Podcast Summary: The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Fox News Panics On Air Over Trump’s Catastrophic Trip
Date: January 23, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Meiselas brothers focus on the fallout from Donald Trump’s controversial trip to Washington, D.C., and Davos, and his deteriorating handling of both domestic and international crises. The hosts highlight the historic, ongoing general strikes starting in Minnesota and spreading across the country in response to Trump’s authoritarian turn, ICE raids, and anti-worker policies. The brothers critique the administration’s handling of border issues, child detainment, and Trump’s inflammatory social media rhetoric, while illustrating rising global backlash against Trump’s alliances with authoritarian leaders. Throughout, they fuse urgent political critique with their trademark humor and brotherly banter, and share voices of solidarity from striking workers and protestors on the ground.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. General Strike and Worker Solidarity

• Historic Strikes: The episode opens closely tracking the general strike initiated in Minnesota, quickly described as the largest in 70 years, meant as a show of force against Trump’s “fascist” regime ([00:15]).

  • Connection to National Organizing: Strikes are spreading to other cities, such as New York, where nurses have been striking for 9 days demanding fair wages and better conditions.
  • Solidarity Across Sectors: Political figures like NYC Mayor Zoran Mamdani and Senator Bernie Sanders have publicly joined the nurses in solidarity ([01:00]).
  • Fortune 500 Companies Critique: Ben criticizes corporations based in Minnesota for treating workers as disposable under Trump’s influence.

• Quote (Ben, 02:11):

  “We don’t want golden arches, Donald. The American people just want to be able to live a life with dignity, to support our families and not be invaded by ICE and Border Patrol Gestapo. It’s pretty damn frickin’ simple, Donald.”

2. Trump’s Social Media Rants & False Narratives

• Deflection and Denial: Trump is called out for his mocking post about climate change during a record cold snap ([03:00]).

  • The hosts point out the contradiction between Trump’s own statements about global warming (regarding Greenland) and his public denial.

• Accusations of Authoritarianism:

  • The brothers contrast Trump’s approach to global warming and international relations with rational scientific and diplomatic perspectives.
  • Criticism is leveled at Trump’s rhetoric about “insurrectionists” and “enemy” definitions.

• Quote (Ben, 04:20):

  “Just because it is cold doesn’t mean that global warming doesn’t exist. But again, Donald Trump is a demented idiot and he should be nowhere near the Oval Office.”

3. Backlash Over International Relations

• Davos Trip and NATO Insults: Trump’s trip to Davos is painted as a disaster, focusing specifically on his disparaging comments about US NATO allies and fallen foreign soldiers ([06:10]).

• Pushback from Foreign Leaders: They highlight immediate responses from leaders like the premier of Greenland, who flatly denies any deals with Trump on Greenland’s status ([09:14]).

• Quote (Ben, 07:24):

  “Donald Trump called the UK soldiers, over 400 who died in Afghanistan, suckers and losers. …NATO sent so many soldiers to fight alongside the USA…and Trump has called those troops suckers and losers.”

• Global Repercussions:

  • The hosts note how Trump’s stance is actually weakening conservative and right-wing parties abroad that previously attempted to align with him.
  • Trump’s inner circle is shown cozying up to Vladimir Putin, who promises financial support contingent on concessions regarding Russian assets ([10:50]).

4. Immigration, Child Detainment & ICE Abuses

• High-Profile Kidnapping: The brothers focus on the story of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, who was kidnapped and used by ICE as bait to target his father ([15:35]).

  • Trump’s Border Patrol head, Greg Bevino, justifies the act as being “in the best interests of the child,” drawing a stark condemnation from the brothers.
  • The administration blames the victim’s father for “abandoning” the child when, in fact, ICE agents had used the child to lure him out.
  • No clear evidence is presented by Trump officials about criminal wrongdoing by Liam’s father ([18:20]).

• Quote (Greg Bevino, 16:30):

  “The child is in the least restrictive setting with a family member. I don’t think it gets any better than that.”

• Quote (DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, 17:50):

  “This little boy was abandoned by his own father… Our law enforcement officers actually were taking care of the child, brought him to McDonald’s…”

• Brothers’ Counterpoint: The hosts react with outrage to the attempt to normalize child kidnappings as “care.”

5. Trump Loyalists’ Smear Campaigns and Protestor Voices

• J.D. Vance’s Attacks: The hosts call out Senator J.D. Vance for equating peaceful protestors with “sex traffickers” and “criminal aliens,” using authoritarian tactics to dehumanize dissent ([21:00]).
• Minnesota Protestor’s Voice:
  • Real protestor voices included, emphasizing resilience:

    “We’re stronger than them, and I think being out here on a cold morning like this really shows that. We are strong and we are together. You cannot divide us.” ([22:44])

6. Critiques of the US Supreme Court & Systemic Reform

• Impunity vs. Accountability: The brothers contrast Trump’s immunity from prosecution with Brazil’s sentencing of its own ex-president, calling for Supreme Court reform ([13:50]).
  • Trump’s continued claims about the “stolen” 2020 election are dismissed as thoroughly litigated lies.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the workers’ demands (Brett, 00:54):

  “All they’re saying is we want a fair wage for the job that we’re doing…they can’t even provide the basics for nurses who are on the front lines.”

• On Trump’s international blunders (Ben, 08:00):

  “You either stand up to Donald Trump right now or you kiss the gangster ring…and you will lose in your states.”

• On the narrative inversion by ICE officials (Jordy, 17:14):

  “So now it’s somehow the father’s fault for being terrorized and separated from his son. That’s dystopian.”

• Protestor’s defiance in the cold (Protestor, 22:50):

  “We love our neighbors, we love our community, and go home.”

Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:15 | Introduction of general strike in Minnesota and spread across US | | 01:00 | Solidarity with striking nurses in NYC; critique of hospital executives | | 02:11 | Ben’s condemnation of Trump’s golden arches post | | 03:00 | Trump’s climate denial, record cold, and hypocrisy called out | | 06:10 | Trump’s disparagement of NATO allies, fallout in UK/Europe | | 09:14 | Audio clip: Premier of Greenland refutes Trump’s claims | | 10:50 | Trump’s associates meet with Putin; “Board of Peace” described | | 13:50 | Judicial disparity: US immunity vs. Brazil’s prosecution of Bolsonaro | | 15:35 | Story of the kidnapping of Liam Conejo Ramos by ICE | | 16:30 | Border Patrol chief Greg Bevino’s minimization of the act | | 17:50 | DHS spokesperson blames victim’s father | | 18:20 | No evidence of criminal wrongdoing by Liam’s father | | 21:00 | J.D. Vance’s vilification of protestors | | 22:44 | Protestor’s resilient message in the Minnesota cold |

Conclusion

This episode encapsulates the Meiselas brothers’ signature mix of urgent advocacy, biting critique, and lively banter as they break down Trump’s mounting scandals and their social consequences. They directly address the escalating worker-led resistance, offer pointed fact-checking of administration claims, and amplify grassroots voices. The episode is both a rallying cry for democratic resilience and a chronicle of a country at a crossroads—with the brothers urging unity and action in the face of rising authoritarianism.