I Know Secrets of Trump's Hold Over These Cowards | The Daily Beast Podcast

I have seen person after person who I personally knew. and admired and thought were different. To complete one 80s I have known Marco Rubio since he was very young. I've known Pam Bondi for decades. She and I were friends with Kiki Reed. We know together we'd gossip. We'd drink together. So many people in Congress, so many people that are serving in this administration, so many people that I see on TV defending the indefensible.

and the unjustifiable because it means they have access to power. But the question is, are you willing to compromise every principle. you supposedly stood for, every conviction you supposedly had, every belief. you supposedly held in order to stay in that circle of power? I'm Joanna Coles, this is the Daily Beast podcast, and today we're going to be talking to someone who is steeped in Florida. politics and knew Marco Rubio and Pam Bondi before any of the Trump.

madness sucked them into his orbit. I'm talking about Ana Navarro, the Republican operator who is just bewildered. by what has happened to the Republican Party under Trump. And she has opinions on everything. You should hear her opinion on Kristi Noem and Corey. Lewandowski, and she doesn't care that the two of them fucked. What she cares about is what else? Kristi Noem has fucked.

Stay tuned for that. She's got literally eye rolls on almost everything that's going on right now. But having grown up in Nicaragua and a dictatorship, she also has real concerns about the Republic of the United States. She's not only the co-host of ABC's The View, but she's the mom of Cha cha. And she's just started her own podcast, which I highly recommend called Bleep.

because, well, frankly, she needs to be bleeped a lot. Let's get into it. Right. So I'm so excited to have prized you out of the studio, but The View and your own studio for bleep your new podcast. to talk about everything because I know you have an opinion on everything. And I definitely want to talk about what on earth is going on. in Florida and Marco Rubio and DeSantis and all that. But first, we are 12 days into a war and Pete.

Hegseth, the secretary of defense, slash wars, he would have it has issued a decree that photographers. who don't take flattering photos of him, no longer welcome. At the Pentagon. We wrote a very good story on it at the Daily Beast, and the headline was Mira, Mira, and about this vanity move of hers. But what do you think of that? 12 days into a war? Well, remember, also, what he did.

last year, which was, to to ban. some of the long standing Pentagon. correspondents, media correspondents from the Pentagon. and replace them with basically MAGA bloggers or whatever. It was. Right. And he found the AP right? Yeah. I mean, and and and so the attacks on the press by this administration, whether it's Trump himself or cabinet members, have been endless. And it's been from the beginning. And I think as, as, as we are in the middle of a war, and I'm glad.

we're calling it what it is, because I saw that Trump was calling it an excursion. I wonder if he knows what. that word means, because for me, an excursion is like a field trip, right? Right, right. I think he meant incursion, but either or it's not an incursion, and it's not an excursion. It's a fucking war. So let's call it what it is. And, here we are. You know this guy throws into war. after saying that this is precisely what he wasn't going to do.

And this tells you how tragic it is. that in this second term, he has surrounded himself. by all of these yes, men and women who are not only unqualified. when it comes to experience and knowledge, but also have no moral compass, are vain, and know that their only qualification. that they have to keep up is kowtowing and brown nosing to Donald Trump. So what a difference, it would make to have a John Kelly.

Right? In at DHS or in the white House. What a difference it would make to have, Mattis Mad Dog Mattis. running the Department of Defense instead of this guy who seems to relish. and take glee in dropping drones off the coast of Venezuela and showing us. video game type footage of dropping drones on on missiles, on, ships laying. mines in this, this is, it's,

you know, and his his braggadocious self. I guess I'm so disgusted by Pete Hegseth that the idea that he's banning people. because they take unflattering pictures of him is like one of the lesser evil. When I, when I start to think about all the things. the, you know, the fact that this Department of Defense. or aptly called the Department of War. has taken illegal military action. Every military expert has said dropping those drones.

on civilians off the coast of Venezuela. and now in the Pacific was an illegal act, and they keep doing it with impunity. And this Congress, which has completely. the Republicans have ceded their duty of oversight, their duty of providing, military. approval of of operations. They seem to have no issue with it. We've now killed 156 people with these drones, on these ships in Latin America.

All indications are. the US killed over 150 schoolgirls in Iran. And it bothers me greatly. that Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth. are trying to gaslight the American people. and, you know, continue saying, oh, we're conducting an investigation. We're conducting an investigation instead of acknowledging it as a, you. know, tragic, horrible mistake and apologizing for it.

Something needs to distinguish us, you know, as the good guys from the bad guys. Someone told me that. the school which was next to, a sort of depot for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the assumption was because they'd looked at this through Western eyes, that the school would be closed because it was a Saturday when they started. So they knew there was a school there.

But because they were just looking at this through American eyes, with no understanding of the culture on the ground, when the school was open, because it was a Saturday and kids in Iran. go to school on a Saturday, they didn't realize it would be open. And you think they got ready? We should say that right? Well, they should say that they got rid of all the experts at the Pentagon. who know about Iran. And now we've got Pete Hegseth, who doesn't. want an unflattering photo of himself. That's his priority. And also, we found out today about the things he's.

been been spending millions and millions of taxpayer dollars on. Right, $2 million on snow crab legs. Right. Because he loves snow crab legs. Who doesn't run? I pay for my own right. Right now that's absolutely shocking. The the expenses that they run up at the end of the year to make sure. that they can get the equivalent budget for the following year. He spent on the most frivolous things, not least steak and crab claws. Whereas just, you know, it's just so appalling at a time when Americans.

can't afford health care, when Americans are being kicked off. snap, the Snap program that you have, Donald Trump. spending hundreds of millions on a ballroom that nobody needed, talking about an arch building, the arch, the Trump. and, and Washington, DC. making himself so wealthy. I mean, there's just so many things that I think just shocked the conscience. And I, I'm glad that we continue to talk about them.

I'm glad you bring them up, because one of my greatest fears is that we all get numb to this, because it's just such a daily barrage, of, of of. ignominious things. that, that it's hard to keep up with this hamster. wheel of, of absurdity. Let me tell you about this clever way. to wake up feeling fresh after a night of drinks with friends. It's called Z biotics pre alcohol probiotic drink, and it's the world's.

first genetically engineered probiotic invented by PhD scientists. Here's how it works. When you drink alcohol gets converted into a toxic byproduct in the gut. It's a buildup of this byproduct, not dehydration. That's to blame for rough days after drinking Z biotics pre alcohol. probiotic drink produces an enzyme to break this byproduct down. Just make pre alcohol your first drink of the night.

Drink responsibly and you'll feel like yourself the next day. March is packed with social plans so don't wait up now go to Z Biotic Scum. forward slash Daily Beast and use Code. Daily Beast at checkout for 15% off your first order. And if you're not satisfied, they offer a 100% moneyback guarantee. So if. you were a Republican, you work for Jeb Bush, you live in Florida, which is still sort of,

you know, the bubbling cauldron of of republicanism in a way. How do you square what has happened. to the Republican Party, the hijacking of it by Donald Trump? And does it survive after Donald Trump leaves? Listen, I don't square away. I just I have seen person after person who I personally knew. and admired and thought were different.

Do complete one 80s. I have known Marco Rubio since he was very young. We're the same age. We grew up in Republican politics and South Florida. I've known Pam Bondi for decades since she was attorney. general of the state of Florida. She and I were friends with Kiki. We'd we know together, we'd gossip. We'd drink together. I've, Lindsey Graham. I knew him when he was, John McCain's wingman, not Donald Trump.

He's a completely different person than he is. Today. So many people in Congress, so many people that are serving, in this administration, so many people that I see on TV. defending the indefensible and the unjustifiable. because it means they have access to power and and, you know, let's be clear, the trappings of power are very attractive. It's great to be invited to the white House. It's great to be able to go to the Christmas parties. It's great to be able to ride on Air Force One and.

and be able to call up the white House and talk to whomever you want. All of those things are heady things. I know I've done them. But the question is, are you willing to compromise every principle. you supposedly stood for, every conviction you supposedly had, every belief. you supposedly held in order to stay in that circle of power? I mean, the Marco Rubio I see now and Marco is one of the. Yeah. Tell me about Marco. How did he do that? One sec. I mean, we saw him standing next to Trump in the debates arguing against him.

How did he become his secretary. of state, doing exactly what Trump appears to want. They all did it, right. I mean, think about the 2016 campaign. Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio, all of them Harpooning Trump and calling out, calling, Trump for what? He was a con man and a grifter. And, they've all turned around because they're ambitious for their own.

I mean, there's basically. there's, two ways to exist in the Republican Party right now. Either you are a Trumper and you, approve. And say and defend everything he says and does, and that benefits your political career or you're not, and you're probably going to lose your primary or you're not, you know, or. you're going to retire or or you're just not going to be part of the look. I think about Mitt Romney. Where is Mitt Romney right now? Think about Jeb Bush.

Where's Jeb Bush? Nowhere to be heard from. Right. And so the only way to continue being in elected office. or in appointed office in this Republican Party. is if you come along and become a Trump acolyte, which all of them have been willing to do, and those who have not been willing. to do so. are no longer relevant or in politics. What's the conversation. like when Trump's not in the room, when they're all together? Because they know they've all done this right? Marco Rubio understands his journey, doesn't it?

Doesn't Lindsey Graham understand that you went from calling Trump, you know, Froot Loops to now he's encouraging him to go into Cuba. That's his latest thing. Do they have this conversation with each other. when when the press isn't in the room, are they saying, oh my God, he's lost. His mind is crazy. How can we how can we contain him? I don't think so. I think I think the only way that. Marco can look at himself in the mirror,

is by convincing himself that he believes this. By convincing himself that by him, doing the things, you know, completely changing his convictions. the way he has regarding Trump, that by him doing that, selling his soul, basically, he's been able to achieve some good things, which I think he believes getting rid of Maduro is a good thing. I think he believes, you know, a dead ayatollah is a good thing. I think he believes that the possibility of regime change in Cuba is a good thing,

and that has the fact that he has sold. his soul has enabled him to be in the room doing things that I think. are genuinely important to Marco and that he does believe. I think he's also listen, he's, you know, he's a poor kid from West Miami. And I think for him, the idea of having his own plane. and being at state dinners and being at Mar-A-Lago.

and being there in the center of things is just very appealing. But remember who Marco Rubio is. Marco Rubio is a, elected official. who basically owed his career a great part of it. He was a first speaker. of the Cuban-American speaker of the Florida House of, of of, legislative representatives in legislature. He owed everything to Jeb Bush. Marco was very talented, very eloquent, very smart, very hard working out of that sorry, sorry bunch that surrounds Trump.

He is by far the most qualified, which I understand. is not a high bar, but he is the most qualified. But this is the guy who owed everything to Jeb Bush, had said he'd. never run against Jeb Bush and then ran against Jeb Bush. for president. So, it's quite consistent with Marco. to do what's best for Marco. and whether it's getting reelected to the Senate. If he had stayed in the Senate or getting appointed,

as a secretary of state. in order to do either of those things, he would have had to kiss Trump's ass. Because if Trump doesn't, endorse you in a Republican primary and endorses. somebody running against you, you'll probably lose as Dan Crenshaw. Right? So. so I hear from people that go to Mar a Lago. that Trump spends a lot of time going around Mar a Lago when he's talking.

to people at the tables and having dinner, saying, what do you think of Marco? Marco's doing great, isn't it? What do you think of Marco? Is Marco at the moment the most likely person to take over from Donald Trump? Do you think, or do you think JD Vance stands a chance? I definitely think the Republican base, the MAGA base, likes JD Vance. I think that is their guy. I think JD Vance intends to run. He's given every indication you see what he's doing with people like, you know, trying to to take up the mantle after Charlie Kirk, you know, really.

become close and. supportive of, the widow Erica Kirk. And, you know, it's it's it's mutual. And Marco has said that he wouldn't run against JD Vance, but I'm old enough. to remember when he said he wouldn't run against Jeb Bush. So don't hold your breath, right. Do you think between the two of them, who do you think would be most likely. to get the nomination then I think JD. Vance is lining everything up behind them.

But at the end of the day, whatever Donald Trump decides is going. to, I think, determine this, whether I like it or not. The truth is, Donald Trump makes or breaks Republican primaries right now, and there is no indication then the next 2. or 3 years that's going, to change. I think the reason he likes Marco is because Marco is effective. and efficient and, knows he has stuff.

And so, you know, he's here's Trump surrounded by a bunch of nincompoops, right? By Pam Bondi I mean, listen, I like Pam Bondi. Like I said to you, we were, you know, we were very friendly when she was in Florida. But I wouldn't hire Pam Bondi to defend me from a traffic ticket. You know, would you what do you think of how she's handled the Epstein files? I think it's disgusting. I mean, I don't I don't know how Pam.

can can, can live with herself knowing. By the way, I don't know how Merrick Garland can live with himself, either. That's one of the things we have to be, remember and be fair about. And that really just kills me. These Epstein survivors, these women were failed. not by the Trump administration, but by four different administrations. It was under George W Bush that Alex Acosta was U.S. attorney of South Florida, and brokered that sweetness.

of their sweetheart deals with Epstein that allowed him to. Then 13 months later, despite being registered as a sex offender, continue molesting girls, raping girls and living his life. like if he was some sort of elite VIP surrounded by powerful people. And you know, Obama was then president and then it well, I mean, we've we have had four different administrations Trump, Trump, Biden. Yes, I fault Merrick Garland.

How different would it have been had Merrick Garland released. all of these files. Instead of it being Pam, why did it take so long for it. to become a head of steam. that that the Department of Justice felt pushed into releasing them? Two things I would say to you on the Merrick Garland of it all. I think Merrick Garland was extremely preoccupied with Merrick. Garland reputation. I think he didn't want to be seen as being politicized. I think that's the reason that he prosecuted Hunter Biden.

I think that's the reason that he appointed. a special counsel to investigate Joe Biden over the classified issues. And I think that's the reason he wasn't more proactive and quick. regarding Epstein, because of the fear that there would be something regarding. Donald Trump or other Republicans there, and that he would be seen as political. Pam Bondi, What's the steam? Frankly, let's give credit to where credit is due. It's been MAGA. It's been the Marjorie, Taylor Greens and the Lauren Boebert.

and the MAGA Thomas blogosphere and podcasters who never let it go. It was MAGA who made this into a campaign issue. And, you know, in 2024, it was MAGA who never let go of it. It was MAGA Republican women. Nancy Mace, Lauren Boebert, Lauren, a Marjorie Taylor Greene. who defied Donald Trump and voted. to require the release of these files.

But let's remember Lauren Boebert, who was voted with Trump practically 100%. of the time, was taken into the situation room. and bullied to change her vote. That is how much Trump did not want this released. And so I, yeah, I, I'm disgusted with all of them. I'm disgusted with Pam Bondi. I'm disgusted with Merrick Garland. I'm disgusted with Alex Acosta, who I knew from Miami as well. He was I mean, at one point, Alex Acosta after the Epstein thing, after being U.S.

attorney, he was the dean of the Florida International University Law School. Alex Acosta served in Trump's first administration. as secretary of labor, as we all remember. And he was barely questioned. about the Epstein deal. It was like a no, it was a nothing burger, ironically enough. In my view, it wasn't until Trump gets elected.

And then as a reaction to that, there is a MeToo movement. and a time's Up, which we saw in the files I've seen was obsessed. with and wanting to thwart. Well, I'm constantly trying to sort of create little groups of men. where they all got together and just dissed it, right, because they all thought it was ridiculous and they all knew they were guilty. But it wasn't until that happened. And so Trump gets elected, there's a MeToo movement. That I think the Epstein survivors,

you know, has the, the, the ability, the, the, the thought that they could be believed and that they had a voice. Right. And that they, you know, lost the fear. And then it's the Julie Kate Brown exposé and the Miami Herald. To me, all of those things are, are connected. The Trump election, the MeToo movement, the exposé in the Miami Herald. where the survivors spoke, so many of them, and then where we are. Right, because we had Conchita Sarnoff in The Daily Beast writing about.

the Epstein, the Epstein situation way before Julie K Brown did. It just didn't get any momentum. It didn't pick up. And then when people who tried to write about it and those stories were stopped, there were, you know, I mean, there were stories that that were stopped. I think people were afraid of, very powerful men. and what they can do, to you, they can sue you, they can do this. They can, you know, they can put all sorts and they have he had all the, all the he had a little luxuries that come with power.

And I think we have learned through the Epstein case, you know, here in America, we love to tell ourselves everybody's equal under the eyes of the law. Bullshit, bullshit. Jeffrey Epstein was not equal. You think that if there have been some poor Latino right in Hialeah, Florida, or some, you know, poor black guy or some poor white guy, you think he wouldn't have served his entire life in jail. for sexually assaulting and raping?

He had over a thousand victims. Would somebody else have been able to get away with that? And, you know, and I and I was telling you, I think we have given. a pass to so many, particularly men, powerful men, people that we, admire. Or I can tell you, I admire, you know, I, I admired Bill Clinton, I admired Bill gates, you know, why do you think why do you think Bill gates. was hanging out with Jeffrey Epstein?

Bill gates at one point, the second richest man in the world. What on earth would Bill gates. need from Jeffrey Epstein that he couldn't get from someone else? Well, first, I think we shouldn't underestimate Epstein's ability. to weave a web of power and influence and. and just, you know, give himself that aura. of that normalized what he was doing. The Bill gates was hanging out with all these.

And I tell you something, always be careful with the nerds, because all of those nerds, right? They never fucked the cheerleader, right? They never had. They never went. They were never the popular guy at the prom. They were never they never had. And so I think, you know, I think some of these I think that's why, Epstein hung around and so many tech conferences and, and science conferences and longevity. because all of those scientists and technical nerds and not,

you know, not only was he getting information for investments and things, but he was also always weaving this web of, okay, if I surround myself by these powerful people, then these other powerful people. will want to be around me and think that it's okay, despite what I've done. And I also think, I also think that until MeToo happened, most people just kind of shrugged. It was all you got was a shrug when you heard of,

older guy, a powerful older guy, messing around with a young girl, I think. I think, you know, it was just the sort of natural lure of things. The Lolita. Oh, you know, it's the Lolita syndrome. It's okay. You know, I think a lot of people thought that. any post pubescent girl. Once they were post pubescent they were fair game. Right. So let me ask you about anon you.

Yeah I do think that. I do think that and I think through the lens of me, two people have realized. I think women have understood that position differently. But let me ask you about another. sexual transaction that's been going on in plain sight. that's finally caught up with Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski. This was an open secret. in Washington, an open, big, open secret in the Republican Party. What do you think of their relationship? The transformation of Kristi Noem is an interesting Joanna.

The fact that. she may have been fucking, Corey Lewandowski is the least of my issues with Kristi. Noem is the fact that she fucked the Constitution, that she fucked. the Latino and immigrant community, that she fucked the country, that I worry about it. It's the fact that, you know, she she was the leader of DHS as they killed. and shot US citizens. It is the fact that she had.

that she led that department when there were almost, what, 4000 children detained, that at the same time. that the government was shut down and TSA agents weren't getting paid. She was spending hundreds of millions of dollars on an ad campaign. I mean, there's. some of her colleagues got got money from two, right? Let's not forget that this was not just her. spending the money on the ad campaign was commission coming off the top.

But first, the ad campaign itself is so ridiculous. And I and I want people to go look at the ad, right. Because she's on a horse, all made up. I don't know anybody who goes on a horse looking like that, but okay. That day she was in in, cowboy Barbie costume. She loves a costume. Yep. But she's doing this. big ad costing hundreds of millions of dollars. Well, she's on a horse in Mount Rushmore and,

telling immigrants, not to come to the United States. I'm pretty sure that the people in El Salvador and Guatemala. and Mexico and Nicaragua and Venezuela and Afghanistan. and God knows where else that she was talking to, don't speak English. and are not watching this ad. So this was nothing but a vanity project. This was, you know, this was not an ad where she who was this ad intended. for really, potential undocumented immigrants coming into this country.

That is the most ridiculous thing I ever, ever heard. So who was it? Who's it aimed at? Is this about her run for 2028? Yeah, I think she. I think she saw herself as a potential contender. And I think she is a a vain woman, who loved to cosplay different characters. And she just loved the entire thing about the, the, the lashes.

and the extensions and the makeup and being on TV. and the, you know, the, all of that or all and the play and the plane, the luxury jet that she flew around with, with Coelho and asking, we should point out that by night money, if you had, you know, if she had produced her own, her own version of Lady Macbeth and gone off Broadway somewhere, she could have gotten all sorts of costumes, period costumes, then it's. astonishing to me that she spent a quarter of $1 billion on that ad campaign.

It's just crazy. And it took one of the Republican senators. in John Kennedy to ask her the killer question. Did Donald Trump know about this? And her clearly obfuscating and going, yes, yes, he knew. And then do you think, do you think John Kennedy asked. that question in coordination with Trump in the white House? Yeah. Of course. Or do you think it was completely out of. No. I think he led her to drink. I think he led her very gently. Question by question, to the point where she had zero wriggle room.

And that was the moment where Trump realized this was terrible for Trump. I'm sure he did know about the campaign, but the lethal blow is when he when John. Senator John Kennedy asks her, Did Trump know about this? Did you talk about this with Trump? And she said, yes. And he was supportive of it. Yeah. Which Trump alleges is a lie. I actually believe him. because I don't think he'd be cool. with a quarter of $1 million ad campaign that wasn't about him.

But, I, you know, part of me, most of me thinks that this was planted with this question and the way it was, was planted by somebody at the white House. who realized what a drag and an albatross she is around their necks. We just heard this week that the white House, is instructing Republicans running for election,

this November to stop talking about mass deportations. Right, right. Because they know how bad it's been. So of course, they give her the face over of. she's going to be part of a new group that deals with South America. Do you think she what have we done in Latin America? Well, to deserve the scour of of of Christie. No. But do you think I will say, though, I think she's going to get such great photo ops. She will you imagine her in Brazil?

Of course. She's playing Carmen Miranda with Vanessa Napoles on her head, I mean. Right, and she's she'll go full explorer in Patagonia. Oh, Dora the explorer. Dora the explorer. But do you think so? Now you bring Corey Lewandowski with her, I don't think. Well, she won't be useful to Corey anymore. Well, she went he move on to someone else. Do you remember when she got her bag stolen? I was going to. It wasn't a Mexico wasn't there? Mexico last night was a burger. It was a burger place where she and her Rolex remember?

That's right. And, didn't she have a ton of cash, too? Yeah, I you know, the question somebody should be asking and investigating is. says she was awarding all of these. multi-million dollar contracts, you know, cronies. Yep. What was she getting in exchange? If anything, that to me is a legitimate question. because she seemed to be living pretty high on the hog. Yep, yep. High on the hog.

Although her husband has Brian, spelt with a y, horns coming out of his head. Well, his family say that 20 years ago, he realized he he had a calling from God. that his calling was to support Kristi Noem in her pursuit of of power. So that's why they're still together. Because, as you point out, the relationship with Corey. has been going on for some time. We are led to believe, though they both deny it. All right. So I have another question for you.

Trump's health. What do we think? We think there's obviously something going on there, right? I mean, it's not. you don't need to be a trained doctor, which I'm not. to see the size of his ankles to see the bruises on his hands, to see that. the latest thing that that scab whole thing going on in his neck, to see. the the obvious deterioration, mental deterioration and know. that there's something going on there, but we're never going to know.

They're never going to tell us. All right. But if it had been Biden, the Republicans would be. screaming, Holy murder right now. And I and I do think, I do think that at some point it's not going to be now. because we just there's this Congress is incapable of something like that. But there's so many things that where Trump has shown. the weaknesses of this system and that if we actually had a Congress. with a spine, they would do something about it.

Whether it's, transparency in the, in the candidates and certainly the president's health. And finances. Right. We never we've still not seen his taxes, his tax returns, the, the, you know, tightening the loopholes on the grifting by families. But of course that would mean, that Congress would. have to do something about all of the dumb. nephews and children of congressmen and senators.

who have phantom lobbying jobs or consulting jobs, with companies benefiting from access. to their fathers or mothers. So that's not going to happen, but that should happen. So, you know, we have seen the conflict of interest, the grifting, the violation of the hatch Act. I mean, it's just one thing after another where, again, this Congress, the Republican leadership in Congress, has ceded their their duty,

to provide oversight and to be a check and a balance. on, on the executive, which is why I hope and think that the American people are. going to provide that check and balance by voting them out in November. And it feels like we're already in the run up to the midterms, doesn't it? So I'm very curious. You were a well-known Republican. I guess operative is the right word in Florida. How are you just banned from everything now?

Does anybody talk to you anymore? What happens when you run across Marco Rubio or Pam Bondi? Do you ever see them? Do you ever come across them? Well, they now know I haven't seen them. I think the last time I saw Marco in person. was about a year ago when we both attended the funeral. of a former Republican congressman, Lincoln Diaz-Balart. His brother is serving in Congress now, Mario Diaz-Balart and Lincoln Diaz-Balart. His other brother is,

with MSNBC and or Ms.. And now Ms.. Now and now he's, stayed with NBC. Jose Diaz-Balart. But Marco was at Lincoln Diaz-Balart funeral, and I was at Lincoln. Diaz-Balart funeral. Lincoln, was a Republican who I but he was like a brother to me. And, what happened? Well, I'm in Miami, and a lot of times I run into people. who were friends of mine, not just elected officials, but just, you know, people who were, you know, who are staunch Republicans.

They'll call me a communist or they'll, turn their face at me. I've lost friendships over whatever. You know, it's, it's the world we live in, now. And if our friendship is defined by political agreements. or disagreements, then it's not much of a of a friendship. I've learned to live with it. At this point. And you know, it is what it is. It's. I mean, there was a time in this country and you're old enough.

You remember this when people could have vocal, strong, loud disagreements on politics and still be friends. I remember being on CNN with Donna Brazile. during the Obama administration and me being incredibly critical. Some of the things Barack Obama was doing. and Donna defending them, and we were having debates on TV, and afterwards. we'd go and have oysters and wine at the, you know, local watering hole.

Donna Brazile is like the only person I think I'm the only person who can match. Donna oyster for oyster and drunk for a drink. That that's pretty much. a thing of the past, these days. Trump made it so that, you know, you can't even be. a Republican who disagrees with Trump. And B, and at the same dinner table with Trump, it's just become incredibly difficult.

We've become polarized in a way that I never imagined we could be. So final question. You grew up in Nicaragua. You experienced, dictatorship from both sides, actually, from Somoza on the right, and then Ortega on the left. Do you think America under Donald. Trump is actually a dictatorship at this point? I mean, all the things that structurally worry you. about the future of democracy in America? Yes.

Do I think it's a dictatorship? No, because we still have. mostly independence in the courts. And I think they've, you know, they have been doing their part. in trying to keep democracy alive. I think that our system of checks. and balances was not designed, when the Founding fathers were drawing it up, it was not designed to have somebody. that's got the dictatorial tendencies that Donald Trump does.

I, I take the word dictatorship very seriously. It's not something I throw around lightly because I've lived right. That's why I'm under under Ortega. I was very small when Somoza was in power, when the revolution happened in Nicaragua. I was eight years old. But I've lived in. Miami my entire life, surrounded by Venezuelans and Cubans. who fled dictatorship and Haitians who have fled dictatorship. So are there things that are dictatorial like that are reminiscent?

Yeah. When you see the attacks on the free press. When you see the attacks on institutions like universities, when you see the weaponization of government. against political opponents like James Comey, like, yes. When, you see the enrichment. of the person in power and his family, you know, those all those are all things.

When you see that, that dictators do when you see, Donald Trump trying to. lie and change election results and stay in power. through violence, which was January 6th, that's what Maduro did in Venezuela. He lost that election to Correa, Maria Corina machado, that poor woman who gave Donald Trump her Nobel Peace Prize. What was she thinking? If I was her, I'd be at the white House.

knocking down that gate, asking for my metal back. Because every time anybody puts a mic in front of him, he starts talking about how great they'll see Rodriguez. Maduro was vice president, who was part and parcel of every human rights violation. that that regime, perpetrated on the on the Venezuelan people. But all Trump can do is talk about how great she is, how wonderful it is. to work with her, how wonderful a person she is, how. it's a great, collaboration.

In the meantime, he's got Maria going into my Chalice of Peace Prize medal. hanging in the white House somewhere, and he keeps throwing that poor woman under the bus. He doesn't even mention her name. Right. Well, this is why you can't give in to bullies, right? The minute you give in to the minute you suck up to them, they just want more. That part. All right, so let me ask you something. You were ever a vociferous defender of Jimmy Kimmel when he. when his show was suspended. You were very powerful on The View. There was stories that Bob Iger, the CEO of ABC,

had come to one side and said, hey, you guys have to lay off Trump. You have to be easier. And he in particular taken you off to one side. What was that moment like? Well, I'm not going to talk about private conversations with Bob Iger. You know, or any. of the executives I can tell you this much. The view viewership is incredibly loyal. And I think the reason that show works. and we are now on the 29th season, it was created by Barbara Walters.

We're turning 30 next year is because they expect. from the hosts on their authenticity and, transparency. And they expect us to take on some very tough, hot topics and discuss them honestly, if we don't, they know that. if we change, they know that the show, is right. now, number one, daytime talk show in America.

And I think it's because of that formula and because that formula hasn't changed. So we continue to do what we do. You know, if you tune in every day, we are talking about. the abuses of power and calling them out and giving different perspectives on, what's happening. We all see the, we all see the efforts by the Trump administration. to muzzle.

anybody or any institution, any company. that is critical of him. They may try, but they haven't muzzled the women of The View, yet. And, you know, I think we take our responsibility. to be accurate, to be truthful, to be engaged very seriously. And I, you know, I consider it a privilege to have that kind of, national platform.

because a lot of people get their news from some, you know, from from The view, a lot of people are not tuning in to, to CNN or MSN. Ms.. I keep saying it wrong. What the hell is I called now and then now. Ms.. No, you know, 24 hours a day are not reading the New York Times. You know, we've seen that local newspapers have taken such a hit. Lately, there's less and less local newspaper coverage of national, big national stories because of lack of resources and support.

So, I take that job very seriously. We all do. And, you know, we continue doing what we, what we've been doing for 29 years. Well, congratulations on reaching your 30th anniversary. That's an extraordinary achievement in television. And it's fantastic to talk to you. I mean, it's so liberating to hear someone. just feel free to say what they think. And I love your line about Kristi Noem that you don't care.

She fucks. Corey Lewandowski, you care. She fucked the country. And and if I was part of the very good line tell you this, that's very good line. Why I started this new podcast Bleep. Right. Because those things I can't say on TV right now. because somebody's telling me not to say them, but because they're an FCC violation at 11 a.m. in the morning. So I have I actually have gotten bleeped. with some, on network TV with some frequency.

And then I tried to curse in Spanish and thought, they won't know what I'm saying. Maybe, you know, but they they've kind of caught on to me. So at this point, if I say anything in Spanish, if I say this. so they will bleep me out just to be on the safe side. And so the the reason that I named the podcast bleep. is because it's a place where we can be uncensored, unfiltered on bleeped, and you know, and just talk truthfully.

And I think this new podcast space. is so refreshing because, it is so free. Well, and what's fun about watching Bleep is you're sitting there. and you're kind of comfy chair. You've sometimes got a glass of something, you're raising your glass. You've got you've got Cha-Cha on there and you look like you're having fun. You're chatting away. You've got opinions on everything, which is what makes great, great. You know, casting on I need to find some opinions on I have. I need to have an opinion on Timothée Salami.

I don't even know how to say his name. You really don't. And the awful thing. Do you have an opinion on that? On the what do you know? What's the last bit? What's the opera and ballet do? Oh yeah, I do. I do know that. And he's sort of right, which is why, you know, nobody goes to see the opera anymore or the people. But I will tell you this, I, I was a Three Tenors groupie at a point. I went to see what happened to the Three Tenors. Have a rout is dead. Right.

But but well, say Carreras, I think is almost dead. And the other one got me too, right, right. Placebo, unfortunately, who I said is in gala and who was fantastic. I also was the Three Tenors girl, and I don't mind going to the opera, but when. But I'm always struck when I do go to the opera how old the audience is. So maybe it's something that we all come to later in life. You turn 70, you get a membership to the opera. But I think people are going to be on YouTube watching bleep instead.

I hope so. I hope podcasting is not a dead art. I think it's just beginning. I think to Chacha you should have your own podcast. You could have a dog podcast, you could interview my dog. Joshua looks strangely at home in the podcast studio. I just strangely at home anywhere. She's a very comfortable dog. Yeah. Very sweet. She lives. I mean, in my next life, I want to come back a statue. I want to be carried around everywhere. I want somebody to pay for every morsel of food that I eat.

I want to be loved and pampered and go everywhere. And she doesn't need extensions. And I thank you so much for coming in. so much fun. How great to have Anna Navarro's opinions. Unbleached. Unbleached is what she should have called her podcast. Not filtered by the networks, but just raw.

Navarro isms, which give us an insight. into what she really thinks about the madness that's going on. Anyway, if you have been, thank you for joining us. Leave us a comment on what you think about Anna's opinions. Leave us a comment about Chacha, my latest obsession. And don't forget to join the Daily Beast community. Subscribe! If you haven't done, sign up. for The Daily Beast where we keep you up to date, moment by moment. Everything that's going on that's latest vanities.

What else he's been spending money on at the Pentagon. Don't forget to listen to Anna Navarro's podcast. It's super fun and I'm looking forward to having her back on. to talk about, well, everything that's going on. And as our first lady would have us say, don't forget, beast. So the good news is we have so many beast tier members now. There are too many names to read out and we really appreciate your support.

Thanks to our production team Devin, Roger Reno, Ryan Murray, Rachel Parsa, Heather Pizarro, Neil Rosen. The house.