Podcast Summary: The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Panicking Trump Goes Into Hiding From His Own Shutdown
Date: October 2, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Meiselas brothers dive deep into the government shutdown engineered under President Trump, highlighting Trump’s attempts to avoid blame, the administration’s scapegoating tactics, and how these policies hurt everyday Americans. The hosts infuse their signature comedic banter with sharp political analysis, scrutinizing propaganda, financial mismanagement, GOP talking points, and the moral consequences of current policy choices. The show closes with a reflective moment on empathy and human decency in politics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump “In Hiding” Amidst the Shutdown

Trump avoids public scrutiny:
- Ben highlights Trump's absence during the shutdown and notes that Trump sends surrogates JD Vance and Caroline Levitt to “spew the same old nonsense, blaming migrants and transgender people for the shutdown. It’s not working, Donald.” [00:37]
- “You were the person, Donald Trump, who said that it is the president who gets blamed for shutdowns. Maybe that's one of the reasons that you are in hiding right now.” [01:37]

2. Blame and Distraction: Meme Campaigns

Immaturity and bizarre meme warfare:
- Trump administration criticized for meme attacks (e.g., “Leader Jeffries wearing a sombrero”), which Ben calls “not funny during a situation as serious as this. And it’s just weird and bizarre as well.” [00:55]
- “When you do memes like this while Americans are suffering... behave like fricking grownups.” [10:58]

3. Financial Mismanagement and Lack of Transparency

Dubious economic claims and bailout concerns:
- Trump’s claim of “bringing in $17 trillion” is ridiculed by Ben.
- “If you believe he took in $17 trillion, show me the money.” [04:37]
- Trump bails out Argentina with $20 billion, indirectly harming US farmers:
  - “Argentina started selling their soybeans to China, further hurting our farmers here.” [02:19]
  - The “Ponzi scheme” analogy is drawn between government bailouts and misallocations. [07:50]
Ballroom funding during shutdown:
- “Fox has confirmed that there will not be a stoppage of ballroom work when the shutdown occurs... Is it corporate donors? Is it foreign countries that are giving money to this? What's the quid pro quo there?” [03:10]

4. Health Care and Social Safety Net Under Threat

Affordable Care Act in peril:
- “Democrats are fighting to preserve an Obamacare tax credit. Without it, a 55-year-old couple making $85,000 would see their premiums more than triple to $24,000 a month.” [07:00]
Blaming scapegoats:
- The administration’s narrative blames “unlawful migrants” and “transgender surgeries” for fiscal problems, which the hosts categorically refute as factually incorrect:
  - “All their lies that the money’s going to unlawful migrants. It’s not allowed to go there under federal law.” [06:19]

5. Comparative Leadership: Biden vs Trump

Contrast in negotiation and governance:
- Ben outlines Biden’s respect and willingness to compromise (“Biden brought in Kevin McCarthy... treated them with respect. They came up with a deal that benefited everybody.” [13:13])
- Trump’s approach: “Go F yourself. Literally, that was the quote.” [13:38]

6. Economic Indicators and Sectoral Impact

Jobs report and sector analysis:
- “August actually had negative 3,000 jobs. Now September was negative 32,000... The only thing that's holding up the job numbers even to have a negative 32,000 number, guess what it is. Health services and education.” [15:03]
- Manufacturing, trade, and hospitality are in recession or worse, while the administration targets health and education—the few sectors showing resilience.

7. MAGA Rhetoric and Media Stunts

Sombrero memes and trolling:
- Repeated references to representatives and right-wing media fixating on hats and memes instead of policy, in both serious and mocking tones:
  - “All of a sudden, they're offended by President Trump. But in light of that funny joke, I actually did purchase a red sombrero... ” (Anna Paulina Luna) [16:40]
  - “The briefing room TVs have been playing that AI generated video of Jeffries in a sombrero on a loop for several hours.” (Peter Doocy, Fox) [17:30]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Trump’s Absence:
- “Utterly pathetic… he is rotting away. He is stewing in his misery and his hate for our country. And like the coward that he is, as his hand rots away, he is hiding right now.” – Ben [00:19]
On Economic Claims:
- “If you believe he took in $17 trillion, show me the money… Every American would be able to get $153,000 a piece. So I tend to think, Donald, that you did not bring in $17 trillion.” – Ben [04:37]
On Health Care Crisis:
- “How does a couple that makes $85,000 a year pay $24,000 in health insurance? That's ridiculous.” – Ben [07:22]
On Meme Culture During Crisis:
- “When you do memes like this, while Americans are suffering… behave like fricking grownups. Nope, but they want to do their memes right here.” – Ben [10:58]
On Ponzi Scheme Analogy:
- “Robbing Peter to pay Paul, or in this case, robbing our farmers to pay Argentina to then rob more from the taxpayers’ farmers. Do you see what’s happening here, people?” – Ben [07:50]
On the Collapse of Political Civility:
- “You told Democrats last week, go F yourself. In response to serious good faith negotiations…” – Ben [12:05]
On Sectoral Decline:
- “Leisure and hospitality may as well be considered a depression at this point, with the whole world boycotting the United States. The one area that's doing good is education and health services. And that's what the Trump regime is going after.” – Ben [15:32]
Closing Reflection (Papal Quote):
- “Someone who says I'm against abortion but says I in favor of the death penalty is not really pro life. So someone who says that I'm against abortion, but I'm in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants who are in the United States. I don't know if that's pro life.” – Pope Leo XIV (paraphrased by guest) [18:54]

Important Timestamps

00:19 – Trump called out for hiding during shutdown
01:37 – Trump’s own words on taking the blame for shutdowns
03:10 – Questions raised about the ballroom funding source
06:19 – Fact check on claims about migrants and federal funding
07:22 – Explanation of health premium spikes if ACA tax credits are repealed
10:58 – Critique of meme campaigns during crisis
13:13 – Contrast of Biden’s and Trump’s negotiation style
15:03 – Job loss data and sector analysis
16:40 – MAGA reps and right-wing media focus on memes
18:54 – Pope Leo XIV’s quote on what it means to be “pro-life”

Tone and Language

The hosts draw on their characteristic mix of humor, incredulity, and passionate advocacy, never shying away from strong language or blunt assessments of political hypocrisy. Their approach is incisive, packed with analogies (“Ponzi scheme,” “rob Peter to pay Paul”), and always centered on defending democracy and demanding adult behavior from leaders.

Final Thoughts

The episode offers a blistering critique of President Trump’s handling of the government shutdown, emphasizing the real-world consequences for Americans and the absurdity of the administration’s culture-war distractions. The Meiselas brothers drive home the importance of empathy and seriousness in government, closing with a poignant reminder of the bigger ethical picture in politics—“Just be a good person. I just want you to be empathetic.” [19:40]

Transcript

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Want the same expert advice you get from the pros in the store while shopping online@discounttire.com Meet Treadwell, your personal online tire guide that matches you with the perfect tire for your vehicle. Get your best match in one minute or less with Treadwell by Discount Tire. Let's get you taken care of. Where is Donald Trump? I'll tell you where he is. In hiding from his own shutdown. Utterly pathetic. As California Governor Gavin Newsom noted, he is rotting away. He is stewing in his misery and his hate for our country. And like the coward that he is, as his hand rots away, he is hiding right now. He sent out JD Vance and Caroline Levitt yesterday to spew the same old nonsense, blaming migrants and transgender people for the shutdown. It's not working, Donald. People know that you control all branches of government. And in government in the United States, you have to reach compromise. You have to behave like an adult and stop posting your stupid memes of Leader Jeffries wearing a sombrero and having a mustache with mariachi bands. That's not funny during a situation as serious as this. And it's just weird and bizarre as well. You were the person, Donald Trump, who said that it is the president who gets blamed for shutdowns. Maybe that's one of the reasons that you are in hiding right now, because you do know that it's your fault and you do know the American people are blaming you right now. So you, you don't want to be the face of it. So you're putting J.D. vance and I could show you all a dozen clips of this, but I'll just show you one clip. As Governor Newsom says, call it the Trump effect. Here, play this clip. If there is a shutdown, I actually think the president would be blamed. But while Donald Trump is in hiding and while the government is now shut down, he is bailing out his MAGA puppet stooge, the President of Argentina. $20 billion of our taxpayer money is going to help Argentina, right? They're just going to burn the cash away and probably go bankrupt anyway. And the moment they're getting that $20 billion, you know what they've done already? They've undercut United States soybean farmers who are already getting screwed by the Trump regime. And Argentina started selling their soybeans to China, further hurting our farmers here and a bunch of other produce they were sending to China as well. Great work, Donald. The art of the deal. Screw over our farmers with tariffs, bail out Argent, further screws over our farmers, then bail out Our farmers is. That's the game plan right there. How dumb and pathetic can you be? Also, while the government shutdown is taking place. Don't worry, folks. I know you really all cared about a 90,000 square foot golden ballroom. That's like twice or three times the size of the White House. I know that's what you really wanted to see. The same thing you wanted to see a regime rip apart the Rose Garden and turn it into a private club for billionaires and call it the Club Rose Garden. But yes, folks, Fox has confirmed that there will not be a stoppage of ballroom work when the shutdown occurs. Fox is told that work will continue to be performed as the funds currently supporting it are not tied to the fiscal year 2026 enacted appropriation. What are the funds tied to it? Does anybody even know? Is it corporate donors? Is it foreign countries that are giving money to this? What's the quid pro quo there? You're going to have your name etched into the People's House. And here's a question that I've been asking all morning, and I've been focused on diligently. If Donald Trump says that he brought in $17 trillion, okay, we know he's lying about it. But just assume he's telling the truth. When Bernie Sanders engaged in a Ponzi scheme of $45 billion, that was the biggest Ponzi scheme in history. So take Donald Trump at his word. I know you shouldn't, but just assume $17 trillion has been taken in. Well, it's not in the Treasury. Right. Um, our House Appropriations Committee and the Budget Committee, well, they don't know where 17 trillion DOL. Did Donald Trump steal 17 trillion dollars from the American people? Is it in some secret Donald Trump bank account? I mean, really ask yourself that question. If you believe he took in $17 trillion, show me the money. If you brought in $17 trillion, that means that every American would be able to get. Remember when Trump was talking about doge rebates and tariff dividends or whatever the hell he was talking about? Maybe I got those mixed. We would each be able to get 150 if you made under $100,000 and you gave the 17 trillion do dollars to all Americans. Right? Every American would be able to get $153,000 a piece. So I tend to think, Donald, that you did not bring in $17 trillion. But you know what? If he did that, he stole the money. So focus on that as well. Now, as the New York Times reports, the White House is using this shutdown While Donald Trump's in hiding to maximize pain and punish political foes, the moves by the White House appeared both unprecedented and punitive, underscoring the risks of a fiscal stalemate that had no end in sight. Well, it has an end in sight if Republicans just protect the American people's healthcare. All of their lies that the money's going to unlawful migrants. It's not allowed to go there under federal law. Transgender surgeries in Peru. Transgender for everybody. What the hell are you even talking about? Americans who are on Affordable Care act plans. Like 20 million are going to either lose their healthcare or it's gonna become so expensive. I. What? What? I saw some data right here that like the average family, it's. Take a look at this. This is the stat from Steve Rattner. Pull this one up, guys. Democrats are fighting to preserve an Obamacare tax credit. Without it, a 55 year old couple making $85,000 would see their premiums more than triple to $24,000 a month. More than 24. How does a couple that makes $85,000 a year pay $24,000 in health insurance? That's ridiculous. So Trump and all these maggots just stop blaming migrants and stop blaming transgender people. This is a real issue that's going to bankrupt most Americans. So let's act like adults and stop with your stupid memes and behave like fricking grownups. Nope, but they want to do their memes right here. This is what the White House account was posting. Chuck Schumer dressed as a hot dog. Oh, very funny. I mean, I know the beam. And by the way, you want. I'm good. You like humor. All good. I like a joke. But not in this context right here. When you're the President of the United States and you've told Democrats last week, go F yourself. In response to serious good faith negotiations when our government depends on good faith negotiations between both political parties. When you told Republicans do not negotiate with Democrats, don't even speak to them. Was your position before when you've referred to Democrats, Democrats as the enemy from within and held a meeting in front of 800 military generals and admirals telling them to invade American cities and that the real wars they're going to fight are wars against American people in Democratic cities? When you've just stripped tens of billions of dollars more in funding from Democratic cities? When, by the way, former President Biden, his inflation reduction act and all of his plans helped red states states even more than the blue states. I mean, Texas received 20% of all inflation reduction act Funds. And Biden was like, oh, well, that's a state that tends to vote Republican. No, he was the president for all America. So Texas and red states, they get to keep their funding, but you go after the blue states. How utterly pathetic. That's why when you do memes like this, while Americans are suffering, while Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and facing the psychological torture of that, while Americans can't afford their groceries right now, while Americans can't afford a home, if they're lucky enough to have a home with a mortgage, they can't afford to pay their mortgage. Worst housing market since 1995 right now. And if you're renting, you probably can't pay your rent. You can't pay your mortgage if you have a house. And now you've got to bail out farmers. Remember what I said at the outset, how Donald Trump bailing out Argentina, destroying our farmers, then we got to bail out our farmers. This is the height of a Ponzi scheme. Robbing Peter to pay Paul, or in this case, robbing our farmers to pay Argentina to then rob more from the taxpayers farmers. Do you see what's happening here, people? Isn't it so freaking obvious? And I don't care what political party you're from. This should just be self evident, right? Like it's self evident that Donald Trump is a fraud, he's a bankrupter, he's a sexual abuser, he's a felon, and he's behaving as such right now in the Oval Office. That's what he's doing. Or what's going to be left of it after their stupid 90,000 square foot golden Ballroom. Here's what Donald Trump actually posted yesterday, the audacity. Here's what he posts. The soybean farmers of our country are being hurt because China is for negotiating it. But that in quotes, reasons only, not buying. We've made so much money on tariffs that we are going to take a small portion of that money and help our farmers. I will never let our farmers down. You did pause. You did let him down. Okay? You did. Sleepy Joe Biden didn't enforce our agreement with China where they were going to purchase billions of dollars of our farm product. But soybeans in particular, it's all going to work out very well. Oh, it's Biden's fault. That's why these people are such pathetic, vile pieces of trash. These. This is loser behavior. Act like a grownup, act like a leader, defend your policies. Stop with oh, Biden did this. Biden did that. You are the freaking president. Behave like a grownup. Could we agree that there is a floor of behaving like a grown up, act like a leader. Oh, Biden did the soybean. No, you did it. You did it with your stupid tariff policy, your unlawful tariff policy against the world. Donald Trump goes on to say, it's all going to work out very well. Right? Just like a Ponzi schemer. Just give me two more weeks. I'm going to get you your money. Just give me two more weeks and I'm going to. Everything's going to be okay. Give me another month. Give me another month. Give me. Give me two more months. I got you. I got. I got your back. Okay? The money's coming in. Trust me. Trust me. A fraud. He is a fraud. He is a fraud. Go on to say, I love our patriots and every farmer. Exactly that. I'll be meeting with G and China in four weeks and soybeans will be a major topic of discussion. Make soybeans and other row crops great again. Patriots, I love you. That's. This is cult leader tactics and behavior. You don't love them. You destroyed their lives. And when you speak to Xi Jinping, I'll tell you what you're going to be talking about. I know that you want TikTok to be owned by right wing oligarchs here in the United States so they can control the algorithm and that you can push MAGA content out on TikTok. It's what Benjamin Netanyahu said when he visited the White House. I showed that tape. The most important purchase that we ever have to do is we need to get the TikTok. We've already got X and now we need to get TikTok. We've heard him say that it's good. Benjamin Netanyahu pressure. That's what he actually said. We know that's what you want to do. You've thrown our farmers under the bus. China knows the leverage they have over you because of TikTok, which our Senate banned anyway, which you're not following the law for, so you sacrificed all leverage over. Over TikTok. At this point, by the way, as Alex Cole points out, government shutdowns under Trump, 3. Government shutdowns under Biden, 0. I'll tell you what Biden did. I remember when Republicans were threatening a shutdown, do you remember Biden brought in Kevin McCarthy. He brought in the Republicans to the White House. He treated them with respect. They came up with a deal that benefited everybody. Biden helped Red States he focused on, what can we do for you? Let's reach compromises. That's our system. And they came up with deals. Donald Trump says, go F yourself. Literally, that was the quote. Go F yourself. More whining from him. I really believe that, Jerome. Too late Powell. That's the chairman of the Federal Reserve is an obstructionist. Then you had Kevin Hassett, Donald Trump's national economic advisor. He went on this Punchbowl news podcast or something, um, and he says, you know what? Congress actually doesn't need to pass a Trump's farmer bailout. Donald Trump's just going to do it on his own, not just bypass Congress. We're so post Congress. As Carl Quintanilla writes, Meanwhile, the ADP report yesterday, private payroll data, you saw that negative 32,000 jobs in September. August was revised down by 57,000 jobs. Going backwards. So August actually had negative 3,000 jobs. Now September was negative 32,000 jobs. ADP was expecting 51,000 jobs to be created. Do you remember under former President Biden, when I would do reports, I'd be like 150,000 new jobs were created, 50,000 new every, every. There was massive job creation month after month after month. And Donald Trump took it and just destroyed it. And now he wants to blame Biden for what he's doing. We saw the direction that it's going in, you moron. He stays so dumb, these people. And dangerous. Carl Quintanilla also posts the following. There's only one sector truly holding up in ADP job numbers now. So even with those bad job numbers, the only thing that's holding up the job numbers even to have a negative 32,000 number, guess what it is. Health services and education. Health services and education. The main areas that these MAGA idiots want to cut. The one area of growth under Trump is the area they're attacking right now and that the Democrats want to preserve and save. Like, do you see what's happened? I mean, look at the chart. Manufacturing in a recession, Construction in a recession. Trade. Transportation, utilities getting crushed. Go ask truckers and freight shippers what the hell's going on there. Leisure and hospitality may as well be considered a depression at this point, with the whole world boycotting the United States. The one area that's doing good is education and health services. And that's what the Trump regime is going after. New York Post is even reporting beef prices reach record highs as droughts leave cattle inventory depleted. Food inflation, 3.2%, meat inflation 5.4%, ground beef inflation 12.8%. Beef R sombreros, 13.6% stake, 16.6%. That's what's happening. And meanwhile, you have JD Van showing up on Fox, and all they wanna talk about is sombrero this, sombrero that. Play this clip. So can you give us some insight into what they talked about, maybe how we can come to a compromise? And the hats, The Trump, Trump trolling him with 28 hats. Yeah, thank you, Lawrence. That's the most important part. There are also the Trump 20, 28 hats, which I think made the majority or the minority leader in both the House and the Senate very uncomfortable. You have MAGA Republican Anna Paulina Luna. What do you think they're talking about? Sombrero this, sombrero that. Play this clip. And yeah, all of a sudden, they're offended by President Trump. But in light of that funny joke, I actually did purchase a red sombrero that I hope that President Trump and J.D. vance will wear during the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month later on this month. All right, you got sombreros all over the White House. Peter Doocy said that from state regime media that this is what's going on in the briefing room TVs all playing. AI generated sombreros on Hakeem Jeffries. These are not serious people, folks here. Play this clip. Hakeem Jeffries said this afternoon he thinks the President Trump has engaged in unserious behavior during this shutdown. But officials here don't seem to mind one bit. In fact, the briefing room TVs have been playing that AI generated video of Jeffries in a sombrero on a loop for several hours. John, he knows how to troll, doesn't he, Peter? But I'll leave you with this because I thought this was inspiring. Pope Leo the 14th, speaking with the press, he was asked about the Vatican or the Catholic Church honoring Senator Durbin who supports women's reproductive rights. So the reporter asks the Pope, so what do you think about Senator Durbin who received this honor? There was a number of, I think, bishops and cardinals who ended up protesting Durban getting this award. She. She was like, he's for abortions, for women's reproductive rights. So how could you give him. How could the Catholic Church give him this award? And. And Pope Leo had a great response, I thought. And he said, look, you know, people who say that they're anti abortion or that they're against abortion, but they support the death penalty. How could you call them pro life? And then he goes, this. He goes, people who claim that they're against abortion, but they are out there engaging in inhumane conduct of immigrants and migrants in the United States. How do these people say they're pro life? I thought it was very profound. So let me close this video off by and whether you're religious or not religious, I just want you to be a good person person. I just want you to be empathetic. Here on the Midas Touch Network, we're okay talking about love and caring for people and helping people up and not punching down. So again, I'm not showing you this in a religious sense. I'm just showing you this because I thought it was. It was an interesting response. So let's end the video with this. Let's play it. Just wanted to ask one thing that has become a bit of a divisive subject in the US Right now, with Cardinal Supich giving an award to Senator Durbin, some people of faith are having a hard time with understanding this because he is pro, or rather he's for legalized abortion. How would you help people of faith right now decipher that feel about that? And how do you feel about that?