Transcript

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Michael (0:52)

This could not be a worse situation and a more. More of a malfunction of a situation than we have seen in a very long time. This is a window on exactly who he is and on his serious limitations as a president and as an intelligence.

Joanna (1:20)

There was no goal. It was like, we have a lot

Michael (1:23)

of, we're stronger than they are, so. So we'll be able to come out of this looking better than they do.

Joanna (1:31)

We'll win. How could we not win? There was never a definition for him of winning.

Michael (1:37)

Except winning. Winning.

Unnamed Female Host (1:43)

Michael.

Michael (1:45)

Joanna, you're back.

Joanna (1:47)

Where were you?

Unnamed Female Host (1:48)

I was in Montana. I was in Montana. I was. I was breathing in some Yellowstone air. Inspired by Taylor Sheridan's shows. I'm big into his new show, Madison, actually partly. Well, entirely because of Michelle Pfeiffer. Thank goodness he's brought her back. I don't like his portrayal of female characters.

Joanna (2:10)

Well, have you. So you like this?

Michael (2:13)

Everything I've read about this Madison makes it sound terrible. So I have to.

Summary

The Daily Beast Podcast

Episode: Trump Secretly Admits Top Goon ‘Is Crazy’
Date: March 29, 2026
Host: Joanna Coles
Regulars/Guests: Michael, Unnamed Female Host

Episode Overview

This episode unpacks the chaos and contradictions at the heart of the Trump administration’s actions during the ongoing U.S.-Iran war, the state of Trump’s political narrative heading into the midterms, and the latest palace intrigue surrounding key players in Trump’s team—from RFK Jr.’s faltering role as Health Secretary to Pete Hegseth’s troubled tenure as Secretary of Defense. The panel—Joanna Coles, Michael, and an unnamed regular female contributor—debate Trump’s motivations, the absence (or denial) of coherent strategy in war and politics, and what Trump’s allies and enemies reveal about the administration as the pressure mounts. The tone is biting, witty, and unfiltered—peppered with memorable moments and quotable takes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mail-in Voting Hypocrisy: Trump’s “I Can Do Fuck All” Attitude

Trump vocally opposes mail-in voting but sends in his own ballot by mail, along with his family.
- Joanna: "He mailed in his vote to Palm beach and he was followed by his wife, also mailed in." [05:25]
- Michael: "Effectively his response was... I can do fuck all that I want." [05:56]
- The panel discusses the lack of reaction from the country to this blatant double standard.
- Joanna: “He is transparent about what he’s doing here. This is what you’re buying America, the world." [06:41]
- Consensus: Trump’s behavior exposes, yet normalizes, hypocrisy as basic political operating procedure.

2. “Winning” Without a Plan: Trump’s War Stance

Discussion shifts to Trump’s handling of the war with Iran.
- The administration is improvisational, lacking a clear goal or exit strategy.
- Joanna: “There was no goal. It was like, we have a lot... We’re stronger than they are, so we’ll be able to come out of this looking better than they do.” [01:20, 15:28]
- Michael: “This could not be a worse situation and more of a malfunction... than we have seen in a very long time. This is a window on exactly who he is and on his serious limitations as a president and as an intelligence.” [00:52, 14:22]
- The “plan” as relayed by a supposed insider is dismissed as fantasy (“That plan did not account for...”). [17:17, 17:26]

3. Narrative over Strategy: Trump’s Storytelling Instinct

The hosts examine Trump’s reliance on creating compelling stories rather than clear strategies, both in war and politics.
- Michael: “Trump is not someone who responds to political exigencies by revising his policies… he responds with a narrative logic.” [40:40]
- Joanna: “He’ll respond with a new story.” [41:40]

4. Midterms: Setting the Stage for Blame and Election Doubt

Trump is described as already preparing to blame the likely loss of the upcoming midterms on “stolen election” narratives.
- Michael: “He’s now setting up... the Save America act, which is not going to pass, as a way to set the stage for blaming this on voter fraud, which has worked for him in the past.” [33:31]
- Joanna: “That became a fulcrum of his 2024 campaign.” [34:31]
- Debate: Was Trump’s narrative the reason for his last win? The panel is split.

5. RFK Jr. Fallout: Trump Admits His Own “Top Goon Is Crazy”

Trump’s cabinet choices are increasingly tenuous:
- Trump is described as privately expressing doubts about RFK Jr.:
  Michael (on Trump’s calls): “I hear people say, Bobby is crazy. You think he’s crazy?” [42:45]
- Joanna: “Trump is saying that. Do you think Bobby’s crazy? ... That is always that sign—those calls, when you can track those calls, and he asks the question, and you know the answer he wants.” [42:58]
- Trump is openly complementary towards Jack Schlossberg (JFK’s grandson) — a family member publicly critical of RFK Jr. [44:33]
- RFK Jr.’s position looks threatened, with speculation if he’ll double down or pivot from his anti-vax base. [47:31]

6. Pete Hegseth: Secretary of Defense’s Drinking and Image

The show questions whether Hegseth, formerly known for his Fox News stint and a problematic relationship with alcohol, is really up to the job.
- Joanna: “Every story that you hear about Hegseth is about his drunkenness.” [49:46]
- Anecdotes of Hegseth’s odd behavior—lecturing generals about being fat with coffee in hand, his wife’s presence at the Pentagon—paint a picture of a chaotic, unserious defense department. [51:21, 52:28]
- Michael: “A drunken weekend co-anchor of a television show” is now in charge of the US military. [54:17]

7. Consequences & Larger Context

Oil prices and global impacts of the war loom large over domestic politics.
- Joanna: “The price of oil at... $1.10 or going to $1.20... is unsustainable here.” [32:16]
Trump’s improvisational style is depicted as dangerous in a context where actual outcomes (like energy markets or public health) matter.
The episode closes with a call to public action (“No Kings Day”) and a discussion of reclaiming American patriotism from Trump’s branding. [55:01]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Michael (on Trump’s irreverence):
“Effectively his response was, I can do fuck all that I want.” [05:56]
Joanna (on Trump’s “authority”):
“I’m the President of the United States. I can do this. And the fact that I am opposed to this for everyone else has no bearing on what I do.” [06:14]
Michael (on lack of plan):
“This could not be a worse situation and more of a malfunction... This is a window on exactly who he is and on his serious limitations as a president and as an intelligence.” [00:52, 14:22]
Unnamed Female Host (on Trump ally chatter):
“Someone who talks to Trump every day... said, there’s a plan, a six-week plan. We’re at three. The plan was to decapitate leadership and have regime change.” [16:22-17:05]
Met with collective skepticism by Joanna and Michael.
Joanna (on narrative as strategy):
“He’ll respond with a new story.” [41:40]
Michael (on Trump and election blame):
“He’s now setting up... [the Save America act] as a way to set the stage for blaming this on voter fraud, which has worked for him in the past.” [33:31]
Joanna (on RFK Jr. cabinet fallout):
“Trump is saying... do you think Bobby’s crazy? That is always that sign—those calls, when you can track those calls, and he asks the question, and you know the answer he wants.” [42:58]
Joanna (on Hegseth):
“The whole Hagseth story—can it be more bizarre? The weekend co anchor of a television show is elevated to be the secretary.” [53:04]
- Michael: “A drunken weekend co-anchor of a television show.” [54:17]

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:52 | Trump’s failure of leadership during the war
05:05 | Mail-in voting hypocrisy and Trump’s attitude (“I can do fuck all”)
10:31 | Trump tries to rebrand the Strait of Hormuz as "the Strait of Trump"
12:25 | Debates about the supposed six-week war plan
14:22 | On-the-fly, improvisational policy: “out of control”
17:17 | Deconstructing the alleged war “plan”
22:21 | Quoting NYT on Trump’s “stream of consciousness” leadership
33:31 | Save America Act as pre-blame strategy for midterm losses
42:45 | Trump calling around on RFK Jr. (“Bobby is crazy”)
44:33 | Trump praises Jack Schlossberg over his cousin RFK Jr.
49:46 | Pete Hegseth’s drinking and appointment as Secretary of Defense
54:17 | “A drunken weekend co-anchor” running the Pentagon
55:01 | Closing: No Kings Day and reclaiming patriotism

Additional Notes

The hosts’ banter and teasing are part of the show’s appeal: Joanna and Michael often challenge each other’s arguments, maintaining a lively and irreverent tone throughout.
The atmosphere blends weighty political critique with moments of levity and pop references (e.g., Taylor Sheridan’s shows, Michelle Pfeiffer, “Ice Barbie” for Kristi Noem).
The closing notes hint at a sense of exhaustion and resignation about the state of American politics—and a rallying plea for engagement.