The Daily Beast Podcast Why Cornered Trump Is Turning On His Own Justices
Feb 22, 2026
Michael Wolff, veteran journalist and author of inside-the-White-House books, offers long-form analysis of Trump’s behavior. He and Joanna Coles explore Trump turning a Supreme Court setback into spectacle. They unpack his attacks on justices, the State of the Union showdown, theatrical banners across Washington, macho signaling in political videos, and how confrontation becomes his comeback strategy.
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Attacking His Own Justices
- Trump publicly attacked Supreme Court justices, calling them "unpatriotic fools and lapdogs," politicizing the court.
- Joanna Coles highlights that he even attacked justices he appointed, showing no loyalty to his own nominees.
State Of The Union As A Showdown
- The State of the Union may become a live-wire showdown as Trump uses the platform to attack Chief Justice Roberts and individual justices.
- Coles predicts Trump will weaponize the speech with nicknames and insults, keeping attention focused on him.
Bro Culture Resurgence In Politics And Workplaces
- Recent public "bro" videos from RFK Jr. and Pete Hegseth and moves away from DEI reflect a broader resurgence of macho politics.
- Coles ties this to Trump-era permissiveness and workplace unrest among senior women in finance.