The Daily Beast Podcast

Joanna Coles and Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty examine the mystery surrounding Mitch McConnell's sudden disappearance from public view after reports of a medical emergency, and why the unanswered questions extend far beyond one senator's health. They explore how McConnell's absence could throw the balance of power in Washington into chaos, why even Donald Trump appears trapped by the political fallout, and what an information vacuum has done to fuel speculation across the MAGA movement. The conversation also turns to Trump's controversial Qatari jet, the security concerns that reportedly forced him off the aircraft during the Iran crisis, and what his increasingly volatile behavior may reveal about the pressure building inside the White House.

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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.

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Ashley St. Clair, a former MAGA influencer, speaks to Joanna Coles about her extraordinary journey from rising conservative star to outspoken critic of the movement that made her famous. She reveals how coordinated messaging, dark money, and outrage-driven media shaped the MAGA ecosystem from the inside, reflects on her growing disillusionment with Charlie Kirk and Turning Point, and explains why she ultimately walked away. St. Clair also opens up about her relationship with Elon Musk, their child, the legal battle that followed, disturbing allegations about AI-generated sexual abuse material on X, and why she's headed to law school to take on the tech companies she believes have failed millions of women and children

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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.

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David Rothkopf speaks with Joanna Coles as Donald Trump heads into a high-stakes NATO summit under a cloud of controversy, after personally intervening in an international soccer dispute that critics say has tainted America's biggest match on the world stage. They unpack the growing panic among America's allies, why European leaders are quietly preparing for a future without Washington, and the extraordinary behind-the-scenes maneuvering surrounding Trump before he even lands overseas. Along the way, David and Joanna dive into the mystery surrounding Mitch McConnell's disappearance from public view, Trump's late-night Truth Social posting sprees, mounting questions about corruption, the SAVE Act, and whether Republicans are increasingly relying on procedural tactics to hold onto power. They also examine what Trump's work ethic, White House culture, and obsession with image reveal about the state of his presidency.

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