The Daily Beast Podcast Season 1: Episode Review

Episode Title: Why Prince Harry Says King’s Aides ‘Want Me Dead’
Release Date: May 6, 2025
Hosts: Joanna Coles and Samantha Bee

Introduction to the New Format

In this episode, Joanna Coles, Chief Content Officer of The Daily Beast, introduces the revamped format of The Daily Beast Podcast following its transition to the New Abnormal Feed. Co-hosts Joanna Coles and Samantha Bee emphasize their commitment to delivering engaging and insightful conversations covering politics, pop culture, and more. Joanna highlights the podcast's evolution from addressing the early COVID era to providing sharp, lively commentary on current events.

Joanna Coles (01:34):
"We've heard from so many of you listeners out there saying that you want more interviews, more stories, more life hacks, and frankly, despite the chaos out there, more fun. So that's just what we're going to do with this podcast."

She mentions notable past guests, including Amber Ruffin, John Oliver, Cari Sevagan, Lovett and Favreau, Mika Brzezinski, Don Lemon, Kara Swisher, Governor Andrew Cuomo, Isaac Mizrahi, and more, setting the stage for the episode's in-depth discussions.

Political Landscape: Trump's Presidency Day 106

Joanna is joined by the Daily Beast's executive editor, Hugh Doherty, who provides a live update on the ever-changing political scene. They discuss the dynamics of Donald Trump's presidency as he marks his 106th day in office, highlighting Trump's attempts to shape his administration's narrative and format.

Hugh Doherty (04:24):
"Donald Trump is as well, as you know, he celebrated 100 days of his presidency last week and now it's day 106, if you're listening."

Joanna humorously refers to Trump's administration as "season two," emphasizing the ongoing nature of his political maneuvers.

Joanna Coles (05:03):
"So it's season two."

Mike Waltz's Nomination and Senate Confirmation

A significant portion of the discussion centers around Mike Waltz, the national security advisor who accidentally added a journalist to his private Signal chat, leading to his nomination as ambassador to the United Nations. The duo examines the implications of this move, questioning whether it's a genuine promotion or a strategic sidelining by the Trump administration.

Hugh Doherty (05:24):
"Mike Waltz, who was the national security advisor who exited accidentally, added a journalist to his secret Signal Chat has been nominated to be the ambassador to the United Nations."

Joanna references a Daily Beast piece by Nell Scovell, noting the gender disparity in ambassadorial versus security advisor roles, subtly critiquing Trump's underlying motives.

Joanna Coles (05:56):
"Actually eight out of the last 10 ambassadors to the UN have been women, whereas actually, I think nine out of the 10 security advisers to the president have been men. So this is actually a girly job."

They anticipate the Senate confirmation process to be a grilling session for Waltz, with Democrats likely to probe into the Signal chat mishap.

Hugh Doherty (06:38):
"This is a chance for them to really get into how on earth do you accidentally add a journalist to Signal Chat?"

Joanna Coles (07:03):
"So he may well be confirmed by the Senate, but he will have gone through humiliating questions from the Democratic senators, too, on the committee."

Warren Buffett Steps Down Amidst Trump Tensions

The conversation shifts to Warren Buffett announcing his retirement as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the age of 94, and his pointed comments towards Donald Trump regarding trade policies.

Hugh Doherty (07:46):
"Warren Buffett, on Saturday, he suddenly stepped down as CEO. He addressed his annual shareholders meeting and said that he was going to recommend that the board hand over his job to Greg Abel, who's been his designated successor."

Buffett's critique of Trump comes during this meeting, where he remarked on the negative impacts of using trade as a weapon, a clear jab at Trump's tariff strategies.

Warren Buffett's Quote (08:46):
"Trade can be an act of war. And I think it's led to bad things. Just the attitudes it's brought out."

Hugh Doherty (08:55):
"For Warren Buffett to say trade is not a weapon was really a weapon directed straight at Donald Trump."

Joanna points out the dramatic nature of Buffett's departure and the subtle tensions it underscores between established business leaders and the Trump administration.

Bobby Kotick’s Weight Loss and GLP1s Discussion

The hosts segue into a lighter yet personally engaging topic: the rise of injectable weight loss drugs, GLP1s, highlighting their prevalence among high-profile figures like Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard. They discuss the cultural and health implications of such weight loss trends.

Joanna Coles (09:36):
"I saw Bobby about six weeks ago and he had lost an enormous amount of weight. So to my own personal obsessions about GLP1s, I think Bobby Kotick has probably got some familiarity with them."

Hugh Doherty (09:50):
"He would certainly, as an investor, know about their impact."

Joanna humorously speculates on Kotick's reasons for weight loss, blending personal anecdotes with broader societal observations.

Joanna Coles (09:55):
"We're either that or he's been running a lot. He's been running 100 miles a day."

Trump's 2028 Ambitions and Potential Successors

Joanna and Hugh delve into Trump's recent interview with Kristen Welker, where he initially dismissed plans to run in 2028 but later hinted at potential successors, creating a political spectacle reminiscent of reality TV.

Joanna Coles (10:40):
"Trump, as we all know, kind of peak boomer. His references do tend to go back to the 50s and 60s."

Hugh Doherty (10:56):
"He said people have just been keep asking him to run again. We don't really know if anybody has obviously grown men, tears in their eyes have come up to him saying, sir, sir, please run again. But it's no, you know, it's prohibited by the Constitution."

They discuss Trump's suggestion of J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio as potential successors, analyzing the strategic implications for the Republican Party and future elections.

Joanna Coles (12:04):
"So it's the great American Political Bake Off."

Hugh Doherty (12:07):
"It is the great, great Political Bake Off. I'm going to offer you. There's another British show that is offering itself as a comparison and that's Monty Python."

John Cleese's Monty Python Comparison

An intriguing highlight is John Cleese’s comparison of the Trump administration to a farce that even Monty Python would find too extreme, underscoring the surreal nature of current political events.

Hugh Doherty (12:53):
"John Cleese ... has said that he's comparing the Trump administration not just to Monty Python, but he says it would have been too extreme for Monty Python."

This analogy reinforces the podcast's critical stance on the administration's actions, illustrating the depth of absurdity perceived by observers.

Closing Remarks and Podcast Transition

Joanna concludes the episode by reiterating the podcast’s new home and encouraging listeners to subscribe for regular updates and engaging content.

Joanna Coles (15:07):
"Hey, Daily Beast podcast fans, we're bringing you your favorite dinner party to a new home. Full episodes of the Daily Beast podcast have moved to a new channel."

She promotes the Swamp newsletter, highlighting its value in providing inside gossip and insights, while Hugh humorously warns of the ever-changing political landscape.

Hugh Doherty (15:02):
"And I can guarantee you the world will have changed unrecognizably the next time I see you. Joanna."

Notable Quotes

• Joanna Coles (01:34):
  "We've heard from so many of you listeners out there saying that you want more interviews, more stories, more life hacks, and frankly, despite the chaos out there, more fun."

• Hugh Doherty (06:38):
  "This is a chance for them to really get into how on earth do you accidentally add a journalist to Signal Chat?"

• Warren Buffett (08:46):
  "Trade can be an act of war. And I think it's led to bad things. Just the attitudes it's brought out."

• Joanna Coles (10:56):
  "Trump, as we all know, kind of peak boomer. His references do tend to go back to the 50s and 60s."

• Hugh Doherty (12:53):
  "John Cleese ... has said that he's comparing the Trump administration not just to Monty Python, but he says it would have been too extreme for Monty Python."

Conclusion

This episode of The Daily Beast Podcast masterfully navigates the turbulent waters of current politics, blending sharp analysis with engaging anecdotes. Joanna Coles and Hugh Doherty provide listeners with a comprehensive overview of Donald Trump's administration, internal political maneuverings, and the broader societal implications of trending topics like injectable weight loss drugs. The inclusion of humor and relatable references ensures that even complex political discourse remains accessible and entertaining for all audiences.

Listeners can look forward to future episodes every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, promising more insightful conversations, interviews, and lively discussions that mirror the dynamic world we live in.