How Trump's Grift Makes Him a Failure: Professor

How Trump's Grift Makes Him a Failure: Professor

From The Daily Beast Podcast by The Daily Beast, Joanna Coles

April 23, 2026 · 56 min · Season 1 · Episode 685

About this episode

Timothy Snyder discusses the decline of American power linked to the Trump administration's incompetence and grift.

Get 15% off OneSkin with code BEAST at https://www.oneskin.co/BEAST #oneskinpod Go to https://zbiotics.com/DAILYBEAST and use code DAILYBEAST at checkout for 15% off your first order of ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol Probiotic Drink. Timothy Snyder joins Hugh Dougherty to argue that the U.S. is not just in decline but is experiencing what he calls a “superpower suicide,” in which political choices, institutional weakening, and short-term self-interest are actively eroding national power. In a wide-ranging conversation, Snyder, American historian and University of Toronto history professor, links this decline in American global power to a mix of incompetence and grift at the top of the Trump administration, explores why this doesn’t resemble traditional fascism, and lays out how “competitive authoritarianism,” media dynamics, and grassroots organizing will shape whether American democracy can still correct course. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Hugh Dougherty

Guest: Timothy Snyder

Topics covered

  • Trump administration
  • American decline
  • superpower suicide
  • political choices
  • competitive authoritarianism
  • media dynamics
  • grassroots organizing

Keywords

  • Trump
  • American decline
  • superpower suicide
  • political choices
  • authoritarianism
  • media dynamics
  • grassroots organizing

Sponsors

OneSkin, ZBiotics

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Toronto

Products: OneSkin, ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol Probiotic Drink

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