The MeidasTouch Podcast - 12/2/25

Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Date: December 2, 2025

Episode Overview

This high-energy episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast dives deep into the latest controversies and scandals plaguing the Trump administration, with the Meiselas brothers dissecting topics ranging from alleged war crimes near Venezuela, Trump’s erratic behavior and possible health issues, accusations of coverups, and the brewing political backlash inside the Republican party. They expose the administration’s retreat into misinformation and deflection, discuss the Republican cracks showing at the state level, and preview a high-stakes special election in Tennessee, all with their trademark mix of righteous outrage, humor, and no-nonsense democratic advocacy.

Key Topics & Segments

1. The Venezuela War Crimes Scandal

[02:33-12:47]

• Incident Summary
  The episode opens with Ben recapping an explosive press conference where Trump administration spokesperson Caroline Levitt essentially admits to lethal U.S. strikes against narco-trafficking boats off Venezuela’s coast—actions the hosts unflinchingly call war crimes.
  • The Trump admin blames Admiral Bradley and SEAL Team 6, distancing both Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth from direct responsibility, while still affirming the actions as taken within their “authority.”
  • Ben counters that both the initial and secondary strikes (the latter targeting survivors) are clear examples of war crimes according to international law:

    “The entire operation, let’s be clear, is unlawful. The entire thing is a war crime.” (Ben, [06:43])

  • They make a direct analogy to Putin’s rhetoric for invading Ukraine, highlighting the Trump regime's similar use of invented legal justifications.
• Media & Accountability
  Brett shouts out legacy and independent media for holding the White House accountable during the press conference and calls out the administration’s contradictory denials and admissions:

  “You have a pretty bad crime and a pretty bad cover up and the cover up is making it even worse... you sound like a complete fraud, because you are a complete fraud.” (Brett, [09:27])

2. Trump’s Health and the “MRI Coverup”

[13:26-32:11]

• Press Conference Dodge
  The brothers dissect Trump’s recent rant about his MRI, pointing out his rambling and evasiveness when questioned about his medical scans:

  TRUMP: “I have no idea. It was just an MRI. What part of the body? It wasn’t the brain because I took a cognitive test and I aced it. I got a perfect mark, which you would be incapable of doing. Goodbye, everybody.” ([17:30])

  • Ben and Brett both mock and worry about Trump’s lack of clarity, mood swings, and slur usage at reporters, tying it to possible deterioration:

    Brett: “If the MRI results were as perfect as he claims they are, he would have released those immediately.” ([20:48])

• Osteopath's Report
  When the White House produces a medical note from an osteopath, the hosts display open skepticism, pointing out it avoids mentioning the brain:

  Ben: “That's not an MRI report. Don't treat me like I'm stupid, okay?” ([29:06]) Brett: “The most glaring thing… is the concept that you don’t just do preventative MRIs. It’s not a thing.” ([31:08])

  • They frame this as more evidence of habitual lying and the “North Korean”-style propaganda of the regime (Jordy, [32:11]).

3. Pardons for Narco-Traffickers & “Lawfare” Hypocrisy

[33:44-44:25]

• Hernandez Pardon
  The Trump administration, while using narco-trafficking as a rationale for military operations, pardons ex-Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez (convicted narco-trafficker).

  Ben: “Donald Trump pardoned him after 7 days who was involved in like a billion dollar fraud scheme as well.” ([40:01])

  • The press crushes the contradiction; the White House’s justifications are roundly mocked by the hosts, who liken it to admitting El Chapo’s word as exculpatory evidence.
• Weaponized Justice Claims Debunked
  Brett points out the judge on the Hernandez case was Trump’s own former lawyer, discrediting claims of leftist “lawfare”:

  “It was literally your personal lawyer who you brought into the government and made a judge. That individual was the person who prosecuted the Honduran president’s brother… they're trying to say is the Biden weaponized justice system…” ([44:25])

4. Regime Fatigue & Cracks in Republican Unity

[44:25-53:00]

• Growing Republican Doubt:
  The brothers note Republicans in states like Indiana are resisting Trump’s maneuvers to gerrymander maps and refusing to be complicit in clear legal violations.
  • Brett: “You are starting to see Republicans actually break from this regime. Whether they are Republicans in states like Indiana… or in ways big or small.” ([47:28])
• Public Disgust and ‘Personalization’:
  Jordy points out that even die-hard Trump voters are becoming disillusioned as the administration’s actions begin to impact them personally (e.g., slurs, direct harassment, legal fallout).

5. Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District Special Election

[57:13-68:33]

• Preview & Stakes:
  Ben introduces the special election in Tennessee’s Trump+22 district (Afton Bain/Democrat vs. Matt Van Epps/MAGA Republican), highlighting a rare competitive opportunity due to GOP chaos.
  • Don Jr. is shown in a frenetic PSA urging turnout—comic but also telling of Republican fear.

    “If you know someone in the seventh district, get out there and vote... apathy will let this person be…” (Don Jr. clip, [58:56])

• Messaging Shift:
  Brett contrasts the Democratic candidate’s positive messaging on affordability and transparency with Van Epps’ culture war attacks.

  “When you see the ads of the two campaigns, Democrats have finally found their message—affordability, the real issues people care about... Republicans are going with radical, radical, radical, evil, trans, evil.” ([67:17])

6. Trump’s International Dealings (Ukraine, China, Japan)

[69:22-74:31]

• Foreign Policy as Favors:
  Ben argues Trump sells out traditional allies (Ukraine, Taiwan, Japan) to curry favor with autocrats like Putin and Xi Jinping, using America’s influence for personal and regime gain.
  • The brothers draw a direct comparison to Russian and North Korean style propaganda and statecraft:

    “That’s exactly what Donald Trump, Caroline Levitt, Pete Hegseth and everybody in this administration is doing every single day.” (Brett, [47:28])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On War Crimes Coverup:

  “Just because you say it doesn’t make it so… That’s exactly what Trump is doing. He’s mirroring Putin’s ‘denazification,’ but using narco trafficking.”
  – Ben ([06:43])

• On Trump Health Coverup:

  “That’s not an MRI report. Don’t treat me like I’m stupid, okay?”
  – Ben ([29:06])

• On Press Conference Propaganda:

  “When you listen to Caroline Levitt up there, the only thing you think of is this is a North Korean press conference.”
  – Jordy ([32:11])

• On Republican Cracks:

  “You’re starting to see Republicans actually break from this regime... looking into a world where Trump does not exist.”
  – Brett ([47:28])

• On The Importance of Change:

  “If the MRI results were as perfect as Trump claims they are, he would have released those immediately.”
  – Brett ([20:48])

• On Trump’s Pardon Hypocrisy:

  “How brazen do you have to be to pardon the guy convicted of 400 tons of cocaine trafficking as you’re bombing at sea on the predicate of drugs?”
  – Brett ([42:15])

• On Loss of Presidential Dignity:

  “Donald Trump has not treated the office with dignity. He’s destroyed and demolished a beautiful office.”
  – Ben ([22:32])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:33 — Ben recaps the week’s scandals and Trump admin war crime admissions
• 04:36 — The Venezuela strikes: press conference breakdown
• 13:26 — Ben transitions to Trump’s health, frequent MRIs, and speculation about cognitive decline
• 16:50 — Trump’s rambling MRI comments on Air Force One
• 27:50 — Caroline Levitt’s “doctor’s note” spin and the hosts’ medical skepticism
• 36:05 — Fox News confronts admin re: Honduras pardons/war crime contradictions
• 47:28 — Brett highlights the cracks in Republican loyalty and their approval decline
• 57:13 — Tennessee 7th special election: background and stakes
• 61:13 — Clip: Rep. Troy Nels’s dismissive comments on healthcare
• 62:21 — Gov. Walz demands MRI transparency, slams Trump’s “R word” insult
• 67:17 — Brett analyzes campaign ad messaging and the shift in Democratic strategy
• 69:22 — Ben unpacks Trump’s international dealings and further evidence of “selling out” US interests

Episode Tone & Style

It’s the classic MeidasTouch blend: rapid-fire, irreverent, deeply informed, and emotive—often swinging from biting satire to moments of sober reflection on democracy, advocacy, and the importance of civic action. There is palpable exasperation at the Trump regime’s “banana land” approach, but a thread of optimism as cracks in MAGA’s hold become apparent.

Final Thoughts

The Meiselas brothers wrap by urging continued activism—emphasizing voting, local pushback, and support for independent media as antidotes to the “regime’s” ongoing abuses. Special attention is given to the Tennessee race as a potential bellwether. They close with their signature camaraderie and thanks to the “Meidas Mighty.”

Listen, share, and stay engaged: Democracy depends on it.