The Daily Beast Podcast Trump Knows He’s Running Out of Time: Author
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Nov 14, 2025 Jonathan Karl, Chief Washington correspondent for ABC News and author of 'Retribution', shares insights on the chaotic dynamics within Donald Trump’s inner circle. He discusses Trump's abusive relationships with aides and journalists, revealing a personality craving constant attention. Karl also highlights Trump’s troubling health habits, like poor diet and lack of exercise, hinting at visible signs of aging. Additionally, they explore how loyalty among aides remains despite humiliation, and how Trump's cabinet prioritizes personal allegiance over credentials.
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How Trump Controls Through Praise And Punishment
- Donald Trump cultivates intense personal loyalty by elevating people around him and then can abruptly discard them.
- That dynamic keeps aides anxious and dependent on his approval, ensuring control over them.
Karl's Long History Of Interviews With Trump
- Jonathan Karl recounts early interviews with Trump starting in the 1990s and through 2013 that Trump repeatedly referenced later.
- Those early encounters illustrate Trump's long memory and habit of holding slights or favors against people.
Personality Drives Public Humiliation
- Trump seeks to be the constant center of attention and treats relationships transactionally.
- That personality explains public humiliations, rapid reversals of favor, and why aides stay despite abuse.
