This Is the Sordid Reason Trump Bows to Putin

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles look ahead to the morning after the midterms and ask what happens if Donald Trump loses control of Congress. Wolff, who watched Trump’s inner circle confront him with the 2020 results, explains why he believes the president cannot accept a loss and how a defeat could become an excuse to blame Susie Wiles, Mike Johnson and Republicans who kept their distance from him. Coles presses Wolff on a closer, messier result: Could recounts and challenges leave the country in weeks of chaos? They also imagine who will be at Trump’s side as the returns come in, whether he could still surprise his opponents at the ballot box and why Wolff expects him to fight for the spotlight even if Democrats win. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles go inside the chaos of Trump’s White House, where a disastrous press secretary debut, a sudden firing, and Susie Wiles’ uncertain future expose a West Wing running on ego, loyalty, and dysfunction. As Trump’s revolving door of female aides keeps spinning, Wolff explains why even his own chief of staff may be on borrowed time. Plus, Elon Musk is pouring another $300 million into the midterms, raising the stakes in a series of nail-biting Senate races and giving one billionaire extraordinary power over American democracy. With control of Congress hanging in the balance, Wolff and Coles examine the money, the power plays, and the political consequences that could reshape Trump’s presidency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles ask whether Susie Wiles is running out of time as Trump reportedly calls around to ask what people think of his chief of staff. Wolff explains why that question can be the kiss of death inside Trump’s White House and predicts what could happen after the midterms. They also take on new press secretary Katie Zacharia’s rocky debut and the questions surrounding her claims to be a lawyer. Then Wolff offers a theory about Kimberly Guilfoyle’s abrupt exit as ambassador, her split from Don Jr. and what she might do next. The conversation turns to Elon Musk, Ukraine’s access to Starlink and Trump’s pursuit of a deal with Putin, before Wolff makes his case for what Trump wants from the world’s richest and most powerful men.

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles dig into Kimberly Guilfoyle’s abrupt exit as ambassador to Greece and the leaked messages that preceded it. Why was she pushed out, and what does she know about the Trump family? Wolff argues that her fall exposes a familiar pattern in Trump’s circle: people using power to chase money, status and the next job. They also discuss new White House press secretary Katie Zacharia and why Wolff thinks Trump picked her to be the face of his administration. As the midterms approach, they consider what happens if Trump loses control of Congress but refuses to see it as a defeat. They weigh Elon Musk’s enormous spending on Republican races and what he might expect in return. Then Wolff offers his theory of Trump’s renewed interest in Vladimir Putin, from the deal over Russian diesel to the wealth and influence he believes Trump wants after the White House.

Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles turn their attention to Pete Hegseth, as the Secretary of Defense is facing mounting criticism over the Iran war while quietly positioning himself for a presidential run. They break down his latest State of the Force speech, which Wolff argues was designed to flatter Donald Trump and win over the MAGA base, and Joanna traces Hegseth’s tough-guy rhetoric back to his time in Iraq. As the war drains American munitions and the midterms approach, they consider whether Trump will make Hegseth the fall guy. But Wolff sees a strange possibility: the louder the calls for Hegseth’s removal become, the less likely Trump may be to fire him. And if Hegseth does lose his job, that may only accelerate his campaign for the next one.