This Is How Blue Wave Dems Must Humiliate Trump | The Daily Beast Podcast
Steve Schmidt returns to the Daily Beast Podcast to discuss the mounting political and ethical scandals surrounding Donald Trump, JD Vance, and the president’s inner circle as the midterm elections approach. Speaking with Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty, Schmidt takes aim at the alleged corruption surrounding Donald Trump Jr.’s Russian-linked wedding, the kidnapping of Ukrainian children, and the Trump administration’s handling of the war in Iran. He lays out his vision for how Democrats should use congressional power to restore checks and balances, hold officials like Pete Hegseth accountable, and investigate the administration’s actions. Schmidt also weighs in on the Democratic candidates to watch, the growing backlash against MAGA, and the economic pressures threatening to reshape the political landscape.
#ad Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/beast to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you.
#ad INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/beast 🛡️
00:00 – Democrats Need to Use the Full Power of the Constitution
04:34 – JD Vance’s Political Transformation
09:29 – Trump’s Russian Connections and Kidnapped Ukrainian Children
14:39 – Democrats, Checks and Balances, and Impeachment
20:04 – The Military Disaster and Pete Hegseth
26:23 – What Message Should Democrats Take to Voters?
31:27 – The Democratic Candidates to Watch
35:55 – MAGA, Trump’s Inner Circle, and the Coming Reckoning
40:26 – The World Trump Is Putting at Risk
44:54 – Accountability, Justice, and the Consequences
#trump #podcast #news
📖 Title: This Is How Blue Wave Dems Must Humiliate Trump
👂 Podcast: The Daily Beast Podcast
📺 Episode: 769
🎧 Format: Full Podcast
📅 Date: September 16, 2026
👨💼 Guest: Steve Schmidt
🎙️ Host: Hugh Dougherty
Click here to become an official member of the Daily Beast’s YouTube community: https://youtube.com/@thedailybeast/join
Have a question or comment for us? Leave Joanna Coles, Michael Wolff or any of our guests a voicemail in our listener mailbox. Call (929) 274-3577 with your name and message and you may be featured on a podcast or on the Daily Beast. You can also send us an email at beastpod@thedailybeast.com.
The Daily Beast is committed to accurate, fair, independent, fast, and accountable journalism. We seek the truth and report it honestly, without fear or favor. We ground robust and provocative opinions in fact.
Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@TheDailyBeast?sub_confirmation=1
Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thedailybeast
Share this video on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thedailybeast.bsky.social
Share this video on X: https://twitter.com/thedailybeast
Share this video on Facebook: https://facebook.com/thedailybeast

@TheDailyBeast
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
#ad INCOGNI Deal: To get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/beast 🛡
@jannichi6431
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
Steve Schmidt has the only attitude to Save America. ….the law must be executed….properly…President Grant.
@wrongwayconway
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
The diehard MAGAs will have their "Titanic moment" when the Democrats sweep the election. They will finally realize the unsinkable is in fact sinking. Down with the ship they will go.
@ronaldjbird1447
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
Surely Trump will veto everything and pardon all his co-criminals.
@blutexas
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
I have friend in Dubai who told me two months ago that Iran was heavily damaging Middle East bases. It's a cover up.
@aymarstadler1981
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
– The brainwashing argument is melodramtic. There were no opinion polls at Caporetto.
– The world will be controlled by countries which have no infrastructure worthy of a drone attack.
@regaldridge4248
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
A future war crimes trial would surely bring Jack Smith back into his area of real expertise? And with increased energy?
@stefanhallin
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
Can you imagine if this guy had some charisma.
His message is electric but sadly his narration puts you right off…
@fionamclean5706
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
Crowd fund for Democrats
@solathielthanatos81
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
Actually you're missing the point. Unless you're a party operative no one is voting for Democrats it's the only other option that we have which is to vote against Trump
@banksiasong
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
It is nauseating hearing Republicans telling Democrats what they should be doing.
Perhaps PUT YOUR OWN HOUSE IN ORDER FFS.
@IanWallace-l3g
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
Irrespective of anything else why on earth do the Trump family need a Russian gangster to pay for anything related to Don Jr's wedding? The fact he was at the wedding is crazy and had it been Hunter Biden's wedding it would be all Fox "News" would have talked about since but the fact he contributed financially is just another day of Trump madness.
@fionamclean5706
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
Boris Johnson put a son of a Russian[close to Putin}into the House of Lords🤔
@supernoodles91
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
Those 48 minutes flew by, I could genuinely listen to Steve for hours, he's such a powerful speaker! Thanks Hugh and DB!❤
@chrisbopst
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
Daily proof that the terrorist criminal regime Americans should fight most is the Republican Party.
@JamieMorlok
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
All-out strikes & protests. Please don't vote for candidates backe dby AIPAC, etc.
@cathrinL
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
You need to understand WWI, especially the end of this war, in order to understand WWII.
@mcamblor2
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
Steve is hypnotic… He’s laid out the agenda. It’s up to all of us to fulfill it and deliver justice.
@rationalspaceman
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
Steve is right on. There is no future for the US without holding this regime to account. Did we learn this lesson after the civil war, after the Nixon administration, after the first trump regime. Get it right this time because the corruption, criminality, and immorality are off the charts
@PythonesqueSpam
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
The electoral system decides who is most credible based on deception and lies, not who is the most qualified to run a country. This conflation of politics and meritocracy is why countries tend to be inefficient and governments incompetent.The US is the best example of this and is also compounded by party politics which is toxic to government effectiveness. Voter inability to escape binary tribalism is exacerbated when both parties are incompetent as currently in the US. If you're voting for the best of the worst, it's no longer a democracy.
@HelenC-v3d
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
Wow powerful stuff!
Much appreciated here on a regional small farm in Australia…the truth and integrity are so important for humanity!!!
Also, we have our own wanna be MAGA billionaire working up to our next election here, so my appreciation is magnified!
Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!
@VladimirPutin-p3t
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
"we cannot and will not allow the democrats to take the majority in january"
Spkr Mike Johnson
Sept 2026
@lindsaygook5550
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
This guy is good Hugh , get him back again.
@rickatatastan2695
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
You can forget it, those people are never going to be in your boat. The megachurch has completely eaten their minds.
@kendrawallace1573
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
Thanks Steve. Its time to fight dirty. Lets add 6 more justices to the Supreme Court. Admit Puerto Rico and Washington DC to the Union.
@MeriBertorelli
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
Steve Shmidt for AG or head of the FBI or President, not fussy. The man is force of nature, much needed at present . Brilliant guy 🎉xx
@supernoodles91
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
Wow……Steve Schmidt on the DB! Excellent!!
@MalcolmPalmer-n5l4v
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
I agree with EVERYTHING Steve has said in this podcast. So much so he MUST play a part to see this through. THIS SITUATION IN THE USA IS SERIOUS! Trump is destroying our lives! He is evil!
@sloetree
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
The purpose? To destroy America as a democracy and build something new – a oligarchic trumpocracy
@rickatatastan2695
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
Ugh, that noise gate is too tight. Yuck!
@sunrey1938
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
Happy Constitution Day! May you always enjoy the blessings of liberty and never take your rights and freedoms for granted.
@highvoltaine
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
This was such a well thought out and executed takedown on so many levels. My god the democrats need to listen to this guy. We are all aching for justice to be served to these criminals in power. We can’t handle it if we have a same old same old Jeffries/Schumer led congress!!
@BirbLuv2
September 17, 2026 at 11:15 am
Very powerful interview. Thank you.
Comments are closed.