Episode Overview
Podcast: The MeidasTouch Podcast
Episode: Dems Finally Rip Trump To Shreds for Disaster Invasion
Date: January 4, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
In this episode, the Meiselas brothers take aim at Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans following Trump’s controversial invasion and occupation of Venezuela. The show features sharp responses from leading Democratic lawmakers, analysis of Trump's motives, and frank discussions about the consequences for American democracy and global stability. The tone remains irreverent and critical, mixing sharp political critique with the brothers’ trademark banter and advocacy for democratic values.
Main Theme
Democrats unite in forceful opposition to Donald Trump’s unlawful military invasion and occupation of Venezuela, lambasting the move as imperialistic, illegal, and a betrayal of American values. The episode features a montage of Democratic leaders speaking out, highlighting the incoherence and dangers of Trump’s foreign policy, its real motivations (oil and personal gain), and the wider risks to democracy and global order.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Immediate Democratic Pushback
- The MeidasTouch hosts highlight Democrats going on offense against Trump’s Venezuela actions, emphasizing that leading figures are no longer mincing words about what they see as lawless, disastrous behavior (01:31).
2. Eric Swalwell’s Scathing Critique
- Swalwell ridicules Trump’s competence:
“They have no faith that Donald Trump can run a country who couldn’t run a casino. And now he’s going to run a country in South America while we watch as he fails to run a country in North America. That doesn’t add up." (02:55) - References failed promises: Trump’s claim to lower costs and his history of bankruptcies.
- Draws Iraq oil war analogy: Compares Venezuela adventure to the failed promise of “Iraqi oil will pay for itself.” (03:42)
3. Ro Khanna’s “We’re Not an Empire” Message
- Asserts American morality:
“We don’t like to just go take another country’s oil. Like, that’s not who we are as a people. … We’re not an empire. We don’t go marching into countries and just take their stuff.” (03:53) - Warns of moral backlash against Trump’s actions.
4. Dan Goldman on Corruption & Oil
- Links Trump’s motives to oil money:
“Donald Trump promised oil executives that if they gave him a billion dollars… he would do right by them. ... This is a massive gift that is in violation of international law and is essentially just co-opting an entire country’s natural resources for the benefit of US companies.” (04:36) - Argues invasion distracts from real American issues like rent and healthcare.
5. Seth Moulton Exposes GOP Cowardice
- On Republican complicity:
“No, they’re just cowards. They’re just scared... I’ve heard them say explicitly, if Biden were doing this, we would be raising bloody hell. But they won’t do anything to oppose Trump aside from one or two.” (05:42) - Calls out hypocrisy: Republicans’ lack of real opposition.
6. Detailing Trump’s Promise-Breaking & War Escalation
- Swalwell catalogs reversals:
“He promised he’d end all wars on day one. In two weeks, he’s bombed Nigeria, Syria, and now Venezuela. He said he’d lower costs and then he put a tariff tax in place that has raised everyone’s costs.” (06:54) - Says Trump “does the opposite” of what he ran on, undermining electoral credibility.
7. Ro Khanna: “Why Not Focus on America?”
- Critiques Trump’s “no plan” for Venezuela.
- American priorities neglected:
“Why is our president spending so much time talking about Argentina, Venezuela, the Middle East, and not Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin? What happened to manufacturing jobs?” (07:57) - Asserts Trump is out of touch with domestic needs.
8. Pretext of Drug Trafficking Exposed
- Goldman and hosts highlight Trump’s hypocrisy in using drug trafficking as a pretext after pardoning real narco-traffickers like Juan Orlando Hernandez.
- “This pretext… is total bogus because the Honduran president was just pardoned notwithstanding an actual conviction in US court.” (09:51)
- Says the real motive is oil.
9. Rep. Ryan’s Iraq Veteran Perspective
- On new 'forever war':
“This is not a good day for our country. ... This is us starting, clearly starting another forever war which the American people do not support.” (11:04) - Personal impact: Watching the news with his kids, having to explain senseless conflict.
- Calls Trump’s war for oil a “really dark day.”
10. The “Don Row Doctrine” and Imperial Spheres
- Swalwell draws direct parallels to Russian/Chinese spheres of influence chessboard:
- “Trump is... saying he’s taking the Western Hemisphere, that he wants every other country... to be a vassal state... That’s Trump’s perspective of the world.” (12:38)
- Visuals: Trump’s social media posts showing himself dominating the Americas.
11. Mayor Zoran Mamdani Speaks Out
- Mayor of New York registers direct opposition to Trump’s regime change adventure.
- “I called the president and spoke with him directly to register my opposition to this act and to make clear that it was an opposition based on... violation of federal international law.” (14:35)
12. Kamala Harris Issues Strong Statement
- Former Vice President Harris:
“Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela do not make America safer, stronger and more affordable. ... This action was both unlawful and unwise. … The American people do not want this, and they are tired of being lied to. This is not about drugs or democracy. It's about oil and Donald Trump’s desire to play the regional strongman.” (15:10) - Slams pardons for drug traffickers; says Trump puts troops at risk and destabilizes a whole region.
13. MAGA Rhetoric and International Tensions
- Clips of Republican Anna Paulina Luna calling Mexican President Sheinbaum “installed,” and dismisses Mexican sovereignty.
- “If she had a backbone, she would be asking for help instead of doing it behind closed doors… so I really don’t care what the president of Mexico has to say…” (17:49)
- Brothers decry MAGA’s “imperialist, disgusting” rhetoric threatening Mexico, Cuba, Colombia, Nigeria, and even Greenland.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Eric Swalwell (02:55):
“They have no faith that Donald Trump can run a country who couldn’t run a casino. … And now he’s going to run a country in South America while we watch as he fails to run a country in North America.” - Ro Khanna (03:53):
“We’re not an empire. We don’t go marching into countries and just take their stuff. We’re the country that fights for freedom.” - Dan Goldman (04:36):
“This is a massive gift that is in violation of international law and is essentially just co-opting an entire country’s natural resources for the benefit of US Companies...” - Seth Moulton (05:42):
“No, they’re just cowards... if Biden were doing this, we would be raising bloody hell. But they won’t do anything to oppose Trump.” - Eric Swalwell (06:54):
“He promised he’d end all wars on day one. In two weeks, he’s bombed Nigeria, Syria, and now Venezuela. … But almost none of them do the exact opposite of what got them elected.” - Ro Khanna (07:57):
“Why is our president spending so much time talking about Argentina, Venezuela, the Middle East... and not Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin?” - Dan Goldman (09:51):
“This pretext... is total bogus because the Honduran president was just pardoned.” - Rep. Ryan (11:04):
“This does not make the American people safer. It does not make America stronger. It certainly tarnishes our reputation. … This is us starting, clearly starting another forever war.” - Kamala Harris (15:10):
“Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela do not make America safer, stronger and more affordable. … This is not about drugs or democracy. It’s about oil and Donald Trump’s desire to play the regional strongman.”
Timestamps of Important Segments
- 01:31: Show launches into the Democratic pushback against Trump’s Venezuela invasion.
- 02:55: Swalwell mocks Trump’s competence; “couldn’t run a casino.”
- 03:53: Ro Khanna’s “We’re not an empire” statement.
- 04:36: Dan Goldman spells out oil money motives.
- 05:42: Seth Moulton on GOP cowardice.
- 06:54: Swalwell on Trump’s pattern of breaking promises.
- 07:57: Ro Khanna: “What about American priorities?”
- 09:51: Dan Goldman exposes the false drug war justification.
- 11:04: Rep. Ryan’s emotional veteran perspective.
- 12:38: Swalwell and the “Don Row Doctrine” – US imperial ambitions.
- 14:35: NYC Mayor Zoran Mamdani formally opposes Trump.
- 15:10: Kamala Harris’s withering statement.
- 17:49: Anna Paulina Luna’s hard-right rhetoric about Mexico.
Tone & Language
- Style: Outspoken, critical, and often caustic; combines sharp analysis with comedic jabs and informal brotherly banter.
- Language: Emphatic, direct, unapologetically partisan in defense of democracy and American values.
For Listeners Who Missed the Episode
This episode delivers a comprehensive and stinging Democratic rebuttal to Trump’s Venezuela actions, making clear that the opposition narrative frames Trump’s move as illegal, reckless, ego-driven, and damaging to both America’s interests and global stability. The MeidasTouch brothers collect sharp soundbites and statements from prominent lawmakers, exposing not just policy disagreements but what they see as the utter bankruptcy of Trump’s promises, the hypocrisy of MAGA Republicans, and the mounting risks of imperialistic adventurism. The show’s rapid-fire sound bites distill the outrage, the rationale, and the stakes, making this the episode for anyone seeking a catch-up on the current storm over US foreign policy—and a full-throated defense of democracy.