The MeidasTouch Podcast — December 9, 2025

Episode: MeidasTouch Full Podcast - 12/9/25
Hosts: Ben (Benji), Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Theme: Exposing Trump’s Claims and the Fight for Democracy in a World on Fire

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the chaos of American and international politics in late 2025, focusing on Donald Trump's false claims of global peace, the unraveling of his administration's domestic and foreign policies, shocking conduct at press conferences, the crumbling MAGA Republican House, critical issues in the Department of Justice, and the state of U.S. democracy. With their classic blend of outrage, humor, and brotherly banter, the Meiselas brothers critique the week's political news, highlight underreported stories, and reinforce the importance of civic engagement and speaking out against creeping authoritarianism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s False Claims of Global Peace

• Trump’s “Peace Deals” Debunked

  • Trump is touting deals in places like Congo/Rwanda and Thailand/Cambodia, claiming personal responsibility for resolving wars.
  • Reality: Fighting continues or even escalates in these regions right after “peace agreements.” TV footage from African news denies Trump’s narrative.
  • Quote (Ben):
    "If you just look at what was happening in Congo, like, on that day, there were attacks and there were people dying, and there was no different situation in the war. So, like, why wouldn't you report on that?" [07:59]

• Foreign Policy “Strategy”

  • Trump's national security document openly aims to undermine the EU, disrupt NATO, and bolster pro-Putin far-right groups.
  • General Ben Hodges (former U.S. Army Europe):
    "This strategy seeds Europe to the Russian sphere of influence. There will be a full-on war between Russia and Europe very soon." [84:10]

2. Trump’s Conduct and Apparent Cognitive Decline

• Aggressive, Demented Public Behavior

  • Benji: Describes Trump lashing out at female reporters, using insults ("you piggy"), and displaying signs of memory loss and confusion.
  • Reporters challenge Trump on broken promises (e.g., unreleased video of a deadly strike involving civilians off Venezuela).
  • Quote (Donald Trump, to Reporter):
    "You are an obnoxious... a terrible–actually a terrible reporter. And it's always the same thing with you. I told you, whatever Pete Hegseth wants to do is okay with me." [13:20]

• Cover-ups of Medical Records

  • Trump’s repeated MRIs and contradictory nonexistent “preventative abdominal MRI” explanations discussed.
  • Ben calls for medical transparency, referencing familial Alzheimer’s history and public lies.
  • Quote (Benji):
    "There’s no such thing as a preventative abdominal MRI…If you were to do an MRI in a preventative way, you’d want to do the brain, you’d want to do the spine…this is the same cover up the Trump family tried to pull with Fred Trump…" [39:08]

3. Domestic Policy Catastrophes & Economic Gaslighting

• GOP House Disarray: Resignations Looming

  • 20+ MAGA Republican House members threaten to resign due to frustration over yielding all power to Trump and Mike Johnson.
  • Ben describes Speaker Johnson as a "stooge."

• Economic Distress and Spin

  • Mass layoffs surpassing 2009 financial crisis levels.
  • Administration ceases release of key economic indicators (PPI, CPI), further hiding the true state of the economy.
  • Trump claims “greatest economy in history” while Americans struggle.
  • Brett and Jordy criticize the administration’s “war is peace, freedom is slavery” approach (Orwell reference).

• Healthcare Crisis

  • Affordability and ACA (“Obamacare”) subsidies set to expire; Trump provides no plan, blames Democrats, and invents statistics.
  • Potential for Americans to face exorbitant premium hikes and loss of coverage.

4. Systemic Corruption and DOJ Breakdown

• Fake US Attorneys and Prosecution Chaos

  • Trump allies without prosecutorial experience installed as acting U.S. attorneys after Senate and court rejection, tainting major cases.
  • DOJ under Trump refuses court orders to remove unqualified favorites from key positions; widespread legal jeopardy for ongoing cases.
  • Trump’s summary pardons for notorious criminals and personal loyalty, including indicted foreign leaders and U.S. politicians.
  • Executive privilege used to block key January 6th and migrant abuse testimony.

• Corruption Out in the Open

  • Trump pardoned Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar, expecting a party-defection; raged when Cuellar stayed Democrat.
  • Quote (Brett):
    "He always wants something for his actions. He’s trying to extort people for certain things…that corruption is so brazen." [72:27]

5. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s 60 Minutes Appearance

• Calls out Trump on 60 Minutes for “covering up a child sex trafficking ring”—further evidence of divisions within MAGA and bizarre intraparty allegations.

6. The State of Democracy and What’s Next

• The Big Picture: America’s Reputation and Alliances

  • U.S. treated as a pariah state; European and allied nations strategizing without America due to antagonism and unreliability.
  • Deconstruction of NATO and EU is now articulated U.S. policy.
  • Rise of alliances outside U.S. influence (e.g., BRICS), global realignments accelerating.

• Democratic Prospects and Lessons for the Future

  • Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s Texas Senate run championed as focused on growing the electorate instead of converting diehard MAGA voters.
  • Importance of passionate Democratic primaries discussed; “let the best ideas win out.”
  • Need to remember the Trump era’s devastation to prevent future abuses (“guardrails” for democracy).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Press Relations & Trump’s Mental State
  Jordy: "It is honestly just deeply disturbing and quite frankly embarrassing to the nation that this person who is the quote unquote, leader, again, Brett, to your point, using that term leader very loosely here, berate reporters like that..." [16:30]

• On Orwellian Messaging Benji: "War is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength. Right? That’s literally the Trump mantra…" [37:45]

• On Systemic Corruption
  Brett: "When you put criminals inside the White House…they’re going to do criminal stuff. That’s what we’re seeing." [70:22]

• On the U.S. Reputational Crisis
  Jordy: "The damage that Donald Trump has done to us already, for me, it’s a stench that I don’t care how many showers you take, it’s going to take a lot more than you think to get off of you." [86:56]

Important Timestamps

• [07:59] — Benji debunks Trump’s Congo/Rwanda peace claims.
• [12:43] — Trump’s volatile press conference responses; calls reporter “piggy.”
• [13:38] — Brett and Jordy analyze Trump’s cognitive state and press hostility.
• [29:08] — Reporter questions mass GOP retirement; Trump pivots and attacks.
• [30:51] — Healthcare coverage crisis and Trump’s evasions.
• [39:08] — Deep dive on Trump’s medical secrecy, MRI cover-up, and cognitive health.
• [48:24] — Trump discusses $12 billion farm bailout; Ben and Brett dissect economic rhetoric.
• [55:53] — Corruption within DOJ; unqualified Trump loyalists in key posts.
• [72:27] — Trump’s expected quid pro quo in pardons called out by Brett.
• [81:12] — Clip from African TV undercuts Trump’s “peace deal” with Congo/Rwanda.

Tone & Style

• Direct, irreverent, and unafraid of calling out lies and hypocrisy.
• Frequent use of sharp analogies (Simpsons, Orwell, mob movies).
• Candid about personal feelings of embarrassment and fear, but balancing with humor and hope.
• Calls for civic engagement and democratic vigilance.

Final Thoughts

The brothers close by reflecting on the necessity of “adults in the room” in government, the lasting impact of Trump’s tenure, the importance of resilient institutions, and renewed commitment to defending democracy. The episode ends with gratitude for their audience and a reminder to stay informed and engaged in politics at all levels.

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