Podcast Summary: The Daily Beast Podcast

Episode: Trump’s Staff Are Questioning His Mental Stability
Date: December 17, 2025
Host: Joanna Coles
Guests: Michael Wolff, Michael Kirk

Main Theme

This episode examines the growing concerns within Donald Trump's staff about his mental stability, particularly in light of President Trump’s bizarre and callous public response to the tragic deaths in the Reiner family. The hosts additionally explore a controversial Vanity Fair profile of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, a New York Times diary excerpt from Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend, and answer audience questions—largely through their satirical “Ask Melania” segment.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Correction and Listener Feedback (03:36 – 07:00)

• The hosts, Michael Wolff and Michael Kirk, open the non-ad section with friendly banter and corrections from their last episode, poking fun at themselves for getting highway numbers wrong.
• Both discuss regional obsessions with highways growing up, segueing into personal New York anecdotes.
  • Notable Quote (Michael Wolff, 06:05):
    “I’ve been riding [the subway] for nearly 30 years... I love it because I’m looking for fashion. I’m looking for what people are looking at on their phones and what books they are reading.”

2. Inside the White House: The Susie Wiles Vanity Fair Profile (07:33 – 23:37)

• Discussion shifts to a major Vanity Fair piece on Susie Wiles, highlighting her survival as Trump’s Chief of Staff and exploring internal White House culture.
• The article quotes Wiles as labeling Trump “an alcoholic personality” (despite lifelong teetotalism), J.D. Vance as a conspiracy theorist, and speculating about Elon Musk’s microdosing.
  • Notable Quote (Michael Wolff, 14:12):
    “She said Donald Trump has an alcoholic personality. J.D. Vance has been a conspiracy theorist for 10 years... Elon Musk on his wildest tweets, is microdosing.”
• Wiles vehemently denies the statements, but is undermined when the journalist releases tape evidence.
• The hosts reflect on the dangers of profiles with high-profile journalists, referencing Chris Licht’s downfall at CNN as a parallel case:
  • Notable Quote (Michael Kirk, 16:24):
    "If you get too much press, he [Trump] fires you. If you don’t get enough press, he ignores you."

White House Culture and Wiles’ Strategy

• Wiles’ survival is credited to her strategy: never telling Trump what to do, simply managing fallout, and avoiding attention while not being invisible.
• The Trump White House is described as staffed with people who “wouldn’t normally be in any functioning government administration.”

3. Epstein Diary Story: Echoes of 1980s Wall Street (27:25 – 32:24)

• The New York Times published diary entries of Patricia Schmidt, a former Epstein girlfriend, which the hosts dissect.
• They find her diary poignantly ordinary, more reflective of 1980s Manhattan ambition than any tabloid salaciousness:
  • Notable Quote (Joanna Coles, 31:33):
    “What is sweet is the insight into her... ‘I have so much ambition and energy. It’s so sweet. Then she says I’ll have my turn soon, I pray.’”

4. Trump’s Deranged Response to Reiner Family Tragedy (32:24 – 43:46)

• The hosts discuss Trump’s public response to Rob Reiner and Michelle Singer’s deaths—a mocking post suggesting “Trump Derangement Syndrome” contributed to the tragedy.
• Both describe the reaction as proof Trump is “off his rocker,” with even MAGA supporters reportedly repulsed.
  • Notable Quote (Michael Wolff, 39:21):
    “[Trump] really does sound like the utterings from an elderly relative... All inhibition has gone and they are left muttering in the corner... and yet, of course, he’s the President of the United States, which is truly alarming.”
• Michael Kirk reveals speaking to someone in the White House who all but confirms staff are alarmed, saying, “Everybody knows it’s a thin line. He walks. Is he teetering? Well…”

Consequences and GOP Reaction

• Kirk raises the specter of the 25th Amendment for incapacity, openly pondering whether close staff or even allies like J.D. Vance are considering it.
• The duo highlight how such behavior—utterly unnecessary and self-destructive—suggests profound cognitive decline.

5. Ask Melania and Listener Questions (44:56 – 49:59)

• The hosts take audience questions for their satirical segment “Ask Melania,” discussing the East Wing renovation, Melania’s connection to Putin, Baron’s friendship with Andrew Tate, and the origins of Trump’s “makeup.”
• They joke about the metaphor of an “amputated White House” and Melania’s ambiguous personal history.

6. Looking Forward: Live Shows and Holiday Programming (51:03 – 52:37)

• They plug their upcoming appearance at the 92nd Street Y and tease a two-part series on Trump and Jeffrey Epstein.
• Reflect on the “most consequential year in American presidency,” warning about rising threats in Europe:
  • Notable Quote (Michael Kirk, 51:53):
    “What has Donald Trump done? He has unleashed Russia.”

7. The Resilience of Susie Wiles (52:37 – 53:58)

• The episode’s final segment returns to Wiles, betting she will survive the current storm, citing Trump’s whims and her adaptability.
• They humorously discuss Trump’s first impression—“she looks like a refrigerator”—and Wiles’ fashion choices.
  • Notable Quote (Michael Wolff, 53:58):
    “He has zero filter. And it’s time for someone to insert a filter as they... do in refrigerators when they start to smell.”

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On White House Staff Roles:
  “The Trump administration is made up of people who wouldn’t normally be in any functioning government administration…” (Michael Wolff, 19:21)
• On Trump’s Response to Tragedy:
  “It’s not just that this is objectionable, but the fact that someone would say this is an indication of their own alarming personal situation. Trump is off his fucking rocker.” (Michael Kirk, 02:59)
• On Professional Survival in Trumpworld:
  “If you get too much press, he fires you. If you don’t get enough press, he ignores you.” (Michael Kirk, 16:24)
• On Vanity Fair Profiles:
  “It’s called Vanity Fair. It’s amazing how many people get hoist by their own vein petard.” (Michael Wolff, 21:07)

Important Timestamps

• [03:36] – Corrections and New York anecdotes
• [07:33] – Susie Wiles profile and White House dynamics
• [14:12] – Juicy revelations from Vanity Fair piece
• [16:24, 19:21] – Insights on surviving in the Trump White House
• [27:25] – Epstein’s girlfriend’s diaries
• [32:24] – Trump’s Reiner family statement; evidence of decline
• [35:46] – Reading Trump’s post on Rob Reiner
• [39:21] – Comparison to “elderly relative” behavior
• [44:56] – Ask Melania audience questions
• [51:53] – Trump “unleashed Russia” and global order fears
• [52:37] – Predictions for Susie Wiles’ future
• [53:58] – “Zero filter” fridge joke

Tone

Candid, witty, and sharply observational—a mixture of journalistic skepticism, insider knowledge, and irreverent humor, pulling no punches when describing Trump, his administration, or the state of US politics.

This episode is essential listening for anyone trying to understand the chaos and personalities of Trump’s White House, the fine line staffers like Susie Wiles must walk, and the deepening anxieties about the President’s judgement and mental state.