The Daily Beast Podcast

David Rothkopf, The Daily Beast’s unmissable columnist, joins Joanna Coles to unpack Donald Trump’s disastrous return to Davos and why it may mark a genuine rupture in the world order. What was once a gathering fueled by prestige and pretense becomes, this year, a summit driven by fear—of Trump’s bullying, his ignorance, his threats on trade, NATO, Greenland, and allies who once trusted the United States. Rothkopf explains why European leaders walked out, why markets rattled, why the EU froze trade talks, and why figures like Mark Carney are now openly warning that this is not a transition but a break. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to take apart the most durable myth of Trump’s presidency: the idea that there is some master strategist at work. As Ukraine remains unresolved, the economy wobbles, and Trump’s promised “day one” deals evaporate, Wolff argues that what actually sustains Trump is not strategy but performance — a relentless projection of dominance learned on reality television and refined in politics. They trace how Trump’s refusal to retreat, apologize, or show weakness keeps him squeaking through moments that logic says should break him, from Greenland to Epstein to Minneapolis, each distraction layered atop the last. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Graham Platner joins Joanna Coles for a blunt conversation about Donald Trump, power, and accountability, arguing that Trump’s abuses must be investigated and punished—not waved away. The insurgent Democratic Senate candidate from Maine takes on the Epstein files, the weaponization of ICE, tariff fallout, and why even Trump voters feel betrayed, while explaining why he’s challenging Susan Collins and defying the Democratic establishment in a race that’s become a test of whether the rule of law still applies at the top. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett joins Joanna Coles to discuss the high-stakes chaos gripping Washington and the threats facing members of Congress. From MAGA loyalty and the Epstein files to redistricting battles in Texas, Crockett lays out the unprecedented pressures on lawmakers navigating a government where fear, intimidation, and partisanship are the new normal. She also opens up about her Senate bid, the strategies behind expanding the electorate, and the mentors guiding her path, offering a rare, candid look at power, courage, and conscience in a fraught political moment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles to unpack Trump’s latest high-stakes drama: the Insurrection Act and his escalating presence in American cities. From Minneapolis as ground zero to ICE agents wielding “absolute immunity,” Wolff breaks down how conflict and chaos have become Trump’s strategy, not his mistake. Joanna and Wolff explore the administration’s doubling down, the Democratic Party’s faltering response, and the curious absence of figures like Barack Obama and George W. Bush—two leaders with the authority to counter Trump’s moves. They also trace Trump’s foreign entanglements, from Venezuela to Iran, and the surprising ways reality continues to diverge from his proclamations. With Trump’s threats backfiring at home and abroad, the conversation exposes a presidency ruled by drama, distraction, and the relentless pursuit of power. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.