The Daily Beast Podcast

Donald Trump doesn’t listen. He doesn’t read. He just talks. On ‘Inside Trump’s Head’, Joanna Coles and Michael Wolff explore why Trump embarks on endless monologues, his Oval Office turned into a bus station, and the “wall of sound” that keeps people out. Wolff shares surreal White House moments, from generals with PowerPoints Trump ignored to phone calls that lasted for hours. The episode also delves into Trump’s unusual routines, Melania’s cryptic note to Putin, and why the mainstream media still struggles to cover the 47th President of the United States competently. What emerges is a portrait of a man stuck in 1965 Rat Pack Vegas, yet still dominating the digital age in 2025.

Monica Lewinsky joins Joanna Coles for an unflinching look at the new Hulu limited series 'The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox'—and why the story we think we know is nothing like the truth. From Knox’s wrongful conviction and years in an Italian prison, to the media’s obsession with “Foxy Knoxy” and the anatomy of bias that fueled it, Lewinsky reveals how her own experience being dissected by the press helped her connect with Knox and bring her story to the screen. With behind-the-scenes details on persuading Amanda to say yes, building a powerhouse creative team, and the haunting parallels between two women thrust into the global spotlight, this episode uncovers how narratives are twisted, who benefits, and what gets lost along the way. 

What really happened when Donald Trump met Vladimir Putin behind closed doors? In this episode of 'Inside Trump’s Head', cohosts Joanna Coles and Trump biographer Michael Wolff unravel Trump’s odd displays of loyalty to Putin and the secretive negotiations over Ukraine that alarmed U.S. allies. They examine Trump’s fixation on flattery, his pursuit of a Nobel Peace Prize, and the way Putin’s KGB-honed tactics played against Trump’s insecurities. From the bizarre secrecy surrounding their one-on-one sessions to the global risks of Trump’s concessions, this is a revealing look at how the Trump–Putin relationship reshaped world politics and exposed the vulnerabilities inside Trump’s head. And Wolff drops an extraordinary new revelation about a meeting Jeffrey Epstein had with Vladimir Putin.

John Bolton, Donald Trump's National Security Advisor who witnessed up close why he is so bad at making deals, joins Joanna Coles for an inside look at what it’s really like being in the room with Donald Trump. Looking at Trump's first term Putin meeting in Helsinki, where briefing papers went unread as soccer played in the background, Bolton reveals a portrait of a president who prizes optics over substance, public relations over policy. With Vladimir Putin exploiting every opening, Xi Jinping taking notes, and Trump’s envoy stumbling into Russian disinformation, Bolton exposes the dangerous mix of ego, improvisation, and manipulation at the heart of America’s foreign policy. 

Trump biographer Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles for a scathing examination of Donald Trump’s summit with Vladimir Putin—and the shadow of Jeffrey Epstein that's cast over the entire affair. From Trump’s failed promises to release Epstein’s files, to his floundering attempts at deal-making in Ukraine, Wolff reveals how distraction, denial, and deference to Putin define Trump’s playbook. With insider texts, sharp analysis, and vivid accounts of the theatrics on the world stage, this episode unpacks the haunting ties between Trump, Russia, and Epstein—and what it all means for America’s future.

What really connects Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, and Prince Andrew? In this explosive episode of Inside Trump’s Head cohosts Joanna Coles and Trump biographer Michael Wolff dive deep into royal biographer Andrew Lownie’s explosive new book, 'Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York'. They unpack the scandals, secrets, and political games linking Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, and Prince Andrew. From private rivalries over Princess Diana to Epstein’s chilling social manipulations—and Trump’s quiet moves to rewrite his past—this is the untold story of how money, sex, and influence brought down a royal and shook the world.

Foreign policy insider David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles for a blistering deep-dive into Donald Trump’s high-stakes summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska—and the dangerous implications for Ukraine, Europe, and global security. From Trump’s flattery-fueled diplomacy and one-on-one meetings with no note takers, to Putin’s KGB-honed manipulation tactics, Rothkopf exposes a portrait of ego, opportunism, and geopolitical risk. With insider accounts, sharp analysis, and startling parallels to past encounters, this episode unpacks how one man’s insecurities and ambitions could shape the fate of nations.

Welcome to the premiere of 'Inside Trump’s Head', a new twice-weekly deep dive from The Daily Beast into the most unpredictable, unsettling, and endlessly fascinating mind in modern politics. Host Joanna Coles teams up with best-selling Trump biographer Michael Wolff to explore what’s really driving Donald Trump.In this inaugural episode, Wolff shares exclusive White House conversations suggesting Trump may be ready to give up large parts of Ukraine in a high-stakes meeting with Vladimir Putin — all to distract from the ceaseless Jeffrey Epstein scandal threatening his grip on the MAGA base. From the hidden hand of Jared Kushner to Steve Bannon’s private doubts, from Putin’s possible kompromat to the Epstein “drumbeat” that won’t fade, Coles and Wolff go spelunking into the dark, dank cavern where all of Trump’s decisions begin.

Bestselling royal biographer Andrew Lownie joins Joanna Coles for a blistering deep-dive into Prince Andrew’s life, scandals, and the shadowy alliances that brought him down. From explosive allegations of financial corruption at the heart of the monarchy, to his entanglements with Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Donald Trump, Lownie exposes a portrait of greed, privilege, and impunity. With insider accounts, never-before-revealed details, and jaw-dropping stories—from secret business deals to sordid weekends in Thailand—this episode unpacks how the Queen’s favorite son became the royal family’s greatest liability.