collapse of Democratic Senate hopeful Graham Plattner's campaign, what it says about authenticity in modern politics, and the growing intrigue surrounding Mitch McConnell's unexplained absence from public view. Along the way, Wolff offers fresh reporting from inside Trump's orbit and argues that understanding Trump's psychology remains the key to understanding the decisions that keep reshaping American politics. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Reason Why Trump Keeps Getting Worse: Wolff
Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles break down the latest clues to what's really driving Donald Trump, from his attempts to influence FIFA and his obsession with being at the center of every spectacle to the staggering financial windfall he's reaped from his crypto empire while hundreds of thousands of investors have collectively lost billions. They also unpack the scandal engulfing Democratic Senate hopeful Graham Platner, Trump's instinctive defense of embattled public figures, the changing rules of modern politics, the future of NATO as Trump heads into another high-stakes summit, and why Michael believes Democrats still haven't figured out how to capture the country's moral attention in the Trump era. Start your free trial today at https://shopify.com/dailybeast #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This Is How Trump Will Destroy His Own Goons
Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles break down why the political winds may finally be shifting against Donald Trump, and what Michael believes is the single psychological factor that could determine whether his presidency survives the coming midterms. They examine the fallout from Trump's strikes on Iran, the political gamble of rising gas prices, the increasingly competitive Senate map in Texas and Maine, and why Republicans could suddenly find themselves defending territory they once took for granted. Along the way, they explore the Democratic Party's uncertain strategy, Elon Musk's lingering political influence, and whether Trump has any path back if Republicans suffer the kind of losses Wolff predicts, before closing with a revealing look inside how Trump is likely to react if the election becomes the biggest setback of his political career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Melania Is Unleashing Revenge Dogs on Me: Wolff
Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles pull back the curtain on the hidden power brokers shaping Donald Trump’s presidency, revealing why one little-known lawyer may now wield more influence over Trump’s legal strategy than anyone else. Wolff shares explosive new details from his personal legal battle with Melania Trump, explains how Trump’s courtroom tactics are designed to drain opponents through delay and intimidation, and argues that the president’s legal operation now revolves around a modern-day Roy Cohn. They also unpack Trump’s staggering $2.2 billion windfall, Melania’s multimillion-dollar earnings, the Supreme Court’s latest decisions, the growing fight inside the Democratic Party ahead of the midterms, and why Trump’s off-the-cuff foreign policy comments continue to reshape global headlines despite, as Wolff argues, having little grounding in reality. Visit https://ffrf.us/TRUMP or text TRUMP to 511511 to learn more and join the Freedom From Religion Foundation. #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
I Know the Truth About Trump's Demented Greed
Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles unpack what Wolff argues is a fundamental misunderstanding of Donald Trump—not simply that he profits from power, but that he genuinely believes he deserves to, tracing what they call a mindset driven as much by grievance and revenge as greed. They examine the Trump family's latest business entanglements, the growing controversy over self-dealing, the fallout from the Supreme Court's latest decisions, and why Trump appears increasingly fixated on changing election rules as new polls point to political trouble ahead. The conversation also tackles the escalating crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump's handling of Iran and Ukraine, his relationship with Vladimir Putin, and the strategic blunders they believe could reshape both America's standing abroad and the coming midterm elections. If you’re ever injured in an accident, you can check out Morgan & Morgan. You can start your claim in just a click without having to leave your couch: https://ForThePeople.com/TRUMP #ad Head to https://Superpower.com and use code BEAST at checkout for $20 off your membership. Unlock your new health intelligence. 100+ biomarkers. Every year. Detect early signs of 1,000+ conditions. #superpowerpod #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why Trump Inner Circle Fears Blonde Companion, 34
Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles unpack another extraordinary week inside Donald Trump's presidency, from a major Supreme Court victory that could dramatically expand presidential power to the increasingly blurred line between church and state, the political fallout from the fragile Iran ceasefire, and why Trump may once again escape the consequences of a foreign policy setback. They also dig into the mystery surrounding Natalie Harp, Trump's fiercely devoted "human printer," as new reporting catches up with revelations first explored by Wolff, examine why the New York Times is only now embracing the idea that Trump governs through obsession rather than strategy, debate Trump's latest fixation with the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, and reveal the strange political calculations behind JD Vance's Nixon comparisons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why Manic Trump Is in His ‘Crazy Uncle’ Era: Wolff
Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles examine a White House that suddenly looks far less invincible, as Donald Trump lashes out at Republican senators, alienates allies he desperately needs, and faces growing signs that even the MAGA movement is beginning to question his leadership. They unpack Tucker Carlson's remarkable break with Trump, why JD Vance may be quietly positioning himself for what comes next, the political fallout from the Iran conflict, Pete Hegseth's shake-up of America's military leadership, and the surprising rise of Zohran Mamdani's influence inside the Democratic Party. From Trump's increasingly erratic behavior to the shifting alliances forming around him, this episode traces the cracks spreading through both parties as the 2028 race begins to take shape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 Keir Starmer's resignation, the impossible demands of modern political leadership, and why Volodymyr Zelensky's resilience is reshaping the war in Ukraine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 of the lavish Qatari jet, the strange psychology behind Trump's obsession with status, and why even something as trivial as a chair at the G7 becomes a window into his mindset. Plus, they explore what Trump's reaction to the Obama Library opening says about the rival world he still can't escape, and why vulgarity—not ideology—may be the key to understanding his enduring appeal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 feud with Senate Republicans, the political gamble behind a UFC spectacle on the White House lawn, and why his drive for personal legacy could be reshaping his presidency more than any policy victory ever could. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Observed July 30, 2026.
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