Podcast Summary: The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Mayor Barbara Lee Discusses Her Lawsuit against Trump for J6

Date: December 31, 2025
Host: MeidasTouch Network (Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas)
Featured Guest: Mayor Barbara Lee (Oakland mayor & former Congresswoman)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on a conversation with Mayor Barbara Lee, former Congresswoman and lead plaintiff in the civil lawsuit against Donald Trump for his actions leading up to and on January 6, 2021 ("Lee vs Trump"). The Meiselas brothers discuss Trump’s ongoing attempts to evade legal accountability, the slow progress of the lawsuit, and Barbara Lee’s perspective—now both as a plaintiff and as mayor of Oakland. The tone is a combination of sharp political critique, focus on democracy, and earnest advocacy for accountability. The discussion also touches on how Trump exploits cities like Oakland to stoke division and chaos, and how Lee maintains hope despite ongoing challenges.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Persistent Election Denial and Manipulation

• The hosts open by sharply critiquing Trump’s continued lies about the 2020 election, and his alignment with authoritarian figures like Putin.
• Trump’s poll numbers in New York are discussed—he is described as “30 points underwater” compared to newly-popular city officials, revealing his deep unpopularity.
  Quote (Ben): “Donald Trump... would be like a garbage dump out on Staten Island.” (03:19)
• Trump’s interviews consistently pivot to unfounded claims of a “rigged election,” hampering real discussion of policy.
  • Multiple clips are played of Trump repeating these claims in interviews and attributing them to Vladimir Putin, letting foreign manipulation shape U.S. discourse.

Notable Quotes

• Ben, on Trump’s narrative (04:55):
  “The fact that Trump is so easy to manipulate, that our entire geopolitical global world order... is getting pushed closer and closer to world wars because it’s so easy for Putin to pick up the phone...”

2. The Status of Lee v. Trump and Trump’s Legal Maneuvers

• The hosts explain the Lee v. Trump civil lawsuit, filed by Lee and the NAACP after J6, aiming to hold Trump, the Oath Keepers, and Proud Boys accountable.
• Trump continues to stonewall the case, asserting “absolute immunity” and blocking document production, in attempts to delay proceedings.
• Ben frames the situation (08:18):
  “If you think you did nothing wrong, then what are you claiming even immunity for? ...Can we talk about that case for a moment?”

3. Interview with Mayor Barbara Lee

The Lawsuit’s Purpose and Personal Impact

• Barbara Lee recounts her presence on the House floor during the J6 attack (08:31):

  • Salutes the heroism of Capitol Police (noting ongoing trauma) and emphasizes their role in saving lives and protecting democracy.
  • Explains the central argument: Trump acted not as president, but as a private candidate, and must be held to account under civil law.
  • Details the suit’s broad coalition of plaintiffs and defendant groups (Trump, Oath Keepers, Proud Boys):
    • “No one is above the law.”
    • “Our basic tenet is... holding those responsible for attempting to thwart the peaceful transfer of power and causing damage to those... as well as to our democracy.” (09:30)

• Delays and Persistence:

  • Lee highlights the slow progress of the case—filed nearly five years ago, ongoing as she shifted from Congress to City Hall.
  • She reaffirms her commitment:
    “Absolutely not [backing down]. It’s up to us to protect our democracy, protect our immigrant community, protect justice...” (11:02)
    • Asserts faith in the judiciary as "the last resort of our democracy."

Facing Trump’s Political Playbook as Oakland Mayor

• Lee outlines how cities like Oakland become rhetorical targets for Trump, often used to incite division:
  • Reiterates the city’s non-cooperation with ICE and strong pushback against attempts to militarize local police.
  • Discusses collaborative efforts with federal government to secure resources for public services, health, and employment—while defending Oakland's autonomy.
  • Recognizes that negative rhetoric is designed to provoke chaos but says Oakland is resilient:
    “People in Oakland care about our democracy. They care about not allowing our city to be occupied and militarized.” (13:43)
  • Addresses local issues (crime, illegal dumping, public safety, homelessness, economic development) while resisting federal overreach.

Protecting the Immigrant Community

• Lee describes efforts to fundraise for daily needs of Oakland’s immigrants, who experience real fear due to national rhetoric and policies.
  • “Many are afraid to go to doctors, schools, churches... We have to protect our immigrant community. And we're doing that at the same time that we're working on all these other issues. So it’s all hands on deck.” (14:45)

Lee’s Sustained Hope

• Despite setbacks, Lee insists on optimism:
  • “As a black woman, there’s no way I don’t have hope. I’ve seen a lot in my life and we have these moments of backwards types of steps, but we have hope.” (15:25)
  • Points to Oakland’s dynamic youth, arts, and cultural life as sources of persistence and inspiration.
  • Stresses the costs of losing hope, especially with democracy under threat.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Notable Quote / Moment | |-----------|----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:19 | C (Host) | “Donald Trump... would be like a garbage dump out on Staten Island.” | | 04:55 | A (Ben) | “Trump is so easy to manipulate... our world order is getting pushed...” | | 08:31 | Barbara Lee | “Let me... salute the Capitol police officers, because so many of them are still in many ways traumatized... also to save our democracy.” | | 09:30 | Barbara Lee | “No one is above the law. This is a civil suit... acting as a candidate and in his personal capacity, not as an office holder.” | | 11:02 | Barbara Lee | “It’s up to us to protect our democracy, protect our immigrant community, protect justice...” | | 13:43 | Barbara Lee | “People in Oakland care about our democracy. They care about not allowing our city to be occupied and militarized.” | | 15:25 | Barbara Lee | “As a black woman, there’s no way I don’t have hope... I see hope. I see our young people. They have hope.” |

Important Timestamps

• [03:19] – Analysis of Trump’s unpopularity and pointed comparison
• [04:55] – Discussion of Trump’s susceptibility to foreign influence, especially Putin
• [08:31] – Barbara Lee enters, discusses her lawsuit and J6 experience
• [09:30] – Lee explains the civil suit’s aims and legal logic
• [11:02] – On not backing down: Lee’s commitment to justice
• [12:41] – Trump’s targeting of Oakland & Lee’s response
• [14:45] – Support for Oakland’s immigrant community
• [15:25] – Lee speaks about hope for democracy and Oakland

Tone and Style

• Language: Direct, occasionally irreverent, and impassioned. Hosts use humor and pointed criticism, while Lee is measured, optimistic, and openly committed to justice.
• Overall Mood: Defiant in support of democracy, determined in legal and civic battles, and hopeful about the future despite persistent setbacks.

Summary Takeaways

• Trump’s legal strategy is to delay and deny, but plaintiffs like Mayor Barbara Lee remain steadfast in seeking accountability for January 6.
• Oakland, under Lee’s leadership, is both resisting federal overreach and focusing on local quality of life improvements.
• The podcast stresses the importance of hope, collective action, and resilience in the face of ongoing threats to democracy.

For deeper insights, refer to the highlighted timestamps for direct quotes and discussion segments with Mayor Barbara Lee.