What Generals Really Say About Trump and Hegseth | The Daily Beast Podcast

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Go to https://ground.news/BEAST for a better way to stay informed. Subscribe for 40% off the Vantage plan for unlimited access to world wide news coverage through our link. David Rothkopf, the Daily Beast's unmissable columnist, lifts the lid on what's really going on at Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth's "pep rally" this week for generals and admirals. Rothkopf, CEO of The Rothkopf Group and a Clinton administration veteran, tells executive editor Hugh Dougherty tells what his own sources are warning the meeting signifies. And he warns how a militarized response to phantom threats like “war-torn Portland” saps real military readiness. He also tells why Trump weaponizing the DOJ against enemies including James Comey means the U.S. is not just facing becoming an authoritarian police state; in fact it's already there. He also traces the next evolution of MAGA from grievance politics to white Christian nationalist revivalism and warns how it could outlast Trump himself thanks to people including Erika Kirk and JD Vance. Yet he offers a glimmer of hope in the power of numbers, new platforms, and a public that still wants sanity. 00:00 - Introduction 02:23 - Why Trump's Military Brass Meeting Is A Bad Idea 05:55 - Trump's Military Meeting Will Remind Generals How Weak The President Is 09:00 - Trump Has Lobotomized His Own Government 13:40 - Trump Sending National Guard Into Portland Is Alienates Troops And Electorate 16:48 - Wave Of Right Wing Extremist Violence A Real Issue 21:39 - Trump's Forcing DOJ To Attack Personal Enemies 25:00 - The Main Sign Trump Has Gone Full Authoritarian 32:32 - Christian Nationalists Planning Rule After Trump 38:00 - Lessons From Hitler's Austria Informing Trump Admin's Next Steps 40:13 - Hope For How America Can Change For The Better After Trump 44:21 - Click 'Join' Link Below, Become A Member Of The Beast's YouTube Community 👂 Podcast: The Daily Beast Podcast 📺 Episode: 593 🎧 Format: Full Podcast 📅 Date: September 29, 2025 👨‍💼 Guest: David Rothkopf 🎙️ Host: Hugh Dougherty #podcast #news #trump 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? Send us an email: [email protected] Subscribe to Inside Trump's Head wherever you get your podcasts: https://pod.link/1767675909 Subscribe to The Last Laugh wherever you get your podcasts: https://pod.link/1456474041 Subscribe to The Daily Beast Podcast wherever you get your podcasts: https://pod.link/1508202790 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