Podcast Summary: The Daily Beast Podcast
Episode: How I Will Shame King For Meeting Fascist Trump
Date: April 27, 2026
Host: Hugh Docherty (sitting in for Joanna Coles)
Guest: Steve Schmidt (Political Strategist)
Overview
In this charged and unflinching episode, Hugh Docherty welcomes political strategist Steve Schmidt for an in-depth discussion about King Charles III’s controversial upcoming US state visit and—most provocatively—the King’s planned meeting with Donald Trump. Schmidt unmasks what he calls the moral and historic failures of the monarchy, sharply criticizes the King’s choices, and draws dire parallels between past and present threats of fascism. The conversation ranges from British royal history to Trump’s “unhinged” mental state, examining dire consequences for politics, international relations, and democratic norms.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. The King’s Visit: A "Despicable" Embrace of Trump
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Schmidt lays out the premise: King Charles III’s visit to the US marks the first time in decades a British monarch stands, symbolically, with a figure Schmidt characterizes as a “felon,” “sexual predator,” and “fascist” (00:00, 02:21).
“You will have a felon, a sexual predator, being toasted by the head of the Church of England. … Charles is putting the crown into a position of, hey, when I'm on English soil, I condemn my brother, but when I am on American soil... the issue at hand is that he got caught.”
— Steve Schmidt (00:00)
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The Save America Movement, which Schmidt represents, is launching a “360 degree advertising campaign” to publicly shame the King for his association with Trump (02:21).
“The King is coming to the United States ... At a most inopportune time ... And this was a moment where the King of England was called to rise to the majesty of his throne. And he's failed utterly.”
— Steve Schmidt (02:21)
2. History Lessons: King George VI vs. King Charles III
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Schmidt draws powerful contrasts between King Charles’ visit and that of his grandfather, George VI, who visited during WWII and stood shoulder to shoulder with FDR in opposing fascism (05:32).
“George VI is the first king to come to the United States. ... He arrives ... a country filled with Irish Catholics. ... [He] lays a wreath at the tomb of George Washington, who George III says is the greatest man of his or any era because he walks away from power. So [King Charles] is coming now to stand with a man who refused to walk away from power...”
— Steve Schmidt (05:32)
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Memorable mock-ad: Schmidt's campaign uses a King George VI impersonation to highlight the historic betrayal represented by Charles’ trip (04:26).
“250 years after your founding, my grandson Charles crosses the Atlantic to raise a glass with the unhinged fascist Donald Trump, who called Jeffrey Epstein a terrific guy, threatened the Pope and thinks he's Jesus Christ. This is even worse than tampongate...”
— Ad Voiceover (04:26)
3. Epstein, Royal Family, and Shared Scandals
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Schmidt doesn't hold back connecting the complex web linking Trump, the Royals, and Epstein, highlighted by the Prince Andrew–Virginia Giuffre scandal (15:58).
“Uncle Dickie was a pedophile too. Lord Mountbatten. ... The settlement to Virginia Giuffre makes that clear... it’s an embarrassment all the way around. But at the core of it, Andrew, what he did was evil. And what Trump has done is also evil.”
— Steve Schmidt (15:58)
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He notes the hypocrisy: on British soil, Charles condemns Andrew’s behavior, yet in the US, he appears to minimize it to “getting caught” (00:00, 18:32).
“Both his former sister in law, Sarah Ferguson, dare not ever set foot in this country again because of the risk of subpoena. ... And Charles is putting the Crown on into a position of, hey, when I'm on English soil, I condemn my brother, but when I am on American soil, I make clear that really what Andrew did ... is that he got caught.”
— Steve Schmidt (18:32)
4. International Insults and Diplomatic Fallout
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Schmidt sharply critiques Trump-world's recent provocations—such as raising the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands—as insulting both to the King and to America’s allies (12:23, 13:48).
“The Falkland Islands and their sovereignty is a settled issue. These are British islands under the arrangements and signatures of the UN Charter. ... Not the role of the United States military to transfer sovereignty for British islands to the Argentinians...”
— Steve Schmidt (13:48)
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He contrasts the responses of Canadian PM Mark Carney (firm, uncompromised stance) and UK PM Keir Starmer (too deferential to Trump), positing that Charles’ visit undermines Carney’s principled approach (20:40).
“[Carney] is on a Compass dial. He's 180 degrees opposite Keir Starmer … It's shocking, in a country that produced Neville Chamberlain, that you would have no historic perspective...”
— Steve Schmidt (20:40)
5. Concerns About Trump’s Mental State and Power
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Hugh brings up Trump’s erratic late-night Truth Social posts (22:29).
“He posted 18 times between midnight and 3am... There are demands for Obama and Hillary Clinton to be locked up. ... That doesn't sound healthy for a man in any position but a man in the Oval Office.”
— Hugh Docherty (22:29)
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Schmidt is unequivocal that Trump’s behavior—were he any normal professional—would result in immediate removal from power, and warns about the absence of real checks (23:41).
“If that was the principal of the local elementary school, he’d be relieved. ... Unfortunately... the commander in chief, who is at the tip of the decision making pyramid with regard to the release of nuclear weapons. So it is an issue that should be talked about more seriously...”
— Steve Schmidt (23:41)
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He predicts a harsh Democratic rebuke of Trumpism in the coming elections—and suggests Trump’s narcissism will drive him to “react very, very badly” when confronted with loss (25:41, 27:51).
“He's going to have a Democratic Congress... it’s going to be a night of political devastation for these people.”
— Steve Schmidt (25:41)
“The great failure ... is the inability of anyone at any time to deliver the word no, no, no to Donald Trump.”
— Steve Schmidt (27:51)
6. Predictions: Political Fallout & The Future of MAGA
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Schmidt envisions Trump refusing to accept defeat, blaming others for electoral loss, and political “devastation” for his allies (30:04).
“He’s not going to ... accept defeat. ... He’s going to talk about that they didn’t explain MAGA well enough... too many losers, need too many, you know, better, better candidates.”
— Steve Schmidt (30:04)
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On possible political casualties, Schmidt identifies Kash Patel, Pete Hegseth, and eventually RFK Jr. as likely Trump-world fall guys (32:18).
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He critiques Kennedy for failing to deliver to his base and notes that conspiracy-fueled movements inevitably turn on themselves (34:23).
“All conspiracies at the end of the day devour themselves... If you had a more competent Democratic Party, they would be chiseling at that all the time...”
— Steve Schmidt (34:23)
7. Democrats, Reform, and the Message of 2026
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Schmidt, optimistic for a Democratic win but critical of competency, warns that this victory will be a mandate for reform—not for complacency (36:08, 38:37).
“It will not ... be an affirmation of the Democratic Party. ... It is. Make it stop. Make the corruption stop. ... That's the mandate.”
— Steve Schmidt (36:08)
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He offers advice to Democratic candidates: the divide is not left vs. right but right vs. wrong; it’s about standing against abuse (38:37).
“I don't view the divisions in American politics to be between right and left in this moment, but between right and wrong. ... The Democratic Party can't be a reciprocal image of the MAGA party that's a little bit less corrupt...”
— Steve Schmidt (38:37)
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When asked what he’d advise Republicans:
“Prepare for the end, you know, and good fucking riddance. ... Shameful, right. ... One of the great acts of cowardice that did so much damage to the country.”
— Steve Schmidt (41:26)
8. Personal Reflections and Public Shaming Campaign
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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Opening lines on disgrace:
“You will have a felon, a sexual predator, being toasted by the head of the Church of England. ... Charles is putting the crown into a position of, hey, when I'm on English soil, I condemn my brother, but when I am on American soil, I ... make clear that ... he got caught.”
— Steve Schmidt (00:00)
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On Charles meeting Trump:
“He’s embraced with his visit, the legacy of the Duke of Windsor, Edward VIII, standing with the fascists, that needs confrontation, not appeasement. It’s a despicable moment for the Crown.”
— Steve Schmidt (02:21)
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Comparing King George VI and Charles:
“So the king now stands with the man who made up terrible lies about a stolen election that wasn't and tried to steal from the American people their liberty.”
— Steve Schmidt (05:32)
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On American decline and the hope for a political reset:
“The great failure ... is the inability of anyone at any time to deliver the word no, no, no to Donald Trump.”
— Steve Schmidt (27:51)
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On the message for Democrats in 2026:
“That is the American voter in this election cycle ... delighted to be in that boat because it beat the shit out of all the other alternatives. ... And it will be a message with only one clear mandate ... Make it stop.”
— Steve Schmidt (36:15)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:00 – Schmidt’s opening condemnation of Charles’ visit
- 02:21 – Announcement of the Save America advertising campaign
- 04:26 – Airing of King George VI–themed attack ad
- 05:32 – British royal historical context and FDR
- 09:34 – What Steve Schmidt would write for the King’s speech
- 15:58 – Discussion on Epstein, Prince Andrew, and Royal complicity
- 18:32 – Hypocrisy on Andrew’s scandal and Charles’ choices
- 20:40 – Schmidt on diplomatic postures of UK and Canada
- 22:29 – Trump’s social media spiral and mental state
- 25:41 – Predictions for a Democratic win in November
- 27:51 – Schmidt on narcissists and political reckoning
- 30:04 – Who Trump will blame for electoral defeat
- 32:18 – Predictions on Trumpworld political casualties
- 34:23 – Fracture within conspiracy-based political movements
- 36:08 – The real meaning of a Democratic win in 2026
- 38:37 – Advice for Democratic House candidates
- 41:26 – Advice to current Republican candidates
- 43:57 – Reflections on Meghan McCain and John McCain’s legacy
- 45:47 – Details of the advertisement campaign against King Charles
- 47:33 – Closing thoughts about monarchy, hope, and the coming confrontation
Tone and Style
Direct, urgent, and unsparing—Schmidt and Docherty pull no punches, using moral and historical arguments to confront both British and American establishment failings. Schmidt, known for his rhetorical force and storytelling, gives memorable analogies (Titanic, dinner party, "cheerleader" for MAGA) and clarion calls (“Make it stop. That’s the mandate.”).
Conclusion
This episode stands out for its fierce moral clarity, intertwining current events with historical perspective and personal accountability. The message is explicit: the public—and especially those in positions of power—cannot afford appeasement in the face of authoritarian threats. As King Charles III visits America, the conversation is a piercing call for scrutiny, resistance, and above all, principled leadership.
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