The Daily Beast Podcast
Episode: “Ailing Trump Knows His Reign Is Nearly Over: Wolff”
Date: January 25, 2026
Host: Joanna Coles
Guest: Michael Wolff
Episode Overview
This episode delves into the current political turbulence surrounding President Donald Trump’s administration in its second year, with a focus on his perceived declining power both domestically and internationally. The discussion, led by Joanna Coles and journalist/author Michael Wolff, explores insider accounts from the White House post-Davos, the mounting international pushback against Trump, his legal entanglements, the unfolding Minneapolis crisis, and speculation around Trump’s health, attention span, and the future of his presidency. The episode also touches on the significance of current events for the 2026 midterms and the broader American political landscape.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Weather as Political Theater (01:36–04:47)
- Both hosts open with light banter about the approaching national blizzard, noting how weather in America often overshadows political news and can become a critical leadership test for presidents.
- Wolff and Joanna highlight the White House’s anxiety about how Trump will respond to the storm amid other political crises.
“Weather and how a president reacts to natural events is extremely important. If you get this wrong, tonally off, that is... a significant mark against you.” – Michael Wolff (04:47)
2. Post-Davos Power Shift & International Pushback (06:13–11:09)
- Trump emerged from Davos believing he was still dominant on the world stage, but insiders sense a shift—Europe and “middle powers” (led by Mark Carney, Canadian PM) are asserting independence and challenging Trump.
- Mark Carney's speech and subsequent coalition-building with Europe, along with resistance from UK PM Keir Starmer, signal a new era of direct confrontation with Trump’s volatility, especially regarding tariffs and military threats.
- The hosts discuss this as a possible “transformational moment.”
“He went to Davos as the conquering hero... I think he comes out of Davos with the reality markedly changed.” – Michael Wolff (06:13)
“Mark Carney comes along and very articulately... confronts Donald Trump. We can say this was a quite an example of calling his bluff.” – Michael Wolff (09:16)
3. Trump’s Image Problem: From Strongman to “Paper Tiger” (11:09–14:02)
- Joanna and Wolff discuss how Trump’s international challenges are feeding a narrative of weakness.
- Referencing Steve Bannon, Wolff says Trump’s greatest vulnerability is appearing weak—a new paradigm.
- Domestic lawsuits (e.g., against Jamie Dimon/JP Morgan) are beginning to look like empty gestures, diminishing his strongman persona.
“Trump’s virtue to his voters... is that no matter what happened, he looked strong... You create another situation in which he seems helpless.” – Michael Wolff (11:33)
“[Lawsuits] become a paper tigerish thing. You know, you look like you look foolish and you look like a dick.” – Michael Wolff (14:02)
4. Trump’s Legal Battles & The Jamie Dimon/JPMorgan Case (12:29–17:30)
- Joanna details Trump’s $5B suit against JPMorgan for dropping him post-Jan 6th (2020)—symbolizing his growing isolation from elite business allies.
- Wolff notes the proliferation of such legal threats and how, unlike in the past, big targets are increasingly willing to fight back.
- The discussion turns to the deeper entanglement of Trump loyalist judges and the challenges of litigating against former close allies.
“It would be thrilling if they [JPMorgan] didn’t settle... imagine the discovery... if Trump was forced to open his bank accounts for the court to see.” – Joanna (15:45)
5. Trump’s Fatigue & The Endgame Speculation (17:30–21:07)
- Growing sense in the business/political elite that Trump’s reign “can’t go on for another three years.”
- Wolff offers a frank speculation—Trump’s declining energy, even potential health failure (“dropping dead”), as real exits for a presidency many see as unsustainable.
- Cites a pulmonary specialist’s assessment suggesting Trump may have recently had a stroke.
“We speculated on the things that might end this, including Donald Trump dropping dead, [and] the world waking up and saying, ‘What a dickish bully.’” – Michael Wolff (19:01)
“A pulmonary specialist says the aspirin Trump takes is standard after a stroke... All the other symptoms suggest he has had a stroke.” – Joanna (19:41)
6. Vaccine Backlash and the RFK Jr. Phenomenon (21:07–25:11)
- Brief flashback to press conference mishaps (RFK Jr., Dr. Oz, pharma exec fainting).
- Critique of new vaccine-advisory stances (reducing mandates) embraced by RFK Jr. and the MAGA movement—seen as reckless and scientifically baseless.
- Wolff argues the anti-vax position will inevitably backfire due to overwhelming pro-vaccine sentiment among voters.
“Vaccines—what is the most profound MAGA issue, and it may be vaccines. That’s the space RFK [Jr.] is going to occupy.” – Michael Wolff (24:13)
7. The Problem of Trump’s Boredom & Inattention (25:11–27:54)
- Wolff describes internal White House concern about Trump’s boredom, disengagement with complex matters, and reliance on spectacle and crowd adulation.
- As crises multiply and become nuanced, Trump’s inability to focus on details or policy is an increasing liability.
“If you lose Donald Trump’s interests, you lose Donald Trump... He needs inspiration constantly, and the inspiration is the roar of the crowd.” – Michael Wolff (25:16)
8. The Minneapolis Crisis: A Microcosm of Trump’s Overreach (30:33–36:48)
- Massive protests, rampant ICE actions, and heavy-handed federal enforcement after another fatal incident have engulfed Minneapolis.
- Wolff: Trump cannot “threaten his way out” or “generate a new headline” to change the narrative—retreat is the only option.
- JD Vance, Trump’s VP, is repeatedly dispatched to “clean up” crises, visibly exposing Trump’s avoidance of complicated/unpopular issues.
“It just day by day seems to get worse for Donald Trump. A situation which he cannot... seem to generate a new headline to get himself out of it.” – Michael Wolff (31:31)
“The only way it can go away [for Trump] is he gets the... ICE agents out of there.” – Michael Wolff (32:39)
9. Abortion, JD Vance, and Infighting on the Right (34:51–36:16)
- Vance is sent to Minneapolis and, shortly after, to an anti-abortion rally, defying Trump’s desire to avoid the topic.
- Conservative influencers like Laura Loomer publicly clash with Vance, revealing fractures within the right on abortion as a midterm issue.
“Abortion is not going to be a winning issue... Why are you [Vance] doing this? [Vance:] Actually, the president asked me to come here.” – Recap (35:11)
10. Midterm Outlook: Is It the End for Trump? (36:16–38:17)
- Wolff reiterates: America is in the midst of a “pivotal campaign,” one that may end Trump’s presidency.
- Discussion about the lack of clear Democratic national leadership, and skepticism that it will emerge before the midterms.
“What’s determinative is that Donald Trump continues to be Donald Trump and there is a reaction or revulsion in the nation, which there is.” – Michael Wolff (37:46)
11. Minneapolis as Ground Zero of the Backlash (38:52–39:23)
- The crisis gives rise to political opportunity for local leaders (e.g. Minneapolis mayor Jacob Fry), but also symbolizes the broader “Trump backlash.”
“Minneapolis is... a kind of ground zero of the Trump backlash. How could it not be?” – Michael Wolff (38:53)
12. The Melania Lawsuit Saga & Documentary (40:00–55:21)
- Discussion of the forthcoming “Melania, the Movie,” speculating it could spark more public ridicule than sympathy.
- Wolff describes his own ongoing lawsuit (with Melania Trump attempting to “intimidate into silence” over Epstein associations), raising questions about legal process and Melania’s ties to Russia.
- The hosts imagine a new, sharper documentary—“Finding Melania”—focusing on Melania’s mysterious journey, her language skills, and her relationship with both Trump and foreign figures.
“The questions for Melania make for a much more interesting Melania movie than Melania the movie will be.” – Michael Wolff (51:14)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Trump’s Post-Davos Reality:
“He went to Davos as the conquering hero... I think he comes out of Davos with the reality markedly changed.”
– Michael Wolff (06:13) -
On Trump’s Weakness:
“Trump’s vulnerability, key vulnerability was to get situation in which he would look weak.”
– Michael Wolff (11:33) -
On Lawsuits:
“You look like a dick. Okay, fine, you’re going to sue him again.”
– Michael Wolff (14:02) -
On the Endgame:
“We speculated on the things that might end this, including Donald Trump dropping dead...”
– Michael Wolff (19:01) -
On the Anti-Vax Wave:
“Vaccines... may be the most profound MAGA issue. That’s the space RFK is going to occupy.”
– Michael Wolff (24:13) -
On Trump’s Attention Span:
“If you lose Donald Trump’s interest, you lose Donald Trump.”
– Michael Wolff (25:16) -
On Minneapolis:
“It just day by day seems to get worse for Donald Trump. A situation which he cannot... seem to generate a new headline to get himself out of it.”
– Michael Wolff (31:31)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Davos and International Pushback: 06:13–11:09
- Jamie Dimon Lawsuit & Trump’s Paper Tiger Moment: 12:29–15:45
- Speculating the End of Trump’s Presidency: 17:30–21:07
- RFK Jr., Vaccination, and Anti-Science Politics: 21:07–25:11
- Trump’s Boredom and White House Concern: 25:11–27:54
- Minneapolis Crisis/Trump’s Response: 30:33–38:53
- Melania Lawsuit, Putin, and Documentary Speculation: 48:15–55:21
Closing Thoughts
The hosts paint a picture of a beleaguered, reactive Trump administration entering its second year of the term, with international allies and enemies emboldened, domestic crises multiplying, and even Trump’s signature legal and rhetorical maneuvers losing their intimidation factor. Against this backdrop, Joanna Coles and Michael Wolff speculate openly about Trump’s fatigue, the likelihood of his “reign” ending before or during the next election, and the emergence of new political actors and narratives that may outlast and outwit the current president. The tone is sharp, skeptical, sometimes irreverent, and always keenly engaged with both the spectacle and the substance of US political drama.