Podcast Summary: "This Is What Greedy Trump's Really Up To With Oil"
The Daily Beast Podcast
Host: Joanna Coles
Guest: Anthony Scaramucci
Date: January 12, 2026
Episode Overview
In this episode, host Joanna Coles is joined by Anthony Scaramucci to break down the chaos and controversy surrounding Donald Trump’s recent foreign policy moves—specifically the intervention in Venezuela and its connection to oil, legacy, power, and self-enrichment. The conversation covers the political motives and personal ambitions intertwined with America’s Venezuela policy, the health and mindset of Trump, the fates of Republican politicians like JD Vance and Marco Rubio, the internal decay of Congressional authority, and the broader implications for American democracy.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Venezuela Intervention – Motives and Consequences
- Show Vote in Senate: Five Republicans joined Democrats to symbolically block troop authorization in Venezuela—Scaramucci dismisses it as ineffectual "show vote" (03:19).
- Real Motive – Oil and Self-Enrichment:
- Scaramucci argues the Venezuela move is driven by Trump’s personal interests, especially in oil.
- He details pressure from Venezuelan expats and Trump’s fixation on Venezuela’s oil reserves as tools for personal profit and geostrategic leverage.
“He sees a possible self enrichment angle for him. I think that's pretty obvious.” (05:40)
- The action is also framed as a way to “reduce reliance on foreign actors and help ourselves to Venezuela's oil coffers” (06:40).
- Imperialism at Play:
“It's imperialism is what it is. Yeah, that's what he's doing.” (06:48)
2. Trump’s Mental and Physical State
- Trump’s health is discussed:
- Still sharp but visibly aged, tired, with a limp and sleep issues (09:09).
- Uses late-night calls to maintain influence; talks at people, not with them.
“He talks at you, he doesn't talk with you.” (10:39)
- Trump is “detached,” more narcissistic than before, thus less affected by the stress of the presidency.
“He treats people like objects. He's a full on narcissist.” (09:09)
- Meme of “shoot someone on Fifth Avenue” persists due to core MAGA loyalty rooted in culture war dynamics (07:01–07:18).
3. Internal Republican Dynamics: Vance & Rubio
- JD Vance:
- Once anti-interventionist, is now wholly subsumed under Trump.
“The only thing you can see dangling from Trump's ass are Vance's ankles.” (13:34)
- Scaramucci sees Vance’s political future as over, equating his proximity to Trump as a terminal liability.
“He's a colonoscopy. He's so far up...” (13:44)
- Once anti-interventionist, is now wholly subsumed under Trump.
- Marco Rubio:
- Alternately close or distant from Trump, depending on strategic needs.
- Rubio fatally undermined his standing in DC by lying to colleagues—a violation of ‘pirate code’—weakening him and Vance alike (13:46–14:55).
- Lindsey Graham:
- Scaramucci skewers him as the “most despicable of all” for incessantly bending to Trump’s winds (12:12).
4. ICE, Militarization, and Political Violence
- Discussion of the ICE killing in Minnesota; Trump’s obsession with cruelty and militarized policing.
- At the top: “pain, cruelty, those are the things that he wants” (15:14).
- Whistleblowers/federal employees report internal pressure to be more punitive or face demotion (15:14–17:40).
- Scaramucci warns, “this is going to get worse, not better” (17:40).
5. Disinformation, Domestic Unrest, and ‘Fascism’
- Harsh focus on the US climate:
- Disinformation, saber-rattling over Cuba, Denmark, Greenland, and Iran, and internal violence.
“We've got a domestic junta going around the United States despite the recriminations from the court.” (20:13)
- Disinformation, saber-rattling over Cuba, Denmark, Greenland, and Iran, and internal violence.
- Coles and Scaramucci debate the “fascist” label—Scaramucci says the US is now in a period of open, shameless lying and rule-breaking.
“Tell me a rule and I will break that rule. That's how Trump thinks.” (26:10)
6. Congressional Weakness and the Imperial Presidency
- Congress willingly ceded authority post-Vietnam, seeking political safety (24:43).
- Presidents have used (and abused) these powers; Trump is the first to do so without restraint.
“He’s willing to cross lines as it relates to what’s going on with ICE, the National Guard, what’s going on with Greenland...” (25:47)
- Most Republican legislators privately justify their fealty to Trump as a necessary evil to retain future power, claiming they’ll act if real crisis comes (21:49).
7. Foreign Policy Chessboard: China, Russia, and Global Repercussions
- Trump’s unpredictable actions in Venezuela, Greenland, and elsewhere are a boon for the Chinese and weaken US alliances.
“This has been a windfall for them. … The Chinese are looking at this, saying, this is so much better than we thought...” (32:58)
- Contrast to China’s predictable multilateral system.
8. Opposition, the Democratic Party, and the Future
- Little effective opposition to Trump currently exists; Democrats are divided and lack a coalition builder (33:00).
- Some Republicans might break off after six months, especially if they see presidential prospects (35:14), but real opposition, if it comes, will be reactive and after further damage.
9. Trump’s Personality and the ‘Potomac Fever’
- Scaramucci reflects on Trump’s magnetism and why politicians and staffers become enthralled—attributing it to celebrity culture and the intoxicating allure of power.
“You do feel that celebrity status. And whether we like it or not, people like that, they want to be attached to that, they want to name drop that.” (36:48)
- Potomac fever: “One of the big symptoms, you don’t know you have it” (37:47).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------| | 03:19 | “It's probably just a show vote, if you will. They've got constituents that they're probably trying to please.” | Scaramucci | | 05:40 | “He sees a possible self enrichment angle for him. I think that's pretty obvious.” | Scaramucci | | 06:48 | “It's imperialism is what it is. Yeah, that's what he's doing.” | Scaramucci | | 07:01 | “He's lost some people, but he's got 25% of the people come hell or high water.” | Scaramucci | | 10:39 | “He talks at you, he doesn't talk with you.” | Scaramucci | | 13:34 | “The only thing you can see dangling from Trump's ass are Vance's ankles.” | Scaramucci | | 15:14 | “Pain, cruelty, those are the things that he wants. He gets off on that.” | Scaramucci | | 21:49 | “Republicans... say generally the same thing. I've got to be with Trump because he's got the power. … When the real fight starts, you're going to want a person like me who's more moderate...” | Scaramucci | | 24:43 | “They set up procedures to make themselves slavish and weak... Let's give those decisions to the president...” | Scaramucci | | 26:10 | “Tell me a rule and I will break that rule. That's how Trump thinks.” | Scaramucci | | 32:58 | “This has been a boon for them. This has been a windfall for [China].” | Scaramucci | | 36:48 | “You do feel that celebrity status. And whether we like it or not, people like that…” | Scaramucci | | 37:47 | “One of the things about Potomac fever, one of the big symptoms, you don't know you have it.” | Scaramucci |
Timestamps for Major Segments
- Venezuela, Oil, & Trump's Motives: 03:19–08:46
- Trump’s Health & Leadership Style: 08:51–11:19
- Rubio & Vance Republican Machinations: 11:19–14:55
- ICE Killings & Militarized Policy: 14:55–17:40
- State of US Politics/Disinformation: 20:10–21:49
- Congressional Weakness: 24:26–26:38
- Foreign Policy Fallout: 32:07–33:00
- Opposition & Democratic Disarray: 33:00–35:04
- Populism & Potomac Fever: 36:26–38:56
Tone & Style
The episode is fast-paced, sharp, and unflinching, blending Scaramucci’s firsthand candor, wit, and biting criticism with Coles’s incisive, at times wry questioning. The language is irreverent, sometimes profane, but underpinned by deep policy knowledge and hard experience in the political trenches.
Utility for Listeners
This summary captures the podcast's core critiques of Trump’s Venezuela policy, the internal dynamics of the Republican Party, and the increasing dysfunction of American government. It reflects Scaramucci’s sardonic tone and Coles’s probing style, providing an accessible recap for those unable to listen, and offers key quotes and timestamps for easy navigation to important moments.