The Daily Beast Podcast

The New Abnormal hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie discuss how theguardrails that were supposed to keep President Donald Trump in check are all gone now—andthe Democrats don’t know what to do about it. Plus, Virginia Kase Solomón of the pro-democracy watchdog group Common Cause joins the show to talk about how they’ve beenfighting back against Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. Then, Wired seniorpolitics editor Leah Feiger dives into the magazine’s exclusive reporting on all things DOGE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of The New Abnormal, President Donald Trump’s joint press conference with DOGE director Elon Musk paints a grim picture of what democracy looks like in America today. “It looks like the president of the United States slumped over like a puppet while his master does the talking,” said co-host Danielle Moodie. Plus! Author Katherine Stewart discusses her new book, Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy, the rise of extremist religiosity and a turn away from democracy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of The New Abnormal, California Rep. Robert Garcia’s Elon Musk “d--- pic” during a DOGE hearing proved that some Democrats know how to counter Republican rhetoric, so why are the party’s longtime stalwarts having such a difficult time stepping aside? Plus! How NYU School of Law’s Christopher Sprigman is leading a fight to stop Elon Musk’s DOGE from accessing personal data. Then, Buddhist scholar Lama Rod Owens discusses how to keep a level head in trying times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The New Abnormal hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie break down Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show. Then, Dannagal Young, author of “Wrong: How Media, Politics, and Identity Drive Our Appetite for Misinformation”, joins the show to talk about what common sense means and why President Donald Trump is using it as a catchphrase. Then Dr. Emily Nagoski, author of “Come Together: The Science (and Art!) of Creating Lasting Sexual Connections,” joins the show to discuss what the conservative policy agenda Project 2025 means for sex educators. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of The New Abnormal, Vermont Rep. Becca Balint hammers Georgia Rep. Marjorie Talor Greene over her “sickening” use of DEI to attack L.A. wildfire victims. “It's become crystal clear that the phrase DEI is used in place of much more offensive terms,” said Balint. Plus! Journalist Lois Parshley discusses her latest article, “Trump’s Tech Donors Have Big Plans For Greenland.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of The New Abnormal, the right-wing American Accountability Foundation is ushering in a “McCarthy-style” era with its diversity, equity, and inclusion “bureaucrat watch list.” Plus! Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, breaks down the Trump administration's attacks on public education, and Tax March executive director Maura Quint delves into the fight for tax justice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The New Abnormal hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie are not confident about Trump’s economy. Then, ProPublica investigative reporter, Mica Rosenberg, joins us to break down a recent piece, “ICE Enforcement Official Tapped to Lead Unaccompanied Migrant Children Office, Triggering Alarms.” Then journalist and author, Eoin Higgins is here to tell us about his new book, “Owned: How Tech Billionaires on the Right Bought the Loudest Voices on the Left.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of The New Abnormal, could FBI director nominee Kash Patel be President Donald Trump’s most extreme cabinet appointment yet? During his confirmation hearing, senators grilled Patel over his intent to weaponize the FBI to “come after” conspirators “not just in government” but “in the media.” Plus! Cody Wofsy, deputy director of the ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project, joins to discuss the ACLU’s lawsuit against Trump's attempt to end birthright citizenship and the broader fight to protect immigrant rights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the latest episode of The New Abnormal, President Donald Trump wasted no time finger-pointing as he addressed the mid-air crash between a passenger plane and U.S. Army Black Hawk that left 67 dead in Washington D.C.– and it appears he has the backing of his allies. Plus! Former Washington Gov. Jay Inslee discusses Trump's flood of executive orders, legal battles ahead, and what Democrats can learn from past fights. Also, Religion News Service reporter Jack Jenkins delves into white Christian Nationalism’s influence on Trump’s project 2025 directives and the growing pushback from faith leaders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The New Abnormal hosts Andy Levy and Danielle Moodie are not surprised at Trump’s war of words with an American ally just one week into his presidency. Then, Trevor Timm, co-founder and the executive director of Freedom of the Press Foundation, joins the show to talk about Joe Biden's press freedom legacy and the threats to those freedoms we face under a second Trump administration. Plus! Journalist and author Jacob Silverman explores the growing influence of Saudi investments in U.S. tech and their ties to the likes of Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.