The MeidasTouch Podcast – "Dems Strike Back After Trump Invasion"
Date: January 3, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Episode Theme:
A breakdown of the explosive political response after President Donald Trump ordered a military invasion and occupation of Venezuela, citing oil interests and regime change. The Meiselas brothers share top Democratic and Independent leaders’ outraged reactions and warnings about the global, ethical, and constitutional dangers. The episode is laced with the show's trademark banter and forceful defense of democratic norms.
Main Theme or Purpose
This episode centers on the unprecedented and controversial U.S. invasion of Venezuela ordered by Donald Trump. The hosts analyze reactions from Congressional Democrats and Independents, who condemn the act as unconstitutional, driven by oil interests, and an ominous throwback to imperialist U.S. interventions. The episode explores the legal and international implications, Trump’s disregard for Congressional approval, and the broader destabilizing effect on global politics.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
Trump’s What-Just-Happened: The Venezuela Invasion
- Trump announced from Mar-a-Lago that the U.S. has invaded Venezuela, "to seize the oil and take it over for the American oil companies" and would "run" the country.
- Trump denigrated the main Venezuelan opposition leader despite prior praise.
- He framed the invasion as about oil rather than the narcotics trade.
- Trump expanded threats to Cuba and Colombia, outlining what he called a new "Monroe Doctrine" ("don Row doctrine") – controlling the Western Hemisphere with an "iron fist" and treating nations as vassal states.
- Ben: “So here’s what Congress is saying about that…” [01:40]
Congressional Democrats and Independents Respond
Constitutional Crisis & Legal Objections
- Overarching theme: Congress – not the president – holds the authority to declare war. Trump bypassed Congress and provided no security justification to the legislative branch.
- Sen. Ruben Gallego (AZ, Dem., veteran): Authored a War Powers Resolution to force a Congressional vote, holding Trump accountable for “illegal actions.”
- "I said Trump wanted to start a war, and now he's saying, 'we’re going to occupy Venezuela.' Enough." [05:22]
- Blasts accusations from Kari Lake: “I am a US Marine combat veteran that saw his best friend die because of bootlickers like you.” [06:30]
- Sen. Mark Kelly (AZ, Dem., veteran, astronaut):
- Condemns the lack of planning or security gain: "He doesn't understand the risks and costs involved with these poorly thought out decisions that don't make Americans any safer today than they were yesterday... If we learned anything from the Iraq war, it's that dropping bombs or toppling a leader doesn't guarantee democracy, stability, or make America safer." [07:55]
- Praises military professionalism but condemns misuse: “...Thankful that no service members were killed or seriously injured while not agreeing with the administration’s justification.” [09:05]
- Sen. Chris Murphy (CT, Dem.):
- Calls the invasion "an illegal war with Venezuela that America didn’t ask for."
- Destroys Trump’s security justification: “Venezuela produces no fentanyl. What is the actual security threat to the United States...” [09:55]
- Mocks Trump backers for using indictments as excuses: "There are people with warrants all over the world. Can you invade all those countries without coming to Congress?" [10:44]
- Sen. Bernie Sanders (VT, Ind.):
- “Donald Trump has once again shown his contempt for the Constitution and the rule of law... Congress must immediately pass a War Powers resolution to end this illegal military operation and reassert its constitutional responsibilities."
- Warns of global consequences: “This brazen violation of international law gives a green light to any nation on earth that may wish to attack another country, to seize their resources or change their governments.” [11:57]
- Sen. Mark Warner (VA, Dem., Intelligence Committee chair):
- Historic warning: “If the United States asserts the right to use military force to invade and capture foreign leaders, it accuses of criminal conduct, what prevents China from claiming the same authority over Taiwan's leadership? What stops Vladimir Putin from asserting justification to abduct Ukraine's president?... The rules that restrain global chaos begin to collapse.” [12:44]
Hypocrisy, Distractions & Oil Interests
- Multiple speakers draw attention to hypocrisy, particularly Trump’s recent pardon of Honduran drug lord Juan Orlando Hernandez while using drug charges against Maduro as a pretext for invasion.
- Several Democrats accuse Trump of launching the invasion to distract from scandals (notably Jeffrey Epstein connections) and “skyrocketing healthcare costs.”
- AOC (tweet, paraphrased): "If it was about drugs, Trump wouldn't have pardoned one of the largest narco traffickers in the world last month. It's about oil and regime change." [03:58]
Echoes of Imperialism
- Several statements (Sanders, Warner) link Trump’s action to historic U.S. interventions in Latin America and warn against returning to "the darkest chapters" of imperialist policy.
- Sen. Bernie Sanders: "This is rank imperialism. It recalls the darkest chapters of US Interventions in Latin America which have left a terrible legacy."
MAGA World Fracture
- Even right-wing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene distances herself from Trump’s invasion:
- “This is what many in MAGA thought we voted to end... Boy, were we wrong.” [12:57]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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Ben’s Summary of Stakes:
“The United States can’t just be engaged in regime change to seize oil and to run countries. It has a massive destabilizing effect on the world. Number two, it’s just a war crime… also gives a permission structure for China to invade Taiwan, for Russia to continue its atrocities in Ukraine, for Israel to continue atrocities in Gaza.” [02:23] -
AOC (quoted paraphrase): “It's not about drugs. If it was, Trump wouldn’t have pardoned one of the largest narco traffickers in the world last month. It's about oil and regime change, and they need a trial now to pretend that it isn't…” [03:58]
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Sen. Gallego:
“I am a US Marine combat veteran that saw his best friend die because of bootlickers like you. This line of attack is exactly why you lost by the most of any GOP candidate in 2024.” [06:38] -
Sen. Kelly:
“If we learned anything from the Iraq war, it's that dropping bombs or toppling a leader doesn't guarantee democracy, stability, or make America safer... I don't trust that this administration has a plan, timeline, or price tag of what comes next.” [07:57] -
Sen. Murphy:
“There are people with warrants all over the world. Can you invade all those countries without coming to Congress?” [10:44] -
Sen. Sanders:
“Trump is failing in his job to run the United States. He should not be trying to run Venezuela now.” [12:25] -
Sen. Warner:
“If the United States asserts the right to use military force to invade and capture foreign leaders…it accuses of criminal conduct, what prevents China from claiming the same authority over Taiwan's leadership? … The rules that restrain global chaos begin to collapse, and authoritarian regimes will be the first to exploit it.” [12:44] -
Marjorie Taylor Greene (tweet):
“This is what many in MAGA thought we voted to end... Boy, were we wrong.” [12:57]
Timestamps of Important Segments
- 01:00 – Introduction to Trump’s Venezuela invasion, press conference details, and immediate reactions (Ben summarizes).
- 03:30 – Analysis of Trump’s stated intent (“seize oil”), throwing Venezuelan opposition under the bus.
- 04:00 – Quoting AOC, examining ulterior motives behind invasion.
- 05:00 – Senator Gallego’s condemnation and call for War Powers Resolution.
- 07:00 – Senator Mark Kelly’s statement, reflecting veteran and astronaut experience.
- 09:00 – Senator Chris Murphy’s rebuke of Trump administration logic and legal violations.
- 10:44 – Murphy’s exchange with JD Vance on invasion legality and drug warrants.
- 11:30 – Bernie Sanders’ dire historical warnings and condemnation of imperialist logic.
- 12:44 – Sen. Warner’s discussion of international implications and double standards.
- 12:57 – Marjorie Taylor Greene’s public disavowal of Trump’s military adventurism.
Tone and Language
The episode maintains a mixture of deep concern, wry humor, and energetic outrage. The brothers’ banter is trimmed here for focus, but the summary includes the forceful, plainspoken language of politicians and the hosts' passionate pro-democracy stance.
For listeners:
This episode is an urgent survey of the fallout from Trump’s most radical foreign intervention yet, capturing the voices of American leaders warning against constitutional breaches, imperial overreach, and the dangerous global message of might-makes-right. If you care about democracy, constitutional checks, and American credibility, the MeidasTouch team says, tune in—and be ready for a bumpy ride.