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]
- The administration’s narrative blames “unlawful migrants” and “transgender surgeries” for fiscal problems, which the hosts categorically refute as factually incorrect:
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]
- Repeated references to representatives and right-wing media fixating on hats and memes instead of policy, in both serious and mocking tones:
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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On the Collapse of Political Civility:
- “You told Democrats last week, go F yourself. In response to serious good faith negotiations…” – Ben [12:05]
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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]
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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]