David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles to break down the Trump administration’s strategy to protect itself ahead of the midterms. From the surreal RFK Jr. and Kid Rock government video spectacle to Donald Trump’s grip on evangelicals, Rothkopf, The Daily Beast’s unmissable columnist, explains why Trump’s obsession with election legitimacy is less about confidence and more about self-preservation. With foreign allies unsettled and domestic chaos mounting, he lays out how both parties are quietly planning for life after Trump—and what the fallout could mean for American politics.
00:00 - Show Open And Rothkopf Joins
03:32 - RFK Jr. Video And Political Spectacle
07:05 - Trump World’s Media Strategy
10:41 - Culture Wars As Campaign Fuel
14:12 - How Chaos Becomes Messaging
17:46 - Legal Troubles And Political Leverage
21:18 - Inside The Republican Power Structure
24:52 - Foreign Policy Through Trump’s Lens
28:21 - NATO, Ukraine, And Global Stakes
31:47 - America’s Alliances Under Strain
35:10 - Economic Anxiety And Voter Psychology
38:42 - The Billionaire Influence Question
42:09 - Information Warfare And Disinformation
45:36 - Social Media Ecosystems Explained
49:02 - AI, Propaganda, And The Next Election
52:28 - What Democrats Are Getting Wrong
55:54 - The 2028 Shadow Already Looming
58:12 - Closing Thoughts On Power And Consequence
01:00:30 - Click 'Join' And Become An Official Community Member
#trump #news #podcast
📖 Title: Here's the Proof Trump Knows He's Doomed: Rothkopf
👂 Podcast: The Daily Beast Podcast
📺 Episode: 654
🎧 Format: Full Podcast
📅 Date: February 18, 2026
👨💼 Guest: David Rothkopf
🎙️ Host: Joanna Coles
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