David Rothkopf speaks with Joanna Coles about Trump’s increasingly chaotic presidency as the midterms loom, from his bizarre claim that he has an IQ of 1,775 to the growing threat of election interference and Elon Musk’s renewed influence. They examine Pete Hegseth’s alarming vision for the Pentagon, the rise of autonomous weapons and the billions flowing to Trump allies, before looking ahead to the Republican Party’s fierce 2028 battle between billionaire oligarchs and white Christian nationalists. And with Trump once again defending men accused of sexual abuse, David explains why the Epstein scandal could come roaring back—and become a defining story of the next election.

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00:00 - Trump’s 1775 IQ and the Midterm Election

00:05 - Trump’s Bizarre IQ Claim

00:10 - Republican Campaign Chaos and Election Threats

00:14 - Elon Musk’s Role in the Election

00:19 - Musk’s Breakup and the Money Trail

00:23 - Ken Paxton’s Texas Disaster

00:27 - Natalie Harp: The Woman Feeding Trump’s Delusions

00:32 - Trump Is Destroying America’s National Security

00:37 - Trump’s Iran War Is Becoming a Quagmire

00:41 - Trump’s Dangerous Autonomous Weapons Plan

00:45 - Laura Loomer Is Back in Trump’s Orbit

00:50 - The Battle for the Republican Party’s Future

00:55 - Trump’s Pro-Sexual Abuse Record and Epstein

01:00 - Trump, Election Chaos and a Rattled America

#trump #podcast #news

📖 Title: Why Trump's Worst Scandal Is About to Haunt Him

👂 Podcast: The Daily Beast Podcast

📺 Episode: 780

🎧 Format: Full Podcast

📅 Date: October 5, 2026

👨‍💼 Guest: David Rothkopf

🎙️ Host: Joanna Coles

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