The Daily Beast Podcast I Know Who's Really Influencing Trump's War: Wolff
21 snips
Mar 6, 2026 
Michael Wolff, author and journalist known for candid insider takes on presidential administrations, breaks down the chaos around Trump’s Iran conflict. He pinpoints an opaque strategy, Jared Kushner’s outsized influence and Gulf money angles. They also examine uneasy public performances by MAGA figures and the domestic political risks of rising gas prices and postwar profiteering.
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Military Wins Can Lose At The Gas Pump
- Tactical military success doesn't guarantee political success at home, because domestic costs like rising gas hit voter moods.
- Joanna Coles highlights gas at $6 a gallon in LA as a potential political tipping point for MAGA.
Allies And Media Are Reacting, Not Leading
- The administration and allied leaders appear confused and reactive because Trump hasn't built a coalition or consistent message.
- Wolff and Coles note contradictory public statements and shifting rationales about why the U.S. acted.
Trump Treats Intelligence As A Straightjacket
- Trump routinely bypasses foreign-policy orthodoxies and excludes experts, treating information as a hindrance.
- Wolff says Trump prefers deal-making instincts and personal advantage over institutional wisdom and briefs.