Podcast Summary: "Real Reason Trump Lost It at Key Ally: Wolff"

The Daily Beast Podcast with Joanna Coles
Date: March 20, 2026
Guests: Michael Wolff, Joanna Coles

Episode Overview

This lively episode, hosted by Joanna Coles with regular guest Michael Wolff, dissects the deepening fissures inside Trump World and the MAGA movement as the Iran war drags on into a quagmire, exposing chaotic foreign policy, Jared Kushner's persistent influence, and new eruptions of antisemitic conspiracy theory on the American right. The panel explores the Trump administration’s evolution from “America First” isolationism to neoconservative interventionism, the shifting roles of MAGA influencers, and the MAGA split between anti-war and pro-Israel factions, with the specter of antisemitism rising among Trump’s base. Throughout, the conversation is punctuated by sharp wit, biting humor, and reader contributions—including limericks and art.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Trump Administration’s Foreign Policy Quagmire

• Onset of War & US Military Expansion
  • War in Iran, contrary to initial predictions, has become a prolonged quagmire (01:02–02:05).
  • US Marines are gearing up to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, revealing lack of preparation and poor anticipation by the administration.
  • Michael Wolff notes, “Nobody seems to have another recipe for how to keep the Strait of Hormuz open… And that means once you do that, [Marines] have to stay there.” (01:44)
• Trump’s Bombing Strategy & Reaction
  • Trump’s expectation that heavy bombing would end conflict is described as naïve and outdated (03:27–04:15).
  • Coles mocks Trump’s logic: “He sits there…like a five year old: ‘Well, I hit you, but you weren’t supposed to hit me back.’” (03:13)

2. Jared Kushner’s Outsized Influence & Regional Dynamics

• Qatar, Israel, and MAGA Conspiracies
  • Trump’s recent social media post, deflecting Qatar’s involvement in a strike on Iran, is linked to Kushner protecting Qatari relationships (05:59–06:26).
  • Wolff: “Jared is behind all this…he’s the heavyweight with his father-in-law. The son-in-law who ate the father-in-law.” (06:52, 07:11)
• Associating Kushner with the Alexander Brothers
  • The MAGA conspiracy mill links Kushner to the disgraced Alexander brothers (found guilty of rape), using ethnic undertones as part of the “Jews control everything” narrative (09:15–10:55).

3. The MAGA Split: Podcast Wars & Ideological Civil War

• Divided Right-Wing Influencers
  • Two main camps:
    • Anti-war, anti-Israel: Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Nick Fuentes (23:17)
    • Pro-Israel, interventionist: Mark Levin, Laura Loomer, Ben Shapiro
  • Memorable line on this division: “Is it Mark Levin or Mark Levin of the micro penis, according to Megyn Kelly.” (22:14–23:17)
• Antisemitic Conspiracy’s Resurgence
  • Antisemitism long marginalized in the GOP is once again central to a segment of MAGA, explicitly linking Israel and Jewish figures to conspiracy (24:35–27:51).
  • “Israel is the Epstein State.” – Michael Wolff (24:41)
  • The hosts stress these dangerous currents are being normalized and amplified by new media and MAGA influencers.

4. Isolationism, Populism, and Internal Chaos

• Fractures in Trump’s Inner Circle
  • Isolationists (the “America First” crowd) feel purged and betrayed by a neocon policy turn (12:54–13:27).
  • Specific examples:
    • Joe Kent (Tulsi Gabbard ally) forced out (13:27)
    • J.D. Vance sidelined with a meaningless “benefits fraud” portfolio (29:08–29:25)
• Tulsi Gabbard as a MAGA Wild Card
  • Gabbard described as a complex, ambitious, and “Tucker Carlson creation” (15:24–16:43).

5. The Role of Podcasts and Media Figures in the GOP Civil War

• Influence Showdown
  • The right’s most prominent voices—Tucker Carlson, Ben Shapiro, Megyn Kelly, Laura Loomer, Mark Levin—are in open rivalry for control over the fractured base (30:12–31:37).
  • Wolff: “I’d put my money on Tucker. He seems the most strangely plausible… in a lifetime of meeting opportunistic people.” (31:34–32:24)
  • Joanna: “He’s going to make Antisemitism his opportunity.” (32:24)
• Podcasts as a Force of Disruption
  • “Anyone can say anything on podcasts… But we should also blame it on Donald Trump, of course, because he’s the one who has opened the political discussion to any of this.” (33:47–34:11)

6. Trump’s Blame Game & Foreign Entanglements

• Running Out of Scapegoats
  • Trump’s traditional strategy of blaming others may be wearing thin as events spiral (34:25–35:05).
  • The hosts discuss whether Netanyahu could become Trump's next scapegoat but doubt Trump can afford to do so without seeming duped (35:05–36:24).
• Impact on U.S. Domestic Politics
  • The war has shifted Trump’s focus from domestic woes (ICE scandals, Epstein files) to foreign entanglements, repeating the pattern of second-term leaders seeking distractions (20:23–21:16).

7. Implications for U.S., Israel, and Global Players

• Putin’s Gains
  • Russia benefits economically and geopolitically: “Putin is the happiest man on earth. Oil is at $120 a barrel. Nobody is talking about Ukraine.” (36:47–37:18)
• China—Delayed State Visit
  • Trump’s planned trip to China is postponed amid “bad vibes,” further signaling international instability (37:37–39:15).

8. Antisemitism Among Youth and in Electoral Politics

• Rising Influence
  • Tucker Carlson and others are tapping into an underlying current of antisemitism among young male voters, exemplified by the surprising popularity of Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback, “who I think have seen the bombing of Gaza and…didn’t feel great about it.” (42:25–43:13)
  • Wolff: “I think they’re just anti-Semites. Never underestimate how much that is just a primitive emotion.” (43:00)

9. Jared Kushner as the Ultimate Survivor

• Positioning for Personal Gain
  • Kushner is portrayed as master manipulator—“the son-in-law who ate the father-in-law”—uniquely benefiting from proximity to power and Middle Eastern contacts, raising billions while staying at a distance from day-to-day White House turmoil (44:42–45:45).
  • Trump’s outlook: “Just because this is public service doesn’t mean that [he] shouldn’t also benefit.” (44:42–45:09)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump's Outlook:
  • “He sits there…like a five year old: ‘Well, I hit you, but you weren’t supposed to hit me back.’” – Joanna Coles (03:13)
• On Jared Kushner:
  • “Jared is the controlling voice. He is the heavyweight with his father-in-law. He’s the son-in-law who ate the father-in-law.” – Michael Wolff (06:52–07:11)
• On the MAGA Base:
  • “The calls that I got yesterday…was again, a confirmation. Yes, Jared is behind all this.” – Michael Wolff (07:11–08:41)
• On the Right’s Civil War:
  • “This feels like it’s the Podcast War, actually, or the podcast party.” – Joanna Coles (22:14–23:17)
• On Antisemitism:
  • “Israel is the Epstein State.” – Michael Wolff (24:41)
  • “We embrace Israel and that sort of cleanses our antisemitism problem. But now all this is coming back…” – Michael Wolff (27:09–27:51)
• On Tucker Carlson:
  • “He’s going to make Antisemitism his opportunity, as so many people have so many times in history.” – Joanna Coles (32:24)
  • “I once had this…telling conversation with Tucker…He said, I’m not anti-Semitic. He said, I’m anti-Catholic.” – Michael Wolff (32:59)

Important Timestamps & Segments

• 00:00 — Opening: Jared Kushner’s call to Trump about Qatari anger
• 01:02–04:15 — War escalation, US Marines in Hormuz, Trump’s strategic failures
• 05:28–06:26 — Trump’s Truth Social post and Israel-Qatar dynamics
• 07:11–10:55 — MAGA conspiracy theories, Jared & Alexander brothers
• 12:54–13:27 — Purge of MAGA isolationists; Joe Kent’s ousting
• 16:04–17:31 — Tulsi Gabbard’s complex role
• 20:23–22:14 — Trump’s pivot from “America First” to neocon intervention
• 23:17–24:41 — The party split: gentiles vs Jews among right-wing influencers
• 27:09–29:08 — Antisemitism’s reemergence; “Israel is the Epstein State”
• 31:34–32:24 — Who will lead the base? Betting on Tucker Carlson
• 34:25–36:24 — Trump’s inability to find new scapegoats; Netanyahu dilemma
• 36:47–37:18 — Putin’s geopolitical windfall
• 39:15–40:44 — Trump’s disarray as commander-in-chief; not knowing what to do next
• 42:25–43:13 — Rising youth antisemitism; James Fishback candidacy
• 44:42–45:45 — Kushner’s method: profit with plausible deniability
• 46:08–46:55 — Back to Gulf fundraising amid regional chaos

Tone and Style

• Conversational, incisive, irreverent: Frequent dry humor, cutting asides, vivid metaphors (e.g., “the son-in-law who ate the father-in-law”; “micro penis” jibes; limericks)
• Cynical realism: Acute skepticism about Trump’s abilities, MAGA’s coherence, and the state of US foreign policy
• Nuanced political analysis: Willingness to entertain and dissect even the most disturbing trends inside right-wing politics

Conclusion

The episode captures the U.S. right’s moment of reckoning: Trump’s attempt at strongman foreign policy has backfired, sowing internal party division and fueling a revival of antisemitic conspiracy thinking. MAGA is fractured between pro- and anti-war camps, with influencers like Tucker Carlson poised to gain from the chaos. Jared Kushner, ever the operator, continues to leverage the tumult for personal benefit as Trump’s White House careens into a second-term crisis. The episode’s strength lies in its ability to tie together foreign, domestic, and cultural war threads with a mix of humor and alarm, offering listeners a vivid, chaotic snapshot of American politics in 2026.

Listen for: The hosts’ take on how, in real time, the MAGA movement is splitting apart under the pressure of war, blame games, and the resurgence of ancient prejudices—setting the stage for a turbulent political reckoning ahead.