The Daily Beast Podcast What Trump Really Thinks of Women on His Team
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Dec 12, 2025 
Michael Wolff, a seasoned author and journalist known for his insider accounts of the Trump White House, joins Joanna Coles to dissect the dynamics of women in Trump’s circle. They discuss how loyalty often trumps competence, highlighted by Kristi Noem's 'Ice Barbie' antics at Homeland Security and the roles of Pam Bondi and Alina Habba in reshaping the Justice Department. Wolff reveals the intense loyalty tests and spectacle-driven politics that shape decisions in Trump’s orbit, illustrating the fraught landscape of power and influence.
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Loyalty Trumps Competence In The Inner Circle
- Donald Trump keeps people who are publicly abjectly loyal rather than competent around him.
- Michael Wolff argues loyalty and lackey behavior protect tenure more than skill.
Noem’s Appointment Linked To Corey Lewandowski
- Kristi Noem got a Homeland Security role tied to Corey Lewandowski's influence and patronage.
- Michael Wolff recounts Corey getting a job and then asserting control inside the campaign.
Spectacle Undermines Immigration Strategy
- ICE raids and masked arrests have become a public relations liability for the administration.
- Wolff finds using dramatic raids damages the consensus Trump built on immigration.