WATCH: Don Lemon Joins The Daily Beast Podcast

This week on The Daily Beast Podcast, Joanna Coles and Samantha Bee are preparing for Donald Trump’s inauguration, or the “christening of the kleptocracy” as they’ve coined it. With the cold weather on everyone’s mind, Coles was wondering what Jeff Bezos' fiancée Lauren Sánchez will be wearing inauguration—“and will she outdress Melania?” In other fashion critiques, Coles also addressed Trump’s pick for defense secretary Pete Hegseth’s overly-polished Senate confirmation look, describing it as “an American boy doll,” complete with flag socks. “He looked like a Christmas ornament,” Bee chimed in.

The Daily Beast’s senior political correspondent, Juliegrace Brufke, joined this week’s podcast having attended Hegseth’s hearing, and noted that Republican leadership was “energized” by his performance.

Executive editor Hugh Dougherty noted Hegseth’s fiery pushback to Democratic lawmakers: “He spoke the language of MAGA. He spoke about being saved by God. He didn’t express shame or regret.” He described this strategy as “smash-mouth politics... Don’t concede, don’t give ground, and stay aggressive.”

Dougherty also teased a newly-published Daily Beast exclusive on Trump’s pick for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s ties to Chris Butler, aka “Jagad Guru,” leader of the Science of Identity Foundation. “He’s deeply controversial,” Dougherty revealed, adding that the Beast has obtained recordings of homophobic remarks made by Butler. “This is the first time we’re hearing directly from someone she’s referred to as her spiritual guide.”

There’s more still! “Beast of the Week” Don Lemon joined this week’s podcast to discuss his ‘pivot’ from broadcast media to social media. On building an independent media platform, Lemon explained, “It’s a gift, but it’s also like detox.” And speaking of detoxes, Coles and Bee discussed their first-ever Kroma cleanse, inspired by the cleanse’s creator, who recently lost her Los Angeles home to wildfires.

How’s it going for them? “I am drunk on matcha,” Bee confirmed.

New episodes of The Daily Beast Podcast are released every Thursday. Like and download on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. And click here for email updates as each new episode drops.