The Daily Beast Podcast
Episode: Pentagon Pete Will Be First Big Scalp of Trump 2.0
Date: October 16, 2025
Host: Joanna Coles
Guests: Nico Hynes (hosting), Sarah Ewell Weiss, David Gardner
Episode Overview
This episode dives into the evolving political and physical landscape of Washington, D.C., under Trump’s second administration, focusing particularly on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s embattled tenure (“Pentagon Pete”). Panelists examine Trump’s ambitions to physically reshape the city, the transformation of its social scene, and the administration’s escalating war with the Pentagon press corps. The episode highlights the increasingly exclusionary tactics against journalists, the rise of “vibe shifts” in D.C., and the perpetual scramble among cabinet officials to prove their loyalty to Trump, often at the expense of effectiveness.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Trump’s Architectural Ambitions and His Need for Legacy (04:15–11:20)
- Discussion of “Arc de Trump”: Trump’s rumored plans for a grandiose landmark across the Potomac, inspired by Paris’s Arc de Triomphe and Marble Arch in London.
- Sarah Ewell Weiss (03:15): “It appears to be the early stages of another Trump building project, possibly for the 250th anniversary of the United States... we’ve just kind of been seeing bits and pieces of all these projects as he tries to make over Washington in his image.”
- David Gardner (04:39): “He claims to have created the New York skyline... Now he wants to kind of create the new D.C. skyline... He sees things in bricks and mortar, not in literature or art.”
- D.C. Vibe Shift: The city is changing demographically and socially due to an influx of businesspeople and exclusive clubs, many “MAGA-aligned” (07:06–09:05).
- Sarah Ewell Weiss (07:06): “The picture [Trump] is painting is very different from the reality in D.C. ...there’s a political shift, a vibe shift. The city is vibrant and has been through Biden and Trump previously.”
2. Questions Over Financing Trump’s Projects (11:20–12:13)
- Mystery of Funding: Uncertainty surrounds how Trump is bankrolling his landmark projects. He often claims to self-fund but is also soliciting undisclosed donations.
- Sarah Ewell Weiss (11:31): “He also solicits donations... It’s not sure how he’s soliciting those donations or who’s forking over that money.”
3. Pete Hegseth’s Tumultuous Leadership at the Pentagon (13:22–21:11)
- Media Restrictions and Press Unity: Hegseth’s new rules essentially ban journalists from the Pentagon unless they submit to prior approval—prompting exceptional, industry-wide defiance.
- Sarah Ewell Weiss (15:41): “We’ve never had an instance where the entire press corps at the Pentagon has been asked to sign a document saying they won’t release any information without prior approval... This has united almost everyone together. Even Newsmax and Fox News aren’t signing on.”
- Leaks and Double Standards: Hegseth himself is accused of leaking classified information, fueling anger and distrust.
- David Gardner (14:11): “He was talking about a classified military strike on Yemen... And the only one that’s leaked anything of significance is himself.”
Memorable Quote (17:59) – Nico Hynes:
“So it seems that Pete Hegseth has had somewhat of a catastrophic first few months. He leaks classified war plans, then pretends they weren’t classified, and then he… tells [generals] he’s going to start firing fat generals, which I think he’s done. Now he’s trying to ban journalists..."
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Fight for Trump’s Favor: Hegseth appears to be performing for an “audience of one”—the President. There’s a sense he’s “frantically paddling” to demonstrate loyalty and competence, but at the risk of being the administration’s first major firing.
- David Gardner (19:19): “We were told early on that Trump did not want a repeat of his first administration where it was kind of chaos... My guess is watch out for January and Pete Hegseth because I don’t think he’s going to last much longer than that first year.”
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Cabinet Culture of Competition: Trump pits cabinet members against each other, valuing loyalty above competence.
- Sarah Ewell Weiss (19:52): “If you say your cabinet members are not going to be long term choices from the get go, then you put them in this competition from the get go to basically fight it out and prove who is the most loyal to the President.”
4. Press Lockout & Emotional Fallout (30:38–32:14, 34:18–35:46)
- Reporter Reactions: The Pentagon press corps, some with decades-long tenure, are emotionally distressed by “farewells” to their professional home.
- Sarah Ewell Weiss (30:50): “There’s a deep sadness because these are people who have been doing their jobs for many years... There have been tears shed and frustration because of these new rules.”
- Unintended Consequence: These heavy-handed restrictions might backfire, only increasing journalistic resolve.
- Sarah Ewell Weiss (34:18): “The Pentagon press corps has been and will continue to be fantastic. They are dedicated individuals... I don’t expect anything else from them moving forward.”
5. The Hegseth-Fox News Dynamic & The Role of Family (26:33–30:38)
- Trump’s Preferences: Focus on appointment “by central casting”—valuing looks, TV presence (notably from Fox News), but these optics can turn problematic.
- Sarah Ewell Weiss (26:33): “He always talks about [staff] as central casting... But now [Hegseth] has to actually do the job.”
- Hegseth’s Wife’s Influence: Her presence and media background further blur personal/professional lines, with Pentagon staff nicknaming her “Yoko Ono.”
- David Gardner (29:43): “Her nickname among staffers at the department is Yoko Ono, because she’s pretty much inseparable from Hegseth... offering her opinion... She’s a constant presence at the Pentagon.”
6. Other D.C. Swamp Stories and the Journalist Exodus (36:23–38:44)
- Newsletter Teasers: Reporters preview stories about Washington’s real estate boom for MAGA-aligned billionaires, a high-profile food critic’s departure, and even how Trump-era tastes are changing Air Force One’s menu.
- Government Shutdown Hypocrisy: Lawmakers continue cashing checks while the government is closed, highlighting the disconnect between public officials and the rest of the country.
- Sarah Ewell Weiss (38:44): “While they threatened to furlough workers... They are still being paid. Lawmakers make $174,000, which is triple the average salary of an American.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Trump the Builder:
- “He wants to kind of create the new D.C. skyline... He sees things in bricks and mortar, not in literature or art.” – David Gardner (04:39)
- On the Press Lockout:
- “We’ve never had an instance where the entire press corps at the Pentagon has been asked to sign a document saying they won’t release any information without prior approval...” – Sarah Ewell Weiss (15:41)
- Cabinet Culture:
- “It is how they support him... it’s really a fight for the President’s attention and support more than it is a fight for the job and the department.” – Sarah Ewell Weiss (19:52)
- On Changes in Washington:
- “The city is vibrant and has been through Biden and Trump previously. It took a downturn for Covid, but that’s not the picture he has painted in the past.” – Sarah Ewell Weiss (07:06)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Trump’s “Arc de Trump” & D.C. Physical Makeover: 03:15–11:20
- Vibe Shift & Private Social Clubs in D.C.: 06:01–09:05
- Pentagon Press Corps Crackdown: 13:22–21:11, 30:38–32:14
- Cabinet Competition for Trump’s Approval: 19:19–21:11
- Hegseth/Press Relations and Fox News Feud: 24:18–30:38
- Reporter Emotional Fallout & Warrior Ethos: 34:18–35:46
- Newsletter/Swamp Segment & Lawmaker Salaries: 36:23–40:01
Flow & Takeaway
This episode combines sharp reporting, insight, and biting humor (often irreverently British in tone) to reveal the undercurrents of chaos, competition, and ego defining Trump’s Washington 2.0. The handling of the Pentagon press corps emerges as a key inflection point—a microcosm of administration-media battles and proof of the resilience and unity that press freedom can inspire. The cast’s energy and wealth of insider anecdotes keep the episode engaging, while memorable quotes and pointed analysis ensure listeners come away with a vivid sense of just how “the swamp” is being re-drained and refilled.
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