Why Cornered Trump Is In Full Iran Denial Mode | The Daily Beast Podcast
Anthony Scaramucci joins Joanna Coles to explain why he believes Donald Trump knows his Iran strategy has failed—even as he doubles down in public—and why the White House is increasingly driven by one man’s instincts rather than any real decision-making process. Drawing on his time inside Trump’s inner circle, Scaramucci unpacks the psychology behind Trump’s denial, the hidden panic among administration officials, why Democrats still haven’t found a candidate capable of taking on the MAGA movement, and why the culture war continues to overshadow the economy. He also reveals which Democrat he believes has the best shot at winning the presidency, why Wall Street still leans Republican, and why both parties are failing to connect with the voters who will decide America’s future.
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00:00 – Trump’s Iran Deal Failure & the Culture War Debate
02:59 – Why Trump Still Wins Cultural Attention
10:53 – Trump’s Iran Agreement: A Strategic Disaster
15:32 – The “Five-Stage Denialism”
17:58 – Managing Trump From the Inside
24:47 – Democrats Struggle to be on the Offensive
29:02 – Gerrymandering, House Control, and Electoral Math
34:40 – How Democratic Missteps Helped Fuel Trump’s Rise
42:02 – Rubio, JD Vance, and the Battle to Succeed Trump
44:00 – Democratic Identity Crisis
48:00 – Final Thoughts on America’s Political Future
#trump #news #podcast
📖 Title: Why Cornered Trump Is In Full Iran Denial Mode
👂 Podcast: The Daily Beast Podcast
📺 Episode: 717
🎧 Format: Full Podcast
📅 Date: June 17, 2026
👨💼 Guest: Anthony Scaramucci
🎙️ Host: Joanna Coles
Have a question or comment for us? Send us an email: 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.
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@BarkerT
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Trump beat two women. Talk about a man playing in women's sports!
@lorrainegreenberg9390
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
I'm a lefty and I like the mooooch
@eg1art4life
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Joanna, deepest sympathy to you and your family
@marti_zavala
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
As a life-long Reagan Republican living in rural East Texas (but college-educated), I am surrounded by neighbors who love UFC fights, motorcross, and monster truck rallies – Mr. Scaramucci is 100% on target. I voted for Trump the first time, holding my nose fully aware of the hypocrisy of my vote. I voted Democrat since then, HOLDING MY NOSE, for different reasons. I watched Biden's administration closely and I saw the Progressives holding fast to their goals but the votes for Biden were anti-Trump votes, not pro-Biden votes.
Along with the gerrymandering Mr. Scaramucci mentions, take the Texas Republican Senate race as proof. Paxton got just about twice the number of votes that Cornyn got – a well-known corrupt politician vs an incumbent who had a clean career. While I and everyone else is happy as Tellarico will most likely win against Paxton, look beyond that to see that one word from Trump about a week before the primary was enough to sink Cornyn, who was a loyal Trump supporter. That along with the naval-gazing the Democrats seem to continue to do (e.g. The 2024 Democratic Election Autopsy), makes me VERY nervous.
@Veloandvino
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Unfortunately, the Dems have been dropping the ball for awhile now. Why they are not out with a unified vision and talking about what they will do for Americans. I hold out hope, but I agree with MS, someone from the left needs to connect with the average American that likes UFC, beer, and chicken wings. I can't think of a single one that can do it.
@karenhultgren7810
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Great interview with Anthony. Always like listening to his comments. Love his show with Katy!
Condolences to Joanna 🌷
@lorrainegreenberg9390
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Scary true I fear
@danielfrolick8415
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
The chemistry between these two is heartwarming. Two genuinely smart people encouraging and challenging each other. And clearly flattered to be in each other’s company.
I’d love to see how a Scaramucci X Wolffe interview would go.
@peggyf907
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
MARK KELLY 2028!!!
@TimBadger-w7d
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Where are Schumer and Jeffries? I thought they were the official leaders. Maybe they’re just lazy salarymen
@Victorthespy008
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
They needed Bernie Sanders… Schumer is a shemp, Jeffries is a loser… Schiff and Raskin are whiners…
@stevebrown9827
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
I keep asking, WHY THE F**CK DOES AMERICA PUT UP WITH THIS TROUBLEMAKER (TRUMP)? Just look at all the problems he has caused over the last 18 months with America and other countries around the world. Why is he allowed to do all this damage to so many? WTF
@Oscuros
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
13:08 I already know what the mosaic defence is from months ago. You'd have to do it when the americans are so barbaric (again) that they they killed a head of state. If that happened to them, they'd lose their minds, like they did with 11/9, the most glass-jawed, thin-skinned nation the world has ever seen. That's also really low ambition to assume that no one would know that.
@jasonjasonjason564
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
He's right
@asperneto
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
unfortunately, his ex boss trump destroyed his career, or whatever is left of it… so, a new career as an actor, literally, not figuratively, may be a better choice 🥴🙎
@eat.sleep.mate.defend
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
A.S. and his ideas are as outdated as his Aquanet (or LA Looks) and that wave; just pro-establishment centrism same thing as usual. His advice is more beneficial to the right, so much so that it's hard to believe that's not his objective.
@Victorthespy008
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Operation Epic Fiasco
@newpath.newpath2010
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Profound truths. Stay close Anthony.
@theodorafaux
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
I think the Dems should push out both Schumer and Jeffries, as soon as their faces come on the screen, everyone groans
@anthonydunn5853
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Trump is in full denialism but this denialism has delivered the USA its very own “Suez” moment on the lines of the 1956 UK/France/Israel attack on Nasser’s Egypt over control of the canal. This showed the limits on military power – which Trump and the Trumpublicans are now learning in full view.
@jamesdavidfisher1192
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Democrats, listen to Scaramucci, he's got some important points here…. November isn't a shoe-in by any stretch ……………..don't take any vote for granted…. and don't alienate or dis your mid-western neighbors…..we're all American's here, treat them as such! It start with us.
@amitisshahbanu5642
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
People are not sneering, they are pleading.
@theodorafaux
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Jamie Dimon looks all wrong for a US President. He looks like Robert Young from the 1950s TV show Father Knows Best.
@Neuro-diverse-city
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Gosh Joanna, I am so sorry for your loss. 😢 You should really take some time off! 🙏❤🦋
@SusanReni-m1w
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
You are doing a fantastic job Joanna . Not only is it a busy time in the USA. It coincides with a very difficult time for you & family . Condolences from Melbourne Australia .
@edbenelli5374
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Anthony, do you hold a Chair, from a University?
@RobinJohnson-h8l
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Republicans =buh bye 👋 👋💙💙
@Ináyọ̀òrun
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Absolute bs. Dsa candidates are winning throughout the country. And Newsome is an establishment democrat and a moderate. The last thing anyone needs is disaffected republicans telling us how to lose. Why aren’t you in the White House any more? Because you quit! But you saw fit to work for Trump period. Good luck with your acting lol
@thomanderson7981
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
If history repeats itself, Nov. should be a landslide for Dems‼️🆗💯👆🏽
@dobie4384
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
blah blah Anthony.
@thomanderson7981
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Condolences to JoAnna. None of us have come here to stay. We all have an expiration date. Some of ours are sooner than others‼️🆗😇
@ants_in_my_eyes_Wilson
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Listen… I think homeboy's got it all wrong here. The majority of people on the left that I know, would absolutely welcome Republicans who defected from Trump into their fold. But more than that, I think the vast majority of Americans want fucking health care. I think they would be absolutely just fine with democratic socialism. I think that if Bernie got the chance to run in 2016 and didn't get ousted by fucking Hillary in the establishment Democrats, he would have won. And we would have health care. It's not a losing position. We've just never had that opportunity.
@Starryplough67
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Antony is brilliant
@TimBadger-w7d
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Where are the tapes of the cover up meeting in The Situation Room?
@RadhaA-q7f
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
I love Scaramucci. Maybe if the Democrats would sit down with him and maybe take some of his ideas (born out of true proximity to Trump), onboard, we might just have the blue wave that so many would like to see. Maybe build a bridge between America and Merica.
@italythroughmyeyes
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Listen to Jon Ossolf of Georgia!
@jhere-h4b
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Trump knew the ’UFC IeveI’ of thinkers wouId get him over the Finish Line , and agree with anything that came out of his mouth…he was RIGHT!!!
@andrewyarosh1809
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Democratic here, I know exactly what the Scaramooch is talking about. And I agree.
@miaflyer2376
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Anthony: No need to wear the American flag lapel. We know that your allegiance is not in doubt. LOL
@margreetanceaux3906
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
tyranny of the minority… well said, mr. Scaramucci.
@john-brady
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
What type of country is it Mooch?
You speak with too much confidence and ease to give me very much confidence in your world view, as compelling as it is…
@ruthbrown4075
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
This is not ALL about you Scaramucci. This is about the American people – have a bit of faith that they aren’t quite as big a pack of idiots as trump flatters himself that they are. Trump has hit the majority of ordinary Americans so hard in the hip pocket nerve that they are forced to react as a matter of self-preservation. As Fran Drescher so memorably put it in “Spinal Tap”: “Money talks, bullshit walks”.
Humpty Trumpty sat on the wall
Humpty Trumpty had a great fall
All king Don’s asses and all his yes-men
Coundn’t glue Trumpty together again.
@bradmoore3433
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
'Abject failure' I like that. If someone doesn't know what that word means, look it up.
@jagadeesanhellmuth
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
Whatever the "Muricans" think, I say, who cares? There are 40 million of them, but there are 300 million other "Americans", who tend to be smarter. Ignorance never wins. Stop being so scaredy cat.
@RebeccaExon-l2u
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
i completely disagree with anthony (all due respect): the country is not divided. that is a bunch of bs, meant to distract us from the real enemy. our country has gone to shit. most of us agree on that.
@jasonjasonjason564
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
https://youtu.be/Yq_3A_8C7Ag?si=wOvyeBFd4n_DdCHR
@BarkerT
June 18, 2026 at 5:32 am
The DJTDD.
DD=Dud Deal