The Daily Beast Podcast

In this special episode of The Daily Beast Podcast, Joanna Coles speaks with Dr. John Gartner and Dr. Bruce Davidson about the alarming signs they believe point to Donald Trump’s physical and cognitive decline, from garbled speeches and late-night posting frenzies to what Davidson argues are visible symptoms of a past stroke. The two doctors break down Trump’s increasingly erratic public behavior, explosive decision-making, obsession with personal glorification, and troubling verbal confabulations, while warning about the risks of unchecked power in the hands of a president they believe is rapidly deteriorating. Drawing on decades of medical experience and years of closely tracking Trump’s behavior, Gartner and Davidson deliver a chilling analysis of the man currently commanding America’s military and political future. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at https://shopify.com/dailybeast #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Steve Schmidt returns to the Daily Beast Podcast with a blistering warning about Donald Trump’s unraveling grip on power, the Republican Party’s “Shakespearean” collapse into cowardice, and why he believes MAGA is heading toward a political wipeout. In a conversation that ricochets from the Epstein files to the future of American democracy, Schmidt tears into GOP leaders he says have “lashed themselves to the mast,” predicts a brutal reckoning in 2028, and unleashes a stunning critique of John Fetterman, calling the Pennsylvania senator unfit for office after his stroke and accusing Fox News of psychologically manipulating him in public. Schmidt also paints a deeply alarming picture of America’s standing abroad, arguing the U.S. is already losing a hidden war with Iran while Trump drifts toward another dangerous foreign adventure in Cuba, all as gas prices soar and public frustration boils over. Schmidt then turns his fire on Jeff Bezos and the billionaire class he says chose submission over resistance, framing this political era not just as a fight over power, but as a historic test of national character that future generations will study with disbelief. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles unpack a week of chaos inside Trumpworld, beginning with Wolff’s explosive courtroom setback in his legal fight with Melania Trump and delving into what they describe as a justice system warped by Trump’s influence. From a mysterious $1.8 billion “slush fund” settlement and the ongoing culture of intimidation around the media, to Don Jr.’s lavish Bahamas wedding conspicuously missing one major guest—his own father—the episode peels back the dysfunction, rivalries, and raw narcissism driving the Trump family. Wolff and Coles also dissect Tulsi Gabbard’s abrupt exit, Pete Hegseth’s latest foreign policy blunder, Jeff Bezos publicly praising Trump while cashing in on the new political order, and the surreal possibility that former Brexit architect Steve Hilton could become governor of California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Coles and Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty reunite for a blistering breakdown of what they call the most brazen Trump grift yet: a staggering $1.7 billion taxpayer-funded “victims” fund that could benefit January 6 rioters, MAGA loyalists, and even Trump allies accused of crimes, all while Republican lawmakers panic behind closed doors over the political fallout. They trace the astonishing timeline from Trump’s hidden tax returns to a surreal legal battle in which Trump effectively sued his own government, before unpacking explosive new polling showing his support collapsing amid outrage over Iran, ICE, and mounting corruption allegations. The conversation also veers into the mysterious disappearance of New Jersey Congressman Tom Kean Jr., the turmoil consuming CBS and 60 Minutes after Anderson Cooper’s dramatic exit, and Trump’s late-night obsession with Stephen Colbert as his approval numbers spiral downward. For a limited time, Honeylove is offering up to 50% off sitewide during their Memorial Day sale at honeylove.com/DAILYBEAST. #honeylovepod #ad Try QUO for free and plus get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.quo.com/BEAST #ad Visit https://ffrf.us/BEAST or text "BEAST" to 511511 to join or learn more about protecting the separation of church and state as America approaches its 250th anniversary. #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles trace the unraveling inside Donald Trump’s shrinking inner circle as the president turns to disgraced Hollywood director Brett Ratner as his newest confidant amid collapsing poll numbers, growing political panic, and what Wolff describes as a breathtaking $1.8 billion “slush fund” designed to protect Trump and reward loyalists before the walls close in. From Ratner’s sudden return from Hollywood exile through Melania’s documentary, to Trump’s revenge campaigns against Republicans and increasingly erratic foreign policy moves, the episode follows a White House spiraling deeper into grievance, paranoia, and self-interest. Wolff and Coles unpack Trump’s fixation on loyalty over competence and the surreal cast of characters now surrounding him as longtime allies fall away and new opportunists rush in, creating one of the clearest portraits yet of a presidency operating without restraint or even the pretense of normal politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. John Gartner returns to The Daily Beast Podcast to deliver an urgent, chilling analysis of Donald Trump’s rapidly deteriorating clinical condition as he approaches his 80th birthday. Moving far beyond typical signs of aging, Dr. Gartner details to Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty the alarming behavioral symptoms pointing toward frontotemporal dementia—including a complete loss of empathy, dangerous disinhibition, and increasingly disorganized thought processes. Dr. Gartner unpacks the psychology behind Trump’s late-night postings, his shocking new delusions of grandeur, and a calculated effort to "groom" the American public for an unthinkable nuclear conflict. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty trace what they argue is a dramatic turning point for Donald Trump as collapsing poll numbers, a grinding Iran conflict, and mounting political backlash leave him increasingly isolated and searching for new loyalists in unexpected places. From Wolff’s explosive reporting on Trump’s growing friendship with disgraced Hollywood director Brett Ratner to the bizarre White House ballroom obsession, the episode connects Trump’s personal fixations, grievance politics, and fear of failure into what Wolff calls the clearest view yet inside Trump’s unraveling mindset. They also unpack a jaw-dropping new “weaponization” settlement fund that critics say resembles a presidential slush fund, the return of the Greenland controversy, rising evangelical pressure over abortion, and the lingering shadow of Jeffrey Epstein as Wolff previews shocking new revelations from his Epstein Diaries series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Rothkopf and Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty break down the growing signs of political and personal collapse surrounding Donald Trump, from brutal new polling numbers and deepening economic anxiety to accusations of corruption, authoritarianism, and a White House increasingly lashing out at critics. The conversation moves from Trump’s legal maneuvers and mounting scrutiny over his finances to the administration’s attacks on the press, evangelical power plays in Washington, and what Rothkopf describes as Trump’s simultaneous political and physical “free fall.” Along the way, they unpack the GOP’s loyalty to a weakening president, the culture of grievance and grift driving MAGA politics, and the fears inside Washington that Trump’s behavior is becoming more erratic as pressure closes in from every direction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rep. Jamie Raskin speaks to Sarah Ewall-Wice about what he calls a “completely lawless situation” inside Donald Trump’s second term, laying out allegations of political slush funds, crypto corruption, pardons for allies, and the weaponization of government power for personal profit. Raskin argues that Trump has transformed the presidency into a machine for enriching himself and rewarding loyalists, comparing the administration to “The Sopranos” as he details billion-dollar deals tied to foreign governments, January 6 pardons, and what Democrats see as an unprecedented assault on democratic norms. The conversation also turns toward Trump’s mental fitness, the 25th Amendment, fears surrounding presidential war powers, and the growing push among Democrats to investigate the White House if they regain control of Congress, with Raskin warning that the country is now facing what he describes as a full-scale civic emergency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty unpack Trump’s bruising return from China, where the man who built his political identity around confronting Beijing now finds himself accused of capitulation, spinning shaky victories while China emerges stronger than ever. Wolff gets inside Trump’s mindset as mounting crises close in at once: a worsening Iran conflict with no clear exit, rising inflation and gas prices, ICE raids fueling backlash inside and outside MAGA, explosive questions about Trump family business dealings, and a White House culture driven by grift, loyalty tests, and surreal characters like Natalie Harp shadowing the president with a portable printer full of praise. From Trump Mobile phones reportedly made in China to Kash Patel scandals and billion-dollar settlement controversies, the episode maps out an administration trapped between performance and collapse while Trump searches for a way to declare victory in situations even his closest allies can’t explain away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Rothkopf and Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty break down Donald Trump’s lackluster China trip, the explosive fallout from his Iran crisis, and the growing signs that the president is struggling to maintain control on the world stage. From tense meetings with Xi Jinping to Trump’s angry outbursts aboard Air Force One, the conversation tracks a presidency that increasingly looks weakened, isolated, and consumed by chaos. Rothkopf details how China dictated the terms of the summit, why Trump came home empty-handed on Taiwan, trade, and Iran, and how the president appeared both physically and metaphorically diminished beside Xi as America’s stature seemed to shrink alongside him. The episode also digs into Trump’s public meltdowns, mounting questions about his mental decline, and why even some longtime observers now believe the Trump era is entering its final unraveling. Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/BEAST to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you. #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at https://shopify.com/dailybeast with promo code dailybeast. #ad Michael Wolff and Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty unpack Trump’s chaotic China trip and the increasingly surreal inner workings of his orbit, from Xi Jinping visibly outmaneuvering a diminished Trump on the world stage to the bizarre cast of loyalists, tech billionaires, and media personalities surrounding him abroad. Wolff argues that Trump’s mental decline is no longer possible to ignore, pointing to his overnight Truth Social rants, escalating paranoia, and what aides privately fear is behavior spinning further out of control, while Dougherty details why even major media outlets are finally starting to acknowledge it. The conversation also turns to the growing instability inside the administration itself, including Kash Patel’s mounting controversies at the FBI, RFK Jr.’s increasingly alarming role in public health, and the quiet panic spreading among Trump insiders as scandals, firings, and public humiliations pile up behind the scenes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get 15% off OneSkin with the code BEAST at https://www.oneskin.co/BEAST #oneskinpod #ad Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) speaks with Sarah Ewall-Wice about what he calls the alarming transformation of Donald Trump’s Justice Department into a tool for loyalty, intimidation, and political retribution, while sounding the alarm over the administration’s handling of the Epstein files and the growing secrecy surrounding millions of unreleased documents. Goldman argues that Trump’s inner circle is covering up damaging information, warns that the president’s behavior and mental acuity are becoming increasingly erratic behind the scenes, and predicts explosive investigations if Democrats retake the House. The conversation moves from threats against the press and alleged weaponization of federal power to the Iran war fight in Congress, rising inflation, redistricting battles, and why Goldman believes the next election could reshape the balance of power in Washington. 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 Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty trace the cracks spreading across Donald Trump’s world, from Wolff’s prediction that Marco Rubio is headed for a brutal fall after becoming too competent and too visible inside the administration, to Trump’s escalating crisis with Iran and a high-stakes trip to China that Wolff argues could end with America “giving away the store.” The conversation moves from inflation fears and the politics of populist collapse to why Trump’s obsession with spectacle may be colliding with geopolitical reality, before turning into a gripping deep dive on Wolff’s explosive new Jeffrey Epstein reporting, where he draws chilling parallels between Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump as two men obsessed with inventing myths about themselves. Along the way, they unpack Nigel Farage’s rise in the UK, Rupert Murdoch’s shadow influence, and why Wolff believes Trump remains dangerously incapable of listening, focusing, or handling the details of power even as the world’s biggest adversaries learn exactly how to play him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Go to https://zbiotics.com/DAILYBEAST and use code DAILYBEAST at checkout for 15% off your first order of ZBiotics probiotics. #ad David Rothkopf and Joanna Coles break down Donald Trump’s high-stakes China trip as the White House scrambles to escape the political fallout from Iran, plunging poll numbers, and growing global instability. Rothkopf explains why Chinese officials jokingly call Trump “Comrade Nation Builder” because, in their view, every chaotic move he makes strengthens Beijing’s hand while weakening America’s standing in the world. The conversation tears into Trump’s obsession with strongmen, fears that he could privately bargain away leverage on Taiwan in exchange for help with Iran, and the increasingly awkward roles being played by Marco Rubio and JD Vance inside an administration that looks more fractured by the week. From Xi Jinping preparing an imperial-style welcome to questions about whether Trump is setting Rubio up to absorb the blame for the Iran crisis, the episode pulls apart the spectacle, the strategy, and the dangerous consequences behind one of the most consequential foreign trips of Trump’s presidency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Head to https://biologica.com/BEAST to take the Quick Hormonal Life Stage Quiz and get up to 32% off your first subscription order. #ad Joanna Coles speaks with journalist and author Anand Giridharadas about Donald Trump, the Epstein files, and the powerful network he calls the “Epstein class” — a web of billionaires, politicians, professors, royals, financiers, and cultural elites who protected each other while ordinary people paid the price. Giridharadas argues that Trump’s Iran escalation may have conveniently shifted attention away from explosive revelations tying the president and other influential figures to Jeffrey Epstein’s orbit, while exposing what he describes as a deeper culture of elite impunity in America. From Prince Andrew’s downfall to Jeffrey Epstein’s enduring influence over Wall Street, academia, and global power brokers, the conversation digs into why so many people stayed silent, how the rich shield each other from accountability, and what real justice would actually look like for the survivors at the center of the scandal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/DAILYBEAST to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you. #ad Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles unpack a strange new chapter in the Trump orbit as Melania Trump publishes a cliché-ridden Mother’s Day op-ed, sparking questions about whether the first lady is quietly building a business identity separate from Donald Trump himself. From Melania’s “strategic absences” and growing concerns within White House to Wolff’s update on his legal battle with the first lady, the discussion moves through media capitulation, Trump’s escalating attacks on ABC and the press, and a startling Virginia court decision that could reshape the 2026 midterms by giving Republicans a major structural advantage. The episode also explores Britain’s political upheaval under the rise of Nigel Farage, mounting fears that Trump can manipulate the electoral system despite worsening political headwinds, and the eerie details surrounding Epstein’s death and purported suicide note, which Wolff says sounded disturbingly Trumpian. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Coles speaks with Glenn Kirschner, former federal prosecutor and host of Justice Matters, about what he calls America’s accelerating constitutional crisis, from Donald Trump’s “unconstitutional war” with Iran and Pete Hegseth’s role in deadly military actions to the explosive fallout over the Epstein files and the firing of Pam Bondi. Kirschner explains why he believes Trump is using global conflict to distract from mounting Epstein scrutiny, why the Department of Justice has become “Donald Trump’s DOJ,” and why accountability for January 6, classified documents, ICE shootings in Minneapolis, and even Trump himself could still come after 2028. In a stunning final stretch, Kirschner openly questions the official narrative around Jeffrey Epstein’s death, drawing on his decades prosecuting homicide cases to explain why he remains deeply unconvinced by the newly released purported suicide note and why the fight over the Epstein files is far from over. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles dive headfirst into the chaos consuming Donald Trump’s world—from the unraveling Iran conflict and Trump’s desperate declarations of “victory” to the political panic spreading from Washington to Westminster. Wolff compares Trump’s crumbling Middle East strategy to his increasingly performative marriage with Melania, while Coles unpacks how Jeffrey Epstein’s shadow is now destabilizing British politics and weakening Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The two also dissect Trump’s obsession with revenge, the bizarre loyalty he still commands inside the Republican Party, and the surreal spectacle of Usha Vance and Cheryl Hines starring in what may be the most uncomfortable political podcast ever created. Along the way: Rudy Giuliani’s tragic downfall, RFK Jr.’s increasingly strained marriage, Trump’s looming China trip, and the growing sense that the people orbiting Trump always end up paying the price. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanna Coles speaks with Rep. Seth Moulton in a blistering, no-holds-barred conversation on the escalating crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, Moulton warns the U.S. is losing ground to Iran while accusing the Trump administration and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of catastrophic missteps, legal overreach, and dangerous misinformation. He slams Trump as acting like a petulant child and becoming an increasing threat to U.S. troops, national security, and the economy, while unpacking the fallout from abandoning the Obama-era nuclear deal and the growing risk of a nuclear-armed Iran. From the reality behind so-called “ceasefires” to dysfunction in Washington, Moulton connects global instability to domestic political failure, outlines his Senate ambitions, and argues Democrats must embrace a new generation ready to confront AI, economic anxiety, and a rapidly shifting world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices