Legal AF by MeidasTouch: Trump Gets Extremely Desperate as He Faces His Fate

Date: October 28, 2025
Hosts: Michael Popok, Ben Meiselas | Guest: Steve Bannon (clip)
Main Theme:
A deep dive into Donald Trump’s desperation as he leans into increasingly outlandish and legally dubious schemes to maintain political relevance—including floating the possibility of a third presidential term in direct violation of the 22nd Amendment. The episode analyzes the legal, political, and ethical implications of such rhetoric, the role of Trump allies like Steve Bannon, and the overwhelming rejection of these ideas by the American public.

Episode Overview

This episode centers on Donald Trump’s public flirtation with seeking a third presidential term—despite the clear constitutional prohibition—and the dangerous legal and political maneuvering by him and his associates. The hosts dissect the underlying strategy, public reaction, and the potential damage to American democracy. Key clips from Steve Bannon are featured, spotlighting efforts to justify a possible constitutional end-run. The hosts repeatedly emphasize the importance of democratic engagement to block anti-democratic moves.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Desperate “Third Term” Talk

• Host Michael Popok opens by declaring Trump’s actions and rhetoric as “talking treason,” directly linking the third-term notion to attempts at subverting the Constitution (03:03).
• The scheme is characterized as both political trolling and a way to stave off political irrelevance as a “lame duck” (03:03–04:30).
• Quote:

  "It's treason. And any plan that Steve Bannon... or others around Donald Trump are proposing... in violation of the 22nd Amendment is nothing more than treason."
  — Michael Popok (03:21)

2. Bannon’s Brazen Constitutional Evasion

• The episode features a key clip from Steve Bannon’s interview with The Economist, in which he openly asserts, "Trump is going to be president 28... Trump will get a third term" (05:45).
• Bannon hints at various "plans" to circumvent the 22nd Amendment, floats religious justifications, and repeatedly downplays constitutional concerns (05:45–07:24).
• Quote:

  “Trump is a vehicle... of divine providence. He's an instrument... we need him for at least one more term. And he'll get that in 28."
  — Steve Bannon (06:08)

• Bannon attempts to reframe a constitutional crisis as an expression of “the will of the American people,” dismissing critics as alarmists (07:59).
• Quote:

  "The only way President Trump wins in 2028 and continues to stay in office is by the will of the American people."
  — Steve Bannon (07:59)

3. Legal Reality of the 22nd Amendment

• Popok clarifies constitutional limits: “No person shall be elected president more than twice. That’s it.” (08:17)
• Explains that the only possible loophole would be via a vice president assuming office, implying this would require “committing treason” by a hypothetical running mate who resigns in Trump’s favor (08:17–10:14).
• Quote:

  “What meat puppet are they going to get to do that? ... So you either have to lie to the American people and do an end run around the Constitution and defraud the American people, or you're committing treason."
  — Michael Popok (09:23)

4. Trump’s Delusional Self-Promotion and Denials

• Trump’s own response is played, where he oscillates between denying interest in a third term and bragging about “the best poll numbers ever,” claims of ending wars, and offering up JD Vance and Marco Rubio as examples of “good people” for 2028 (12:20–14:08).
• Trump’s remarks are meandering, contradictory, and detached from legal or political reality.
• Quote:

  "I have my best numbers ever. If you read it. Am I not ruling it out? You'll have to tell me. All I can tell you is that we have a great group of people, which they don't."
  — Donald Trump (14:05)

5. Political and Public Rejection of “Third Termism”

• Latest polling: “80% of America... do not want [Trump] running for a third term,” spanning both Democrats and Republicans (03:39, 14:08).
• Popok likens Trump’s current delusional confidence to “Adolf Hitler in the final hours... in the bunker” (11:28).
• Rapid growth in street protest numbers ("5 million hands off April, 7 million no kings June, 10 million no kings October") signals strong public backlash (14:40).

6. The Real Goal: Staying Relevant

• The hosts argue that Trump’s primary motivation is to avoid becoming irrelevant and to “have political immediacy and political value” as a soon-to-be lame duck (14:08–14:40).
• The episode is a call to action: only by securing Democratic majorities, hosts argue, can such unconstitutional ambitions be definitively shut down.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Michael Popok (opening):

  "Donald Trump's talking treason." (03:03)

• Steve Bannon (on the plan):

  “At the appropriate time, we'll lay out what the plan is. But there's a plan.” (05:56)

• Michael Popok (on the scheme’s mechanics):

  “They either have to lie to the American people that the person running... is not going to resign. That’ll be part of the debates.” (09:12)

• Ben Meiselas (summary call-to-action):

  “If you want to ensure this is just idle speculation... make sure Democrats take the House and Senate at the midterms and in 2028, because then we'll have impeachment and removal and conviction powers over a Donald Trump...” (14:20)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:03] Popok labels Trump’s "third term" talk as treason
• [05:45] Steve Bannon’s Economist interview asserting plans for Trump 2028
• [08:17] Popok explains the 22nd Amendment and potential constitutional workaround
• [12:20] Trump’s rambling non-denial and self-congratulatory remarks about 2028
• [14:08] Popok on Trump’s motivations and strategies to avoid irrelevance
• [14:40] Statistical data on recent public backlash and protest movements

Conclusion

This episode of Legal AF blends sharp legal analysis with pointed political commentary, spotlighting the reckless authoritarian ambitions at play around Trump’s camp. The hosts urge listeners to take the threat seriously, persist in civic engagement, and rely on the courts, crowds, and courage to defend constitutional democracy.

Tone: Candid, urgent, at times sardonic—matching the hosts’ characteristic blend of legal gravitas and media savvy.

For more legal analysis and access to court filings and more, the hosts recommend subscribing to the Legal AF Substack.