The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Sickly Trump Gets Terrible News as City Runs Him Out
Date: September 13, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Episode Overview

This episode explores Donald Trump’s deteriorating political and physical standing, especially in the wake of his administration’s controversial “Operation Midway Blitz” in Chicago. The Meiselas brothers analyze Trump’s provocative moves, the public backlash, and the economic chaos intensifying under his regime. Throughout, the hosts mix sharp political analysis with biting humor and brotherly banter, while fiercely defending democratic values.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Operation Midway Blitz: Militarizing Chicago

• Trump’s Threatened Military Action

  • Trump’s “Operation Midway Blitz” is described as a militarized crackdown, targeting American cities, particularly Chicago, with a posture reminiscent of war.
    • "[Trump regime] launching something called Operation Midway Blitz. They give it a name like they're going to war because they are going to war—this time with American cities." (D; 01:53)

• Peaceful Protests & Local Pushback

  • Chicago residents and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker are highlighted as standing firmly against federal overreach.
  • "The people in Chicago are rising up and peacefully protesting against the Trump regime's threatened invasion of their city." (D; 01:53)

• ICE Incident & Increasing Aggression

  • An ICE agent fatally shot a man during a traffic stop as part of the operation; the hosts underscore the escalating dangers and lawlessness of these federal actions.
  • "ICE agents fatally shot a man after a traffic stop in Franklin Park in Chicago as part of their Operation Midway Blitz... When you're wearing masks and you try to kidnap people, people are to be scared." (D; 04:10)

• ICE Agents Wearing Trump Pins

  • Alarming emergence of federal agents wearing Trump pins, narratively framed as violations of law and the Hatch Act.
  • "You'll see he's wearing a Trump pin, a pin of Trump's face. Again, this violates the Hatch Act. Every law imaginable, in my opinion." (D; 06:00)

2. Trump’s Declining Health and Image

• Physical Deterioration on Display
  • The hosts note visible symptoms in Trump, comparing him unfavorably to Joe Biden and commenting on possible medical conditions.
  • "Donald Trump looks weaker than ever physically, externally, emotionally…with the face drooping at that 911 ceremony at the Pentagon... Former President Joe Biden looks like an Olympian athlete compared to Donald Trump.” (D; 01:53–04:00)

3. Media Narratives and “Crackdown” Spin

• Critique of Mainstream Framing

  • The Meiselas brothers criticize networks like CNN for echoing Trump’s framing (e.g., using “crackdown” terminology), arguing that using military force on civilians isn’t legitimate policing.
  • "They go, Trump shelves Chicago crackdown plans... But you're still using Donald Trump's language. Crackdown. No military invasion to the crime push. Chicago has lowered their crime." (D; 07:03)

• Real Solutions vs. Dictatorship Moves

  • Governors would allegedly welcome support in the form of more FBI and law enforcement investment, not militarization.
  • "If you want to bring more FBI agents and do actual law enforcement, invest in local and state police forces, all for it. But people in the United States don't want the military... to rove the streets... like in dictatorships." (D; 08:18)

4. Trump’s Economic Failures and Gaslighting

• Highlights from the Axios Interview

  • Trump’s Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, is grilled by Axios about economic woes (high inflation, unemployment, shrinking manufacturing). Lutnick disowns Trump’s role, deferring responsibility until 2026.
  • “‘It’s not our economy until 2026. That's when it becomes the Trump economy.’... The guy’s a two bit snake oil salesman.” (D quoting Lutnick and then his own commentary; 09:00)

• Tariffs and Trade War Harm

  • Trump's tariffs are called out as backdoor taxes hurting Americans, with inflation and deficits rising to record levels.
  • “Whatever growth Trump claims from his insane trade war, it’s us everyday Americans who are paying the price.” (D; 09:34)
  • "The deficit last month was like $350 billion... That's more than the previous fiscal year when Biden was in office." (D; 09:50)

• Republican “Deficit Hawk” Hypocrisy

  • The hosts mock MAGA Republicans and media narratives praising GOP fiscal responsibility.
  • “Y’all are the most fiscally irresponsible people. Every time there’s a Republican administration... the debt skyrockets and the deficit increases.” (D; 10:25)

• Impact on Ordinary Americans

  • Tariff-related inflation, rising household debt, and collapsing industries like trucking are explained in personal terms.
  • “Tariffs are going to cause inflation to skyrocket... People are not going to be able to pay their credit card debt... or their mortgage. Squeeze people are going to suffer.” (D; 11:09)

5. Broader Social and Political Consequences

• Youth and Consumer Sentiment

  • Historic gloom in consumer sentiment among younger Americans is noted, attributed to economic and political instability.
  • “In 30 years, we've never seen this sustained relative gloominess among young people.” (D; 12:55)

• Authoritarian Creep in the Military

  • Pentagon staff are reportedly tasked with hunting for negative online posts about right-wing figures like Charlie Kirk, signaling concerning free speech infringements.
  • “Pete Hegseth... tells the Pentagon staff to hunt for negative Charlie Kirk posts by service members... I can’t remember anyone ever telling me we can’t say anything critical about a civilian like this.” (D; 13:40)

• Shout-Out to International Resistance

  • Segment closes with a nod to Canadian activists and expansion of the MeidasTouch network.
  • "Just check it out right there. Angus is doing an incredible job. The Midas Canada Resistance Tour led by Angus had a completely full auditorium in Port Elgin, Ontario. Small conservative town in Canada, packed." (D; 14:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump’s Militarization:

  • "They give it a name like they're going to war because they are going to war—this time with American cities…" (D; 01:53)

• On Visible Deterioration:

  • "Donald Trump looks weaker than ever physically, externally, emotionally… Former President Joe Biden looks like an Olympian athlete compared to Donald Trump." (D; 01:53)

• On ICE and Authoritarian Symbols:

  • "You'll see he's wearing a Trump pin, a pin of Trump's face. Again, this violates the Hatch Act. Every law imaginable, in my opinion." (D; 06:00)

• On GOP Deficit Hypocrisy:

  • "Y’all are the most fiscally irresponsible people. Every time there’s a Republican administration... the debt skyrockets and the deficit increases." (D; 10:25)

• On Economic Pain:

  • "Tariffs are going to cause inflation to skyrocket... Squeeze people are going to suffer." (D; 11:09)

• On Authoritarian Overreach:

  • "Pete Hegseth... tells the Pentagon staff to hunt for negative Charlie Kirk posts by service members... I can’t remember ever being told we can’t say anything critical about a civilian." (D; 13:40)

Important Timestamps

• 01:53 – Operation Midway Blitz, protests and Trump’s physical/mental state
• 04:10 – ICE fatal shooting incident in Chicago
• 06:00 – ICE agents wearing Trump pins; escalation of authoritarian symbolism
• 07:03 – Critique of CNN’s “crackdown” narrative
• 09:00–09:34 – Trump’s Commerce Secretary dodges economic questions (Axios clip/paraphrase)
• 10:25 – Republican deficit hypocrisy mocked
• 11:09 – Tariff-driven inflation and hardship for Americans explained
• 12:55 – Record-low youth consumer sentiment
• 13:40 – Authoritarian targeting of political criticism in the military
• 14:55 – Canadian resistance and Meidas Canada shout-out

Final Thoughts

The episode delivers a sharp, detailed critique of Trump’s authoritarian tactics, economic failures, and the resulting consequences for everyday Americans. The brothers’ engaging style uses wit and indignation to demystify complex issues and underscore the urgent, ongoing struggle for democracy.