Panicked Trump Freaks Out in AM as It All Goes Wrong

Summary

Podcast Summary: The MeidasTouch Podcast - "Panicked Trump Freaks Out in AM as It All Goes Wrong"

Episode Overview: In the April 28, 2025 episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, hosts Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas delve into the tumultuous morning in American politics, spotlighting former President Donald Trump's controversial actions and statements. The episode provides a critical analysis of Trump's attempts to influence current political dynamics, trade negotiations, and international relations, all while highlighting the perceived failures and contradictions within his administration.

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1. Donald Trump's Morning Attacks on Pollsters (00:30 – 05:01)

Key Points:

• Low Poll Numbers: Donald Trump is depicted as reacting defensively to his historically low poll numbers, which are described as the lowest in modern presidential history, tracing back approximately 80 years.

• Attack on Pollsters: Trump labels pollsters he disagrees with as "negative criminals," "frauds," and "the enemy of the people," suggesting they should be imprisoned.

• Interference in Canadian Elections: Trump makes unprecedented statements about Canada, proposing its annexation as the 51st state. He outlines a vision where Canada benefits from reduced taxes and tariffs, aiming to integrate it seamlessly with the U.S.

Notable Quotes:

• Trump on Pollsters: "Negative criminals. ... They are truly the enemy of the people and implies that they need to be imprisoned." (Timestamp: 01:28)

• Trump on Canada: "Good luck to the great people of Canada. Elect the man who has the strength and wisdom to cut your taxes in half... If Canada becomes the cherished 51st state of the United States of America..." (Timestamp: 03:45)

Analysis: The hosts criticize Trump's approach as immature and self-serving, arguing that his interference in Canada's electoral process undermines democratic principles and embarrasses the United States on the global stage.

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2. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessen's Interview on Supply Chain Issues (04:34 – 06:24)

Key Points:

• Empty Shelves Concern: Host Brian Kilmeade questions Treasury Secretary Scott Bessen about potential shortages due to halted shipments from China.

• Bessen's Response: He downplays the issue, asserting confidence in retailers and suggesting that Chinese de-escalation is forthcoming.

• Critique of Bessen's Optimism: The Political Commentator challenges Bessen's complacency, highlighting real-world implications such as scarcity of goods and economic strain on Americans.

Notable Quotes:

• Bessen's Optimism: "Not at present. We have some great retailers..." (Timestamp: 04:47)

• Host's Challenge: "At what point, Scott Bessen, are you going to be a little bit worried about it?" (Timestamp: 05:01)

Analysis: The hosts express skepticism towards the administration's handling of supply chain disruptions, emphasizing the tangible negative effects on consumers and questioning the leadership's proactive measures.

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3. Trade Negotiations and 'Bespoke Deals' (10:21 – 12:44)

Key Points:

• Trade Proposals: The administration claims to have 18 written trade proposals, falling short of the pledged 90 deals in 90 days.

• Ambiguity in Deals: Press Secretary Caroline Levitt admits a lack of details regarding these proposals.

• 'Bespoke Deals' Explanation: Scott Bessen describes the deals as "bespoke," implying personalized negotiations, but the commentator views this as obfuscation.

Notable Quotes:

• Press Secretary on Trade Deals: "We think you'll be hearing more about them this week..." (Timestamp: 10:52)

• Bessen on Bespoke Deals: "We're doing bespoke deals and he's going to be intimately involved in every one." (Timestamp: 12:13)

Analysis: The podcast hosts critique the administration's vague language and slow progress on trade negotiations, suggesting a disconnect between promises and actual outcomes. The term "bespoke deals" is viewed skeptically, perceived as a means to mask inefficiency.

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4. Defense Secretary Praise and Pentagon Operations (13:14 – 14:08)

Key Points:

• Praise for Secretary Hegseth: The administration lauds Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for his handling of Pentagon operations, including actions against Houthi terrorists and improvements in military recruitment and retention.

• Elimination of DEI: Hegseth is credited with removing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives from the Pentagon.

Notable Quotes:

• Press Secretary on Hegseth: "He's going to remain focused on standing up for our war fighters..." (Timestamp: 13:21)

Analysis: While the administration proudly highlights successes under Secretary Hegseth, the commentators suggest these achievements are overshadowed by underlying issues and controversies, including the removal of DEI programs.

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5. Border Security and Military Deployment (14:08 – 15:18)

Key Points:

• Military on Borders: Tom Homan, referred to as the "border czar," claims that Mexico has indirectly funded border security by deploying 10,000 military personnel, resulting in record-low illegal immigration.

• Criticism of Military Deployment: The commentator disputes the effectiveness and necessity of the current troop levels, noting a reduction from previous administrations and the tragic loss of American soldiers, which the administration fails to acknowledge.

Notable Quotes:

• Homan on Border Security: "Putting 10,000 military on the northern southern border... We're saving millions of dollars every day." (Timestamp: 14:25)

• Host's Critique: "You don't express solemnity when our troops die... That's not something that you talk about." (Timestamp: 14:45)

Analysis: The hosts challenge the administration's narrative on border security, highlighting inconsistencies and a lack of transparency regarding military casualties and the actual impact of troop deployments.

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6. Executive Branch Club and Smithsonian Controversy (15:18 – 16:29)

Key Points:

• Executive Branch Club: Donald Trump Jr. and White House crypto czar David Sachs launch an exclusive club called "Executive Branch," costing over half a million dollars to join, during an event at the Willard Hotel.

• Smithsonian Museum Changes: Following Trump's executive order, exhibits and artifacts are being removed from the African American History Museum, accused of erasing African American history.

Notable Quotes:

• Commentator on Smithsonian: "They are erasing African American history anyway." (Timestamp: 15:55)

Analysis: The podcast critiques the administration's elitist ventures and controversial decisions regarding cultural institutions, suggesting an agenda to marginalize important historical narratives.

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Conclusion:

This episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast offers a critical examination of Donald Trump's actions and the broader implications for American democracy and international relations. Through incisive commentary and a series of highlighted failures and contentious policies, the hosts underscore their concerns about the direction in which the former president is steering both national and global affairs.

Notable Themes:

• Democratic Integrity: Concerns over Trump's interference in democratic processes and undermining of institutions.

• Economic Policy Critique: Skepticism towards trade negotiations and administration responses to supply chain issues.

• Military and Security Policies: Questioning the effectiveness and humanity of border security measures and military deployments.

• Cultural and Historical Preservation: Opposition to changes in cultural institutions that affect the preservation of marginalized histories.

Engagement: Listeners are encouraged to reflect on the intersection of political rhetoric, policy effectiveness, and the safeguarding of democratic values as presented through the lens of the Meiselas brothers.

Transcript

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[Odoo Representative]

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[Political Commentator]

Od o o.com Donald Trump is panic posting On Monday morning, he's attacking pollster. Since Donald Trump's polls are the lowest in modern presidential history, they're actually the lowest going back probably about 80 years. He refers to pollsters whose polls he doesn't like, as this is a direct quote. Negative criminals. He then calls them frauds. He says they are sick and that they are truly the enemy of the people and implies that they need to be imprisoned. So is Donald Trump's first post this morning. He then interferes with Canada's election today and asserts that Canada should be the 51st state again. He talks about annexing and conquering Canada and he says that he should be Canada's leader, implying that they should vote for him. I mean, this is the most despicable election interference imaginable and it's just embarrassing and humiliating. Donald Trump trying to make Canada's election all about himself. Today, Donald Trump posts the following. Good luck to the great people of Canada. Elect the man who has the strength and wisdom to cut your taxes in half, increase your military power for free to the highest level in the world. Have your Car, steel, aluminum, lumber, energy and all other businesses quadruple triple in size with zero tariffs or taxes. If Canada becomes the cherished 51st state of the United States of America, no more artificially drawn line. For many years ago, look how beautiful this land mass would be. Free access with no border. All positives with no negatives. It was meant to be exclamation point. America can no longer subsidize Canada. With the hundreds of billions of dollars a year that we have been spending in the past, it makes no sense unless Canada is a state. I'm sorry, Canada. I mean, this is some of the most despicable behavior imaginable right here. And it just goes to show you just again, how immature Donald Trump is as well and how vile and dangerous he is. And of course, everything he's saying here is false and fraudulent. I mean, Donald Trump has taken a wrecking ball to the United States and Donald Trump wants to see Canada destroyed. And the fact that Donald Trump wants to make Canada's election about himself is just again, there's really no words for it other than it's just, it's humiliating for the United States. So then Donald Trump sends out his Treasury Secretary, Scott Besant, for this interview on Fox. Brian Kilmeade this morning asks Scott Bessant, Donald Trump's Treasury Secretary, if he's worried about empty shelves in stores since shipping from China has essentially come to a halt and since products are not reaching the United States of America. Listen to what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessen says in his typical arrogant and smug way. Play this clip currently right now when.

[Brian Kilmeade]

You are you worried about empty shelves? Because they say that a lot of these, the supply lines and the cargo ships are being held up. A lot of people are saying turn it around. With the tariffs this high, I don't want the product. Are you worried about empty shelves?

[Scott Bessen]

Not at present. We have some great retailers. I assume they pre ordered. I think we'll see some elasticities, I think we'll see replacements and then we will see how quickly the Chinese want to de escalate to.

[Political Commentator]

Marjorie, did you hear what he said? Right. There he goes. I'm not worried about it at the present. At the present, I'm not worried about it. Are you going to be worried about it in the future? Are you going to be worried about it in the next few weeks when products are not on our shelves? When there's a summer of scarcity, when someone's air conditioning breaks down and they can't fix it, when kids can't get school supplies when people can't buy gifts for people for Christmas. At what point, Scott Besant, are you going to be a little bit worried about it? Because it seems that your job as the treasury secretary should be not to engage in trade wars that destroy the United States of America's economy and strengthen the rest of the world, by the way. And so here Brian Kilmeade asks Treasury Secretary Bessant some more questions about China. And you see, Scott Bessant goes, you know, maybe, maybe they'll call me someday, China. Maybe they'll give me a call here. Play this clip.

[Brian Kilmeade]

Plan on calling your counterpart.

[Scott Bessen]

We will see what happens with China, that it's, it's important. I think it's unsustainable from the Chinese side. So maybe they'll call me one day.

[Brian Kilmeade]

The WTO says 80 billion trade could dip 80% between the US and China if something doesn't happen quickly. Do you see it that way?

[Scott Bessen]

Well, look, that's why I believe it's on.

[Political Commentator]

And again, the level of arrogance here, how kind of nonchalant he is about this while America's economy is suffering. And we can see again, trucking volumes and freight volumes coming to an absolute halt. You know, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson overnight said the following. Let me make it clear one more time. China and the US Are not engaged in any consultation or negotiation on tariffs. China's been making it clear over and over again, despite Donald Trump over the weekend once more lying and saying that he's been involved in direct negotiations with China's president Xi Jinping and that there are all these conversations taking place and deals are imminent. China saying there's no conversations taking place. Let us be very, very clear. And by the way, how do we know that's accurate? Because we can see trucking volumes, we can see freight volumes. We can see that there's no movement at all on any of the trade war issues. So then the White House held a press conference early in the morning. They brought in their border czar, who they call him Tom Homan, in front of the White House. They had placards of mug shots of migrants set up in the area where reporters do their media hits. You can see them right there, these placards and the mug shots. So the whole White House lawn had these mugshot placards on it. So what were they talking about at the press briefing earlier this morning, Caroline Levitt, the chief propagandist, took credit for the Colorado college quarterback Shador Sanders getting picked in the draft four rounds after Donald Trump made a post about Shador Sanders saying he needs to be drafted now, four rounds after Tell me you know nothing about sports without telling me you know nothing about sports. And why are you talking about this? Here, play this clip one more after.

[Caroline Levitt]

The President's true social post, the Browns finally took Shadur Sanders. Does the president think he deserves credit for Sanders getting picked? And does he think going to the Browns is better than being undrafted?

[Press Secretary]

Hey, I'm good. All I will say is the president put out a statement and a few rounds later he was drafted. So? So I think the facts speak for themselves on that one. Peter we'll go to the back row in the middle to the blonde.

[Podcast Host]

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[Political Commentator]

H-E-L-P.com Midas Then Donald Trump's chief propagandist talks about having 18 written trade proposals. There's no holdup. Even though we said 90 deals in 90 days, we now have 18 written trade proposals here. So things are moving smoothly here. Play this clip.

[Caroline Levitt]

You guys have at least 18 written trade proposals. We still don't know who they are from or what they contain. What is the holdup with that?

[Press Secretary]

There's no holdup. We're working around the clock. The trade team is working all day. I was on the phone late last night with Secretary Lutnick. I was on the phone this weekend as well with Secretary Bessant, I mean the Entire team is working 247 to get these trade deals done and I think you'll be hearing more about them this week. I don't want to get ahead of the trade team or the president in announcing potential deals, but certainly I can assure the American public that this administration is full speed ahead in cutting good and fair trade deals on behalf of the American worker.

[Political Commentator]

And one more but Caroline, didn't Donald Trump say in the Time magazine interview that he's already done 200 deals? Oh, but then Treasury Secretary Scott Bessen said, no, Donald Trump was not referring to deal deals, he was referring to sub deals. We should have known that these were sub deal conversations. Oh, by the way, Scott Besant in that interview he talks about doing, he was asked about the deals as well and he goes, yeah, we're doing bespoke deals. Bespoke deals. You're doing bespoke deals? What are you talking about? What do they even mean here? Play this clip.

[Brian Kilmeade]

Probably you get the best reviews of anyone in the administration outside the president. Your thoughts about the pro the US China standoff right now?

[Scott Bessen]

Well, Brian, first of all, it's all the president, especially on the 18 important trading partners. We're doing bespoke deals and he's going to be intimately involved in every one. Two weeks ago when we had the Japanese delegation come in, he started it in the Oval and then we took them into the negotiating room. So he laid the groundwork, told them personally how important the relationship was, but also how important a fair deal for the American people is.

[Brian Kilmeade]

So what is it right?

[Political Commentator]

They have alternative facts. Bespoke deals, sub deals. It's all a bunch of bs. Caroline Levitt speaking to the press this morning also says we love Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense Hegseth. We see no issues with signal gate, no issue with sending classified information over text message messages. He's got the full confidence of the President. We think he's doing a great job here. Play this clip, Peter.

[Press Secretary]

We'll go to the back row in the middle to the blonde. Carolina, hello. President Trump has said that Secretary Hegseth.

[Odoo Representative]

Will get it together.

[Press Secretary]

Does he think that Hegseth doesn't have it together right now? Ms. Look, the president has made his position on Secretary Hegseth quite clear. He absolutely has confidence in the secretary's ability to lead the Pentagon. It's why he nominated him for, for this position. It's why the Senate voted to confirm him in this position. And look at the success that DoD has had thus far. Their successful operation against the Houthi terrorists in the Middle East. You look at the recruitment and retention levels for all branches of our armed forces are on the incline, which is exactly what this president intended to do. Secretary Hegseb has completely wiped out DEI from the Pentagon as well. And so he's going to remain focused on standing up for our war fighters, on implementing President Trump's peace through strength foreign policy agenda abroad. And the president supports him in his role.

[Political Commentator]

Just so you see the type of things that Tom Homan, the border guy, the border czar, was saying during this press conference. Tom Homan was saying that Mexico's paid for the wall in a roundabout way. They paid for the wall. Here, watch this. Is that what you're saying?

[Tom Homan]

Address that, Trump said Mexico and pay for the wall. They have in a roundabout way, have they not? Putting 10,000 military on the northern southern border taking the action. They did remain in Mexico. They didn't have to do that. They're doing it. Putting military on the southern border. Have moved illegal immigration to record low. We're saving millions of dollars every day.

[Political Commentator]

Go back and look. I think there were 20,000 troops at the border when former President Biden was in office. I think there's actually less troops at the border. By the way, while you're at it, Tom Homan or Donald Trump or anybody in the Trump administration, do you want to acknowledge the two American troops who died that you sent to the border? You don't do that anymore. You don't, you know, express solemnity when our troops die. You don't address that anymore. That's not something that you talk about.

[Podcast Host]

Okay?

[Political Commentator]

Just cover it up. Okay? You're not going to talk about the four Lithuanian soldier American soldiers who died in Lithuania? No. I understand y'all are very busy people. Like over the weekend, you all were holding an event during the White House Correspondent Dinner, which Trump didn't show up to. The big event was at the Willard hotel. Donald Trump Jr. And White House crypto czar David Sachs held an after party and launched a club for the ultra wealthy called the Executive Branch. That's what they're calling their club that costs more than a half a million dollars to join. Normal stuff. Normal stuff. Oh, and by the way, just as an aside, unlike the horrific things this Trump regime does every day, the Smithsonian is now removing exhibits and artifacts from the African American History Museum a month after President Trump's executive order to remove what he calls improper ideology from Smithson Museums. So they are erasing African American history anyway. Hit subscribe let's get to 5 million subscribers.

[Podcast Host]

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