The Daily Beast Podcast

Australian model Cleo Glade sits down with the Beast's Joanna Coles to share her extraordinary, unsettling memories of New York in the late 1980s and early 1990s. At just 22, she was living the height of the fashion world, signed to Ford Models, immersed in the club scene, and swept into the orbit of Jeffrey Epstein. She recalls meeting him through a fellow model, their early friendship, his Great Gatsby–like allure, and how he used wealth and connections to project power. Cleo also opens up about her introduction to Donald Trump through Epstein, visiting Trump Tower, and witnessing the bizarre mix of glamor, neediness, and showmanship inside his gilded world. She reflects on the dangerous charm Epstein wielded, her shocking encounter with him on a private plane, and how hindsight reveals the darker truth behind the high-society facade. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7 Sep 40min

Trump chronicler Michael Wolff joins the Beast’s Joanna Coles to go inside the rage-filled White House where Trump is reacting to blows from judges—including to his tariffs. They explore what happens when judges say no to Trump. And they examine how tariffs have become a unilateral tool of punishment and power, why the courts are pushing back, and how Trump reacts with rage when confronted by these limits. From attempts to deploy the National Guard in Los Angeles to efforts to expand emergency powers, this episode examines what it looks like when one President attempts to circumvent a republic’s rules and insists that no one can oppose him. At stake are the checks and balances of American democracy and the question of whether the system can withstand Trump’s defiance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5 Sep 31min

The Daily Beast’s brilliant columnist David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles to examine Donald Trump’s disastrous week on the world stage. From being overheard on a hot mic talking about deals with Vladimir Putin, to Modi undercutting his peacemaker myth, to world leaders gathering in China without him, Trump finds himself without a seat on the world stage. They explore how his failed military parade compares to China’s massive display of power, how his fixation on the Rose Garden reveals his petty interests, and how his “Gaza Riviera” plan turns tragedy into a dark and twisted real estate play. The conversation shows how China and others are moving forward while Trump obsesses over himself and the past. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4 Sep 33min

Donald Trump’s health is suddenly the biggest mystery in politics. After disappearing for more than three days, whispers about his wobbly legs and his puffy presentation have swept through The President’s inner circle. Hosts Joanna Coles and Michael Wolff pull apart the rumors and ask whether Trump’s latest health scare is just another online chattering class’s obsession or something far more serious. They dig into why the White House is keeping so quiet and how the imagery of Trump’s decline is fueling speculation. Plus, they explore what his health means for his future and the people still betting on his power. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3 Sep 34min

Comedian and actor Matt Friend joins Joanna Coles for a sharp, funny look at Donald Trump’s complicated relationship with comedy. Friend shares his spot-on impressions of Trump, Obama, Bernie Sanders, Mitch McConnell and more. From his early obsession with comedy to performing at the White House Correspondents Dinner, Friend shares the secrets behind his political impressions and how he turns real-life absurdities into comedy gold. They dive into the process of mimicking Trump’s voice, the challenges of doing other politicians, and how current events feed his stage material—all while keeping audiences laughing across the political spectrum. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2 Sep 47min

Joanna Coles and Michael Wolff jump in for an emergency podcast to unpack the twisted story of how Donald Trump brought Robert F. Kennedy Jr. into his administration, despite his history of drug abuse, womanizing, and a long career of anti-vaccine activism. They explore how Trump’s desperation to shore up his MAGA base on vaccines led to RFK Jr. running the nation’s public health system, with devastating consequences. From collapsing expert panels and vaccine shortages to Trump’s fleeting fantasy of a “Trump Kennedy 2024” ticket, the conversation reveals a dangerous bargain. Wolff recalls his decades of encounters with RFK Jr., from his days as a campus drug dealer to his ambitions for the presidency, painting a portrait of a broken man now wielding immense power. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1 Sep 39min

Long-time British Royals Journalist and Author Tom Sykes, and Joanna Coles, revisit Princess Diana’s death and why he believes there was foul play. From her troubled marriage and rivalry with Camilla to the tainted blood samples, the missing Fiat Uno, and Diana’s own letter predicting an “accident,” they dig into the questions that still haunt the monarchy. They also explore Mohammed Al-Fayed’s lifelong suspicions, the British inquiry known as Operation Paget, and Prince Harry’s account in ‘Spare’. Diana’s global power, her challenge to the royal establishment, and her complicated relationship with the press all come under the spotlight. This is the story of how the world’s most famous woman became too threatening for the monarchy to ignore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

31 Aug 40min

Joanna Coles and Michael Wolff dig into Ghislaine Maxwell’s prison interviews with Trump’s DOJ, Epstein’s lingering influence on Trump, and Trump’s presidential culture of copious pardons for nefarious American characters. They examine how rich criminals and political allies maneuvered for Trump's favor, and how loyalty, leverage, and money shaped decisions inside the Oval Office. From secret phone calls to private doubts, Wolff unpacks what drives Trump's unusual sympathy Trump reportedly felt for Maxwell and the political pressures he's facing in deciding whether to pardon her. And Wolff highlights how Epstein’s social connections, including Fergie and Prince Andrew, intersected with Trump, showing the unexpected ways their worlds became connected. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

29 Aug 37min