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Inside Trump's Head

The Daily Beast, Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles

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.

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47 episodes
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English

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S1 · E153
August 19 · 1 hr 5 min
Here’s Everything I Know About Natalie Harp: Wolff
Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles devote a special episode to Natalie Harp, the Trump loyalist who has risen from campaign aide to one of the most powerful people in the president’s orbit. Wolff traces Harp’s extraordinary rise, from following Trump around the golf course with a portable printer to controlling the information he sees, shaping his social media and becoming a gatekeeper for members of Congress, the media and even people inside the White House. They examine the intensely personal relationship that has made Harp seemingly indispensable to Trump, the concerns she has sparked among his closest advisers and family, and the growing tension between Harp and Melania Trump. As Melania becomes increasingly absent from the White House, Wolff reveals why some insiders believe Harp has deliberately positioned herself as the woman closest to Trump - and why the battle for influence inside the White House may be far more consequential than it appears. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
S1 · E152
August 16 · 1 hr 1 min
Why Trump’s Weird Fixations are Exploding Now
Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles explore Donald Trump’s increasingly intense fixations, from his relentless campaign to put his name on the Kennedy Center to his insistence that the Navy return to outdated technology, and what these obsessions reveal about how the president operates. They also examine Trump’s unusual ability to turn defeat and humiliation into fuel, his growing reliance on Truth Social to communicate and make money, the damage his administration is doing to institutions like Harvard and the Kennedy Center, and the looming political stakes of a surprisingly competitive Texas Senate race. #ad Start your free trial today at https://shopify.com/dailybeast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
S1 · E151
August 14 · 1 hr 1 min
I Know Why Everyone Talks About Trump's Diapers
Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles dig into Karoline Leavitt’s departure from the White House, the scramble to replace her, and what her exit reveals about the brutal demands of working directly for Donald Trump. They also confront the bizarre obsession with Trump’s health and ponder whether the 80-year-old president wears diapers, dissect the elaborate decoy-plane operation as another example of Trump’s need to dominate the news cycle, and examine his determination to remake the White House into a monument to himself. Wolff and Coles also look at Jeanine Pirro’s increasingly creative efforts to satisfy Trump through a special grand jury, the growing pressure around the midterms, and the increasingly valuable business of being close to Trump while his power is at its peak. #ad Use code BEAST at the link below to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan: https://incogni.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/ITH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
S1 · E150
August 12 · 57 min
Dark Truth About Trump's Plane Switch Leak: Wolff
Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles mark one year of Inside Trump’s Head by dissecting the bizarre story of Donald Trump secretly switching planes while the White House press corps unknowingly flew aboard a decoy Air Force One—and why Wolff believes Trump himself may have leaked the story to fuel his favorite narrative: that he is the world’s biggest target. They also reveal that Trump has used the decoy-plane strategy before, explore his increasingly desperate search for distractions as the Iran war leaves him boxed in, and turn to his fixation on AOC after she revealed she is freezing her eggs. Wolff explains what Trump’s obsession with AOC says about his political instincts, why Truth Social is becoming a social network of one, and what Trump may actually be planning for his post-presidency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
S1 · E149
August 9 · 1 hr 2 min
What Trump Is Screaming After Ballroom Humiliation
Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles get inside Donald Trump’s fixation with the White House ballroom, and why a court ruling stopping the project may only make him more determined to build it. They also look at the growing tension around Markwayne Mullin, Trump’s fury when people in his administration appear to stray from his message, and why Anthony Fauci has become such a powerful target for MAGA despite Trump’s own history with him. From Trump’s refusal to let go of birthright citizenship to the carefully staged confirmation fight over Todd Blanche, Michael and Joanna explore the obsessions, grudges and political theater driving the administration. And in a revealing look at Trump’s relationship with Melania, they consider what happens when the woman who once embodied his public image begins to build a life increasingly separate from him. Go to https://san.com/insidetrumpshead to get the unbiased truth on the stories that matter, only on the Straight Arrow app. Let’s exit the echo chamber. #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
S1 · E148
August 7 · 1 hr 1 min
This Is RFK Jr.'s Explosive Plot for Power
Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles dive into another astonishing week inside Donald Trump’s head, analyzing the president’s fixation on image—from his infamous hair to a controversial White House helipad—as they reveal how performance continues to shape his presidency. They examine why Trump refuses to abandon embattled allies, how blame for the Iran crisis is already shifting inside his administration, and why Pete Hegseth may be heading toward the same fate as past loyalists. The conversation also explores RFK Jr.’s surreal new cooking show, the politics of conspiracy and wellness, the scramble among cabinet members already positioning themselves for 2028, and what a pivotal Democratic primary could signal about the future of political campaigning. Wolff offers fresh insight into Trump’s mindset, his obsession with control, and the growing sense that fear of him is giving way to ridicule in ways that could reshape the political landscape. Try QUO for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months at https://www.quo.com/BEAST. #ad Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/ith to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you. #ad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
S1 · E147
August 5 · 1 hr 6 min
This Is Why Jeanine Pirro Defied Trump: Wolff
Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles take a closer look at the latest signs of dysfunction inside Trump’s White House, from Jeanine Pirro’s stunning retreat over the disastrous reflecting pool to the murky story behind Trump’s call to embattled Congressman Max Miller. They unpack the Senate’s capitulation over Todd Blanche, Trump’s historically terrible poll numbers and the mindset that allows him to simply dismiss them, before turning to the increasingly chaotic Iran conflict and the risk that Trump’s impulsive foreign policy is making a dangerous situation even worse. Then, the stakes get much bigger as David Ellison’s bid to build an entertainment empire brings Paramount, CBS, CNN and Donald Trump into an increasingly tangled political and media power struggle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
S1 · E146
August 2 · 1 hr 5 min
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
S1 · E145
July 31 · 1 hr 9 min
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
S1 · E144
July 29 · 1 hr 7 min
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
S1 · E143
July 26 · 59 min
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
S1 · E142
July 24 · 56 min
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
S1 · E141
July 22 · 54 min
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
S1 · E140
July 19 · 1 hr 4 min
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
S1 · E139
July 17 · 56 min
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
S1 · E138
July 15 · 1 hr 3 min
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
S1 · E137
July 12 · 57 min
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
S1 · E136
July 10 · 1 hr 1 min
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
S1 · E135
July 8 · 1 hr 5 min
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
S1 · E134
July 5 · 53 min
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

Showing 21–40 of 47 episodes