The Daily Beast Podcast

Episode: The Truth Behind New Trump Epstein Photos: Wolff
Date: December 14, 2025
Host: Joanna Coles
Guest: Michael Wolff

Episode Overview

This episode, hosted by Joanna Coles with journalist and author Michael Wolff, delves into the recently released trove of Jeffrey Epstein-related photographs by a Congressional Oversight Committee. The hosts provide real-time reactions and discussion around the implications of these images—especially those featuring Donald Trump, other prominent men, and a suite of redacted faces. They also explore the broader political landscape, covering topics from Trump’s increasingly beleaguered political position to shifting Republican loyalties, ICE raids, and the U.S.’s changing global stance under Trump. The tone is irreverent and incisive, with both hosts displaying a mix of dark humor, skepticism, and insider knowledge of media and politics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Political Shifts and Republican Fractures

[02:27–06:52]

• The show opens with banter about Indiana politics and Mike Pence’s revenge, segueing into Republican insiders’ resentment toward Trump.
• Michael Wolff: "Everybody... comes to detest him." (03:57)
• There’s discussion about state-level resistance to Trump’s influence and the growing number of Republicans willing to openly criticize his tactics—seen as a potential threat to Trump’s political dominance.

2. The Backfire of Hardline Immigration Policies

[06:52–08:23]

• The hosts comment on the negative repercussions of aggressive ICE raids and social media videos showing masked agents, predicting these images will harm rather than help Trump.
• Joanna Coles: “They just wanted the border to be closed, and they've closed the border, which Biden should have done and didn't do... But the ICE raids are truly frightening and horrifying.” (07:38)

3. Personal Anecdotes & Journalism Origin Stories

[09:44–13:59]

• Wolf and Coles reminisce about their time in Indiana—covering everything from college Greek life to Michael Wolff’s first major journalism story, which involved a personal connection to the Patty Hearst kidnapping.
• This segues into the role of luck, connections, and timing in journalism.

4. Deep Dive: The New Epstein Photo "Gallery"

[14:37–49:03]

• The bulk of the episode is a step-by-step, image-by-image exploration of the new Epstein photos, with Wolff using his personal knowledge to provide context, background, and insight.

Key Segments/Photos Discussed:

• Trump with Redacted Faces (14:53)
  • Context: Faces blacked out, implying possible victims.
  • Michael Wolff: “The implication being these are... Donald Trump's victims.” (15:56)
• Steve Bannon & Epstein Meeting (17:34)
  • Hosted by Wolff, who introduced them.
  • Memorable moment: “Bannon meets Epstein because you introduced them, right?” (17:34)
  • Wolff: “Bannon was aware that 60 Minutes was preparing a piece on the relationship of Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump... and that was never aired for reasons I don't know.” (19:40–20:22)
• Woody Allen and Jeffrey Epstein (21:49)
  • Ambiguity about setting and context, raising questions about both men's associations.
• Novelty Trump Condoms (22:08)
  • Hosts riff on the absurdity of novelty items connected to Trump and sexual innuendo around Epstein.
• Private Jet Group Photos (23:00)
  • Possible appearances by Larry Summers, Woody Allen, Alan Dershowitz.
  • Wolff quips: “It could just be a generic Jew.” (23:04)
• Significance of Who Appears—And Who Doesn’t (26:38)
  • Noting "randomness" of appearances and the potential for trouble for all pictured, but observing no-shows doesn't mean lack of involvement.
  • Wolff: “It's entirely random. Who surfaces, who doesn't. Just because you don't surface doesn't mean you weren't there.” (26:38)
• Branson, Kamens, Segway Origins (27:15–28:40)
  • Discussion around Richard Branson, Dean Kamen (Segway inventor), Ted conferences, and the spectacle of Silicon Valley in Epstein's orbit.
• Dining Room & Redacted Faces (29:49)
  • Analysis of the infamous Epstein dining table and its regular high-profile guests.
• Trump, Clinton, Prince Andrew, Bill Gates (Through 45:00)
  • Photo by photo, exploring the implications and public perceptions of each man’s presence, as well as the deeper issue of the photos as "evidence without clear context."
  • Wolff, on the photos: "We have this stuff, and it is just... being released in no particular fashion. It's all random. And in the end, we're left with... evidence. Stuff that is submitted as evidence, but we don't know what it's evidence of." (46:05)
• Epstein's Sexual Paraphernalia (47:13–49:03)
  • Remarks on the discomfort and grimness of the “jawbreaker gag” and other sex toys, referencing Ghislaine Maxwell's sexual “imagination.”
  • Both hosts admit being out of their depth:
    • Coles: “I have not seen one of these before, and I edited these.” (47:55)
    • Wolff: “I'm seriously out of my depth” (49:00)

5. Broader Political and Foreign Policy Fallout

[49:52–52:41]

• Shifts to Venezuela, potential regime change, and America’s history of failed interventions.
• Coles: "America's history of regime change… hasn't been..."
• Addresses MAGA divisions and performative politicians like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Nancy Mace.
• Wolff: “They are not really loyal to Donald Trump. They are all really singularly in this for their own gain.” (52:18)

6. Trump’s Vanity and Image Management

[54:49–57:15]

• Comedic interlude about Trump’s botched use of hand concealer to cover bruises.
• Coles: “Just get in the right color. There's 48 shades of concealer and foundation... Go to Sephora!” (56:54)
• Wolff: “He is busily applying himself. You know, sending, you know, I don't know who he sends out to get it...” (55:32)

7. America’s Receding Global Commitment

[58:09–62:00]

• Raises alarms about U.S. withdrawal of support for Europe, referencing a little-read, radicalizing 30-page Trump foreign policy document—especially regarding NATO and protection of Europe.
• Wolff: “It's not clear that this administration would defend Europe. So the key pillar of postwar... history may no longer exist.” (58:58)

8. Audience Questions: Melania Trump & Immigration

[63:18–66:49]

• Questions from listeners about Melania’s immigration status, her family, and her mysterious relationship with Trump.
• Wolff: “Donald Trump has built a career on the basis of his views on immigration when clearly he is married to someone whose presence raises all kinds of questions.” (65:41)

9. Closing Banter

[66:49–67:28]

• Jokes about Melania’s indifference, Trump’s health, and listener engagement.
• Shoutout to podcast’s rapid subscriber growth and member supporters.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Michael Wolff, on Trump’s relationships:
  “Everybody... comes to detest him.” (03:57)

• Joanna Coles, on ICE raids:
  “The ICE raids are truly frightening and horrifying. And they just spread on social media, which I think is what the Trump crew underestimated…instead they're portraits of humanity, which are really, you know, only inspire despair.” (07:38)

• Wolff, on Epstein evidence:
  “We have this stuff, and it is just... being released in no particular fashion. It's all random. And in the end, we're left with... evidence. Stuff that is submitted as evidence, but we don't know what it's evidence of.” (46:05)

• On Trump’s thrift:
  “Epstein used to say that Donald Trump always wanted to ride on Epstein's plane because of saving the cost on his own plane.” (44:29)

• On Trump’s Harvard sweatshirt:
  “He was so brazen about it, so unashamed of it, that that sense of being a wannabe kind of changed the context. It was as though he owned Harvard.” (40:10)

• On MAGA loyalty:
  “[They] are all really singularly in this for their own gain.” (52:18)

• On U.S. global commitments:
  “It's not clear that this administration would defend Europe. So the key pillar of postwar... history may no longer exist.” (58:58)

Important Timestamps & Segments

• 02:27–06:52: Political resentment against Trump, internal GOP fractures
• 14:37–49:03: In-depth Epstein photo gallery analysis
• 54:49–57:15: Trump’s makeup and image mishaps
• 58:09–62:00: The U.S., Europe, and Trump administration foreign policy
• 63:18–66:49: Listener questions: Melania, immigration, and media rumors

Tone and Style

The tone veers between darkly comic, sharply insightful, and lightly irreverent. Both hosts are comfortable riffing, challenging each other, and reacting in real time to both the absurdities and the horrors implicit in the Epstein revelations and the future of Trump-era politics. Michael Wolff’s insider storytelling and Joanna Coles’s dry British wit keep even disturbing content fresh and accessible.

For listeners wanting a deep yet entertaining analysis of the cross-section of scandal, power, and politics in contemporary America, this episode is essential.