Steve Schmidt returns to the Daily Beast Podcast to discuss the mounting political and ethical scandals surrounding Donald Trump, JD Vance, and the president’s inner circle as the midterm elections approach. Speaking with Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty, Schmidt takes aim at the alleged corruption surrounding Donald Trump Jr.’s Russian-linked wedding, the kidnapping of Ukrainian children, and the Trump administration’s handling of the war in Iran. He lays out his vision for how Democrats should use congressional power to restore checks and balances, hold officials like Pete Hegseth accountable, and investigate the administration’s actions. Schmidt also weighs in on the Democratic candidates to watch, the growing backlash against MAGA, and the economic pressures threatening to reshape the political landscape.

#ad Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/beast to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you.

#ad INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/beast 🛡️

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles look at Donald Trump’s escalating battles with the Supreme Court, the collapse of the Kennedy Center under his control, and his increasingly aggressive response to the AI debate, where Trump has declared that “whoever wins AI wins” while threatening critics and accusing them of conspiracy. They also examine Trump’s rollback of climate protections, his approach to conflict as a political strategy, and the extraordinary allegations surrounding Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding and its Russian connections. Plus, Trump’s threat against Oman, the consequences of burning through missile supplies in Iran, Jared Kushner’s transformation of American diplomacy into a business operation, and what a post-Trump administration could look like if Democrats make major gains in the midterms.

#ad Unlock your best hair & skin with @iRestorelaser and HUGE savings on iRESTORE with code BEAST  at https://irestore.com/BEAST! #irestorepod 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Coles and David Rothkopf dive into Donald Trump’s bizarre trip to Ireland, from his increasingly public reliance on aide Natalie Harp to his stunning comments about a united Ireland, before turning to the explosive new revelations surrounding Don Jr.’s Kremlin-linked wedding. Rothkopf traces the Trump family’s decades-long connections to Russian money, boxing, oligarchs, and corruption, arguing that the same forces shaping the president today have been there all along. They also take a look at Trump’s enormous new White House ballroom, the latest battle over the Kennedy Center, and his embrace of what Rothkopf calls a “Doomsday President” agenda—from AI and climate change to pandemics and nuclear weapons. But as the midterms approach, there may finally be a reason for optimism, with a new generation of Democrats—including Georgia Senate candidate Jon Ossoff—offering a potential path out of the Trump era.

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

#ad Unlock your best hair & skin with @iRestorelaser and HUGE savings on iRESTORE with code DAILYBEAST  at https://irestore.com/DAILYBEAST ! #irestorepod

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jacob Weisberg, author of the new book Profiles in Cowardice, speaks with Joanna Coles about the powerful Americans and institutions that once stood up to Donald Trump and what changed when he returned to office. Weisberg explains why Jeff Bezos went from resisting Trump to accommodating him, how Chief Justice John Roberts helped expand presidential power, and why Mitch McConnell may have had the clearest opportunity to prevent Trump’s second term. They also discuss Megyn Kelly’s transformation from a journalist who confronted Trump into a major MAGA voice, the pressures driving business leaders, universities and law firms to capitulate, and the dangerous short-term thinking behind those choices. But Weisberg argues that the story is bigger than eight individuals: courage and cowardice are contagious, and the willingness of institutions to stand together may determine whether they can withstand an increasingly coercive presidency.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles unpack Donald Trump’s trip to Ireland, his apparent struggle to stay awake at a 9/11 memorial, and the increasingly conspicuous signs that the president’s hold on his party may be starting to weaken. They dig into JD Vance’s careful balancing act between loyalty to Trump and positioning himself as his successor, including the growing machinery behind a potential 2028 campaign, before turning to RFK Jr.’s surprisingly commanding performance at the Republican mini-convention and the extraordinary political path that brought him into Trump’s orbit. Ted Cruz also makes his inevitable return, while Trump’s own reaction to the prospect of a Republican successor looms over the entire discussion. Finally, Michael and Joanna take a close look at the new E. Jean Carroll documentary, her decision to come forward, the consequences she faced, and why her story takes on an even more powerful dimension when told in her own words.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Coles and Hugh Dougherty take apart Trump’s bizarre week of self-glorification and political humiliation  — from the half-empty “Trump-a-palooza” where his supporters were urged to “cheat like hell,” to the Republican candidate he publicly belittled and the disturbing threats of political violence echoing through the crowd. Then comes the confrontation with ABC’s Rachel Scott, when Trump lunges into an angry tirade over his $5,000 checks, exposing a startling flash of the rage and intimidation that increasingly seems to be bubbling just beneath the surface. As Trump’s war in Iran worsens and his social media outbursts grow increasingly unhinged, Hugh and Joanna ask whether we are watching a president unravel in real time. And on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Trump’s strangely low-energy appearance at the Pentagon—and his apparent struggle to engage with a day that isn’t about him—provides an unsettling ending to one of the most revealing weeks yet.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/beast 🛡️ #ad 

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles dissect Donald Trump’s latest spectacle, from his bizarre claim that he was a hero at Ground Zero following 9/11 to the half-empty Republican convention in Dallas that Trump insists was packed. They look at why Trump is dragging himself into the midterm elections despite his deeply unpopular standing, and Wolff argues that the bigger strategy is to make sure the Republican Party never imagines life without him. They also examine Trump’s escalating war with Iran, his efforts to sow confusion around mail-in voting, and his habit of announcing major policies and promises in the moment, including $5,000 checks for every American adult if Republicans win. Then comes the strangest mystery of all: why Trump handed out tens of thousands of dollars in cash to members of his inner circle, including a $45,000 payment to Natalie Harp, and Wolff offers his theory about what those payments may have bought. The episode also gets into Jimmy Kimmel’s fight with the Trump administration, the growing power of YouTube over traditional television, and why the media business itself may be undergoing a transformation that Trump is accelerating.

#ad For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping and free treats for life, when you head to https://Smalls.com/HEAD.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Rothkopf joins Hugh Dougherty to confront Donald Trump’s latest attempt to make America’s darkest moments all about himself, from his grotesque rewriting of 9/11 to a Republican Party increasingly willing to lie, grovel, and look the other way to keep Trump in power. They take apart Trump’s bizarre “Trump-a-palooza,” the dysfunction and sycophancy consuming the White House, and the powerful forces already positioning themselves for the next chapter of the MAGA movement. Rothkopf connects Trump’s politics to the surging far right across Europe, Putin’s ambitions in Ukraine, and the possibility of another Russian intervention before the midterms. Meanwhile, Mark Carney’s rise as a symbol of resistance to Trump offers a striking glimpse at what American leadership used to look like. As the 25th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, Rothkopf delivers a sobering warning: the danger isn’t simply Trump himself, but the movement, money, and ideology waiting to carry his legacy forward.

#ad For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping and free treats for life, when you head to https://Smalls.com/BEAST.

#ad Go to https://san.com/dailybeast to get the unbiased truth on the stories that matter, only on the Straight Arrow app. Let’s exit the echo chamber.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles dissect Donald Trump’s latest transformation, from his dramatically darker hair and increasingly bizarre AI images to the social-media strategy that has turned political spectacle into a powerful weapon. They look at Trump’s influence on the surging far right across Europe, why Wolff believes Trump may be the cause rather than merely the symptom of the global populist wave, and whether a Russia-Ukraine peace deal could give Trump the ultimate midterm “October surprise.” They also examine the growing pressure on Pete Hegseth, the extraordinary purge of military leaders, and the leak-hunting campaign inside the Pentagon before turning to Mitch McConnell's continued absence, John Fetterman, and a new breed of politician who treats convention, competence, and even showing up for the job as optional.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles take on Donald Trump’s increasingly bizarre relationship with Vladimir Putin as Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff head to Moscow, asking what Trump’s Russia fixation is really about and why Putin seems so comfortable dealing directly with Trump’s inner circle. They also dissect Trump’s obsession with the Qatari plane, his plans to leave a permanent physical mark on the White House, and the latest battle over his triumphal arch. Then, Maria Bartiromo’s sudden departure from Fox News opens a revealing discussion about her long relationship with Trump and the network’s transformation under the Murdoch family, before Melania Trump’s conspicuous absence from the GOP’s midterm gathering raises fresh questions about the state of the Trump marriage. Finally, Wolff and Coles turn to the chaos at the Pentagon, where dozens of officials are being subjected to lie-detector tests as Pete Hegseth faces mounting questions about his leadership and the military’s ability to function.

#ad Free trial at https://shopify.com/dailybeast

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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