MeidasTouch Podcast – October 10, 2025 Episode Summary
Podcast: The MeidasTouch Podcast
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Date: October 10, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode dives into what the Meiselas brothers describe as the “darkest days” for American democracy yet, focusing on President Donald Trump’s overt weaponization of the Justice Department against political opponents, the deployment of National Guard troops in blue states, the dubious claims about economic recovery and healthcare, and international tensions involving U.S. military action abroad. Through their signature blend of earnest discussion, banter, and exasperation, the brothers analyze the erosion of democratic norms, the rise of authoritarian tactics, and the importance of public resistance.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Trump’s Weaponization of Justice: Indictments Against Political Opponents
- Letitia James and James Comey Indicted: Ben kicks things off with a detailed account of former New York Attorney General Letitia James and ex-FBI Director James Comey being indicted under spurious circumstances. He emphasizes the abnormality of a Trump loyalist, Lindsay Halligan—with no relevant prosecutorial experience—being the sole signer of the indictments, after career Republicans in the DOJ refused to participate.
- Quote (Ben, 11:36): “If this was a meritorious case, why are you not able to find anybody in the entire office of the Eastern District of Virginia of career prosecutors who would bring the case… In a normal situation, you’d have lawyers lining up.”
- Letitia James Responds ([05:30]):
- Quote (Letitia James): “This is nothing more than a continuation of the President’s desperate weaponization of our justice system... All because I did my job as the New York State Attorney General. These charges are baseless, and the President’s own public statements make clear that his only goal is political retribution, at any cost.”
- She calls for bipartisan opposition to "this blatant perversion of our system of justice."
2. Escalating Authoritarianism and Eroding Norms
- National Guard Deployment in Blue States: Discussion of Trump deploying National Guard troops from red states into blue-state cities like Chicago, Illinois. The brothers condemn this as clear authoritarianism.
- Quote (Brett, 08:18): “Authoritarianism is here... For a party that hates being called fascist, they sure do a whole lot of fascist and authoritarian things.”
- Trump’s Direct Orders via Truth Social: Trump’s use of his private social media platform to instruct cabinet officials—including seeking prosecution of political adversaries—is highlighted as both unethical and possibly illegal.
- Quote (Ben, 11:36): “Would you want your surgeon to not be a doctor? The only person willing to perform this operation was the non-doctor.”
3. Disinformation & Propaganda Playbook
- Tactic of Overwhelming the Public: The hosts remark repeatedly on the ‘firehose of disinformation’—overwhelming the public with blatant, contradictory lies to erode consensus reality.
- Quote (Ben, 17:09): “It is a tsunami of disinformation to exhaust people and bend reality while authoritarianism plows over.”
- Trump’s Cabinet as a Propaganda Event: The brothers criticize the Cabinet meeting as ‘Kim Jong Un level stuff,’ where members are compelled to heap praise on Trump before addressing agendas.
4. International Affairs: Muddled Gaza ‘Peace Deal’ and Military Actions
- Gaza Ceasefire Announcements: Skepticism is voiced over Trump’s declarations of a ‘peace deal’ in Gaza, with Brett warning that these are as likely to be empty triumphs as past announcements.
- Quote (Ben, 34:41): “Shouldn’t we understand—is there going to be a free Palestine? Is that the purpose of the plan, that there can be a Palestine as a free sovereign country and Israel a free sovereign country living next to each other?”
- Quote (Trump, 35:05): “I don’t have a view. I’m going to go with what they agree to.” – Used to illustrate Trump’s lack of substance.
- Quote (Brett, 41:44): “He genuinely looks like he has no idea. The question wasn’t mumbled. He’s looking like a deer in headlights.”
- US Military Strikes & International Fallout: Reference made to U.S. strikes on Colombian fishing boats, with Ben underscoring growing international lawlessness and daily “war crimes.”
5. Healthcare Crisis and GOP Failures
- No Republican Healthcare Plan: Trump and his administration tout themselves as the “party of good healthcare” while offering no substantive plan. Insurance premiums are set to skyrocket as subsidies are allowed to expire.
- Quote (Trump, 59:24): “We’re really, I think, become the party of good health care... We’re the ones that are saving health care.”
- Quote (Ben, 11:36): “Trump claims he’s reducing health care by 1600%—wouldn’t that be amazing, if every time I buy a drug, they pay me $1600? It’s just ridiculous.”
- Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Unintentional Truth: Even ultra-conservative Rep. Greene admits, “Costs have not come down... My electricity bill is $100 more than last year. People’s wages have not gone up. Americans are struggling.” ([63:11])
- Impending Reckoning: Brett and Jordy suggest that Republican officials are beginning to distance themselves from MAGA extremism in anticipation of electoral backlash.
6. U.S. Economy Unraveling
- Illusory Economic Gains: The brothers debunk claims of economic recovery, documenting how the stock market’s recent gains are concentrated in AI/tech, while the rest of the economy suffers—farm bankruptcies, recession in 20+ states, and a “worst housing market since 1995.”
- Quote (Ben, 48:02): “80% of the stock market gains in 2025 are only from a handful of AI-related companies... That’s not a sustainable model.”
7. Call to Action & Public Resistance
- ‘No Kings Day’ Protest: Listeners are urged to participate in peaceful protests on October 18th (“No Kings Day”) as a stand against creeping authoritarianism.
- Quote (Ben, 76:14): “As long as you still have that power and this community has this power... we show up for No Kings Day, and we show what peaceful protests look like... We’ll fix this together...”
- Message to Listeners: The Meiselas brothers encourage viewers to arm themselves with good information and “not let the firehose of disinformation exhaust you or numb you to authoritarianism. Get outraged, stay engaged, and remember your power.”
Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
- Letitia James responds to indictment [05:30]
- Ben on the abnormal prosecution: “Would you want your surgeon to not be a doctor?” [14:34]
- Brett on authoritarianism: “Authoritarianism is here. For a party that hates being called fascist, they sure do a whole lot of fascist and authoritarian things.” [08:18]
- On the tactic of disinformation: “A tsunami of disinformation to exhaust people and bend reality while authoritarianism plows over.” [17:09]
- Trump, fumbling on the two-state solution: “I don’t have a view. I’m going to go with what they agree to.” [35:05]
- Brett on Trump’s lack of plan: “He genuinely looks like he has no idea... looking like a deer in headlights.” [41:44]
- Marjorie Taylor Greene on costs: “Costs have not come down... electricity bill is $100 more than last year. People’s wages have not gone up.” [63:11]
- Ben calling for action: “As long as you still have that power... we show up for No Kings Day... We’ll fix this together...” [76:14]
Important Segments & Timestamps
- [01:13] – Summary of indictments against James & Comey
- [05:30] – Letitia James video response
- [07:37] – Transition to discussion with Brett and Jordy on authoritarianism
- [11:36] – Analysis of Trump’s use of DOJ, manipulation of prosecutions
- [17:09] – The firehose of disinformation and reality-bending
- [25:54] – Federal judge blocks use of force on press and protesters
- [34:41] – Skepticism about Trump’s Gaza peace deal
- [35:05] – Trump’s non-answer on two-state solution
- [59:24] – Trump’s “party of good health care” claim
- [63:11] – Marjorie Taylor Greene admits costs are up
- [76:14] – Call to action: protest and reclaim democracy
Tone & Speaker Style
The hosts maintain their usual conversational, often satirical and exasperated tone, using humor to highlight the gravity of the situation but never minimizing the seriousness of the topics. They speak directly to listeners’ sense of outrage, urgency, and agency.
Conclusion
This episode starkly illustrates the brothers’ alarm at the rapid escalation of autocratic tactics under Trump’s administration, warning against normalization of these abuses. They urge their audience to maintain clarity, reject the fog of disinformation, spread the word, prepare for peaceful resistance, and hold those in power accountable.
Final Note:
Stay engaged, informed, and active. “No Kings Day” (October 18th) is set as a day to visibly stand against rising authoritarianism.