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How Trump's War Has Triggered New Axis of Evil | The Daily Beast Podcast

David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles to argue that Donald Trump’s Iran war reveals a president who believes he governs like a king, not a constitutional commander in chief. Rothkopf, The Daily Beast’s unmissable columnist and Founder of the DSR Network, lays out the case that this is an illegal war launched without congressional approval, with just 21 percent public support, no coherent National Security Council process, and early casualties already compounding the chaos. He connects Trump’s impulsive strike to Benjamin Netanyahu’s political incentives, the risk of regional escalation, oil shocks ahead of the midterms, and the dangerous fantasy that regime change will somehow yield democracy in Tehran. 00:00 - New Axis Of Evil And Opening Stakes 03:06 - Trump’s Seven Wars And The Peace President Myth 06:02 - Successor Chaos And Regime Change Incompetence 09:23 - Why Iran Is Not Venezuela 12:30 - Mar A Lago War Optics And The Fake Situation Room 15:22 - Terror Blowback And Global Retaliation Risks 18:00 - Public Opposition And Casualty Callousness 20:11 - Commander In Chief Or King 23:24 - Could Regime Collapse Help The Gulf 27:37 - Democracy Doubts And The Shah Scenario 31:06 - Election Insecurity And Assassination Fears 35:00 - Domestic Politics Driving Foreign War 38:47 - Grift Opportunities And Oil Side Deals 42:15 - What Happens If This Escalates 45:10 - Final Reckoning And America’s Global Role 📖 Title: Why Epstein Is Trump’s Defining Crime: Rothkopf 👂 Podcast: The Daily Beast Podcast 📺 Episode: 659 🎧 Format: Full Podcast 📅 Date: March 2, 2026 👨‍💼 Guest: David Rothkopf 🎙️ Host: Joanna Coles #trump #news #podcast 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] 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