Why Pathological Trump Just Made a Major Blunder | The Daily Beast Podcast

David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles to explore the latest chaos inside Trump’s White House, from the unprecedented standoff between the president and the White House press corps to the growing influence of Natalie Harp and Trump’s obsession with controlling his media coverage. They also dig into Trump’s looming UN appearance, his delicate balancing act with Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, and the bizarre FBI controversy over bestiality rules that has become a symbol of the administration’s increasingly unconventional approach to government. Plus, Rothkopf takes aim at Pete Hegseth’s vision for a hyper-masculine military, Trump’s proposed national-security projects—including a bizarre triumphal arch—and the deeper frustration he says is building among America’s national-security professionals. As Trump heads into a week of high-stakes meetings and global diplomacy, Rothkopf explains why the spectacle surrounding the president may be funny one moment and dangerously consequential the next.

#ad Get 15% off OneSkin with the code BEAST at https://www.oneskin.co/BEAST #oneskinpod

#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/DAILYBEAST

00:00 - Trump’s Media Blackout Backfires
11:19 - Trump’s High-Stakes UN Week
19:17 - Trump, Saudi Arabia and the Middle East
25:41 - Kash Patel’s Bizarre FBI Rules
34:25 - Pete Hegseth’s Masculinity-Obsessed Pentagon
38:50 - Trump’s Militarized Triumph Arch
42:00 - The National Security Establishment Turns on Trump
48:00 - Trump’s Dangerous Era of Absurdity
52:25 - Trump’s Meeting with Xi Jinping

#trump #podcast #news

📖 Title: Why Pathological Trump Just Made a Major Blunder
👂 Podcast: The Daily Beast Podcast
📺 Episode: 772
🎧 Format: Full Podcast
📅 Date: September 21, 2026
👨‍💼 Guest: David Rothkopf
🎙️ Host: Joanna Coles

Click here to become an official member of the Daily Beast's YouTube community: https://youtube.com/@thedailybeast/join

Have a question or comment for us? Leave Joanna Coles, Michael Wolff or any of our guests a voicemail in our listener mailbox. Call (929) 274-3577 with your name and message and you may be featured on a podcast or on the Daily Beast. You can also send us an email at beastpod@thedailybeast.com.

The Daily Beast is committed to accurate, fair, independent, fast, and accountable journalism. We seek the truth and report it honestly, without fear or favor. We ground robust and provocative opinions in fact.

Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@TheDailyBeast?sub_confirmation=1
Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thedailybeast
Share this video on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thedailybeast.bsky.social
Share this video on X: https://twitter.com/thedailybeast
Share this video on Facebook: https://facebook.com/thedailybeast