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Midas Touch Network Host
The White House is in panic mode. Donald Trump's chief propagandist, Caroline Levitt just held a horrific press conference that just utterly blew up in her face. Let me show you what went down. She was asked why Donald Trump continues to wear bandages on his hand, to which Caroline Levitt responds, it's because he shakes many hands each day that that's why he has to wear a bandage. Here, play this clip.
Caroline Levitt (White House Press Secretary)
Yes, in the blue. Carolyn. Carolyn. Yes, go ahead. Thank you. The President's been spotted out and about a number of times with bandages on his hands. Could you please explain what that is about? Secondly, he noted on Truth Social the other day that he had aced three cognitive tests. Could you please clarify when those tests took place? I can do that at a later date. I obviously don't have that in front of me. The President has spoken about that quite extensively throughout the years. As for the bandages on the hand, we've also given you an explanation for that. In the past, the president is literally constantly shaking hands. The Oval Office is like Grand Central Terminal. He is meeting with more people than any of you even know about on a daily basis. He's also on a daily aspirin regimen, which is something his physical examinations has said in the past as well, which can contribute to that bruising that you see now.
Midas Touch Network Host
This regime lies all the time. It's one of the most outrageous ones we've heard. He wears bandages because of the handshakes. No, something is seriously wrong there. And we will continue reporting on it here at the Midas Touch Network. Next, a reporter fact checks Caroline Levitt to her face. Because Caroline Levitt saying, inflation is down, it's now 2.5%. And the reporter says, no, you're wrong, it's up it's 3%. And Caroline Levitt's like, no, it's down. It's saying it here on my piece of paper. No, Caroline, your paper is wrong. Here. Play this clip first.
Caroline Levitt (White House Press Secretary)
Very quickly, clarifying Caitlin's question, you acknowledged that CPI in January when you took office was 3%. And in September, the last month for which we have data was also 3%. So inflation, so it's 2.5%. Not in September, it was 2.5%. The average CPI right now, I have it in front of me. In President Trump's first eight months in office, inflation is measured by the overall consumer price index has slowed to a 2.5 average pace. This is down from the 2.9% inherited in January. January is one month, folks.
Midas Touch Network Host
I just want to remind you, make sure you hit subscribe to this YouTube channel. The Midas Touch network is under attack from the Trump regime. We're on our way to 6 million subscribers. Help us hit it before the end of the new year. And we will keep up our fearless reporting. Next, Kaitlan Collins from CNN asks Caroline Levitt, if the economy so strong, why is Donald Trump saying that parents should only buy their children two pencils? And why is he making statements like that? Here, play this clip. Two questions.
Kaitlan Collins (CNN Reporter)
I have one on Venezuela to follow up. But first on affordability. Since we were talking about the economy at the beginning, if the economy is as strong as the President has said it is, then why is he telling parents two weeks before Christmas that they should only buy two or three dolls for their children?
Caroline Levitt (White House Press Secretary)
Look, what the President is saying is that if we want products made right here in America, if we want them to be made from American small businesses, which is a large part of the reason the president has effectively implemented tariffs, that we're going to have better quality products right here in the United States, maybe you'll pay a dollar or two more, but you will get better quality and you'll be supporting your fellow Americans by buying American. And that's what the President was saying. Again, with respect to affordability, every economic metric Caitlin and I wish you would report more on it does in fact show that the economy is getting better and brighter than where it was under the previous administration. I will repeat, inflation as measured by the overall CPI has slowed to an average 2.5% pace. Real wages are increasing roughly $1,200 for the average worker. Gas prices are down in almost every single state across the country. Again, in 22 states, it's below 275. You look at the tax cuts, those are going to go into effect next year. So the best is yet to come. The president is digging.
Midas Touch Network Host
Next, Caroline Levitt is asked, why is Donald Trump giving our most highly classified chips, the H200 and other important, highly confidential technologies to China in exchange for nothing? Why? Caroline, you're play this clip, Phillip.
Caroline Levitt (White House Press Secretary)
Thank you, Caroline.
Phillip (Reporter)
On these advanced Nvidia H200 chips, why is the president willing to allow China to have access to one of America's chief technological advantages?
Caroline Levitt (White House Press Secretary)
Look, I will tell you just a couple of things. The president put out his own statement on this, which I do think highlights his exact thinking. What you see from the president on Truth Social is most of the time what you hear from the president behind closed doors. Privately, he told President Xi that Nvidia will only be shipping H200 products to approved customers in China to allow under conditions that will allow for continued strong national security. The administration continues to maintain a strict export control regime. And we are ensuring that the Blackwell chip and other advanced technologies stay right here in America and these H200 chips will only be sent to China after undergoing a security inspection here in the United States.
Midas Touch Network Host
And next, Caroline Levitt is asked again by Kaitlan Collins. You know, groceries are up, prices are up. Caroline, like, people know this. And Caroline Levitt goes, nope, they're down. Nope, they're down. Here, play this clip.
Caroline Levitt (White House Press Secretary)
Those are going to go into effect next year. So the best is yet to come. The president is digging our country out of the economic hole that the previous administration put us in. And that's what he's talking about.
Kaitlan Collins (CNN Reporter)
As you know. And grocery prices have been up, so we've covered the economy, but there's mixed signals in terms of what that looks like.
Caroline Levitt (White House Press Secretary)
But inflation is down from where it was, as measured by the overall CPI. It has slowed to an average 2.5% pace. This is down from what the president inherited into. The president inherited 2.9% in January. Today, it's at about 2.5%. So we're trending in the right direction with more to come. And I would remind you, when President Trump left office in his first term, inflation was 1.7% and the previous administration jacked it up to a record high 9%. So again, in 10 months, the president has caught us out of this hole. He's kept it low at 2.5%. And we believe that number is going to continue to decline, especially as energy and oil prices continue to decline as well.
Kaitlan Collins (CNN Reporter)
It wasn't high under Biden. They're just saying it's not.
Caroline Levitt (White House Press Secretary)
Well, nobody reported on it being high under Biden. My predecessor was standing at this podium, but now you want to ask me a lot of questions about it, which I'm happy to answer. But I will just add there's a lot more scrutiny on this issue from this press corps than there was well in the previous administration said that too. My predecessor stood up at this podium and she said inflation doesn't exist. She said the border was secure and people like you just took her at her word. And those were two utter lies. Everything I'm telling you is the truth backed by real factual data. And you just don't want to report on it because you want to push untrue narratives about the President.
Midas Touch Network Host
That's what they're going with. And what they're also going with is after getting those questions, Caroline Levitt says, you see, that's why Donald Trump is saying he won't approve any mergers regarding Warner Brothers unless Warner Brothers sell CNN and destroy cnn. That's why Donald Trump is getting involved in any sale of Warner Brothers because of questions like that. Here, play this clip is on the.
Phillip (Reporter)
Netflix Warner Brothers deal. The President did address this also yesterday. He said that he believes that the sale of CNN should be attached to that deal with Netflix or with with Paramount if anything happens to other can you just explain what the President's planning to do going forward to continue to make that case similar to what he made yesterday?
Caroline Levitt (White House Press Secretary)
Well, I think the President's comments yesterday about the sale of CNN and new leadership is evidenced by my exchange with the CNN reporter in this room. Their viewership has gone down, their ratings has declined and I think the President rightfully believes that network would benefit from new ownership with respect to this deal. He has great respect for both companies who are bidding against one another and I won't weigh in any further.
Midas Touch Network Host
You see how thin skinned and pathetic they are at the White House. What losers they are at the White House to behave like this. What gaslighters and liars they are.
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Midas Touch Network Host
Next, CAROLINE Levitt, the roof. You see the reporters are stepping up their game though here, the reporters in the White House, you know, I'm often critical of them, but they're asking really good questions. Now. Next, a reporter says, why is Donald Trump saying that the farmers are getting bailed out based on tariff money when in fact it's actually coming from the Commodity Credit Corporation? So why is he lying? And do you think it's a good look for a billionaire president to tell Paris they should only be buying three dolls and two pencils for Christmas? Here, play this clip.
Caroline Levitt (White House Press Secretary)
Andrew thank you. Caroline.
Andrew (Reporter)
Two for you. First, when the president announced the Farm Relief Program the other day, Secretary Rollins afterwards, right out there told us that the program would be paid for by the Commodity Credit Corporation, an existing program. The president, president keeps saying that it's being paid for by tariff revenue. Why does he keep saying that if the secretary who's running the program says that's not the case? And also about his dull comments from the other night, the president's a billionaire. He's probably the wealthiest person to ever serve as president. Is it a good look for him to be telling parents, oh, you can, you should only buy, you know, two or three dolls for your kid when he's one of the wealthiest people in the country.
Caroline Levitt (White House Press Secretary)
Do you think the people in that room in Pennsylvania who the president was speaking to don't know the president's a billionaire? I think that's a very well established fact. And actually I think it's one of the many reasons they reelected him back to this office, because he's a businessman who understands the economy and knows how to fix it. And he's doing it right now just like he did in his first term. Sure.
Midas Touch Network Host
Next, she's asked about, so where's the health care plan, Caroline? She goes, oh, he's coming up with creative solutions here. Play this clip.
Caroline Levitt (White House Press Secretary)
They created the problem. The president and Republicans are currently coming up with creative solutions and ideas to lower health care costs for the American people. And you'll continue to hear more from them on that before these subsidies expire. I just said you're going to continue to hear more from the president and Republicans on this issue, I'm sure.
Midas Touch Network Host
Next up, you have Ducey from state regime media, which calls itself Fox Said so. Or one of the ways you're addressing affordability is it by seizing Venezuelan oil tankers so we can steal their oil? To which Caroline Levitt says, yep, we've seized their oil and that's one of the things we're doing for affordability here. Play this clip because he said the.
Phillip (Reporter)
President is trying to do a lot of things at once. He talks a lot about how he thinks the way to bring down prices for everything would be to bring down the cost of energy. Would he use this seized Venezuelan oil to try to help Americans with affordability here in the United States?
Caroline Levitt (White House Press Secretary)
Well, what I can tell you right now, the vessel has been seized, as you know, and the Department of Justice is did that in conjunction with the Coast Guard and the Department of War. The vessel is currently undergoing a forfeiter process right now. The United States currently has a full investigative team on the ground on the vessel and individuals on board the vessel are being interviewed and any relevant evidence is being seized. With respect to the oil, that's a different issue. As you know, Peter, the vessel will go to a US Port and the United States does intend to seize the oil. However, there is a legal process for the seizure of that oil and that legal process will be followed.
Midas Touch Network Host
Next up, Caroline Levitt is asked questions about the wars that are taking place across the world and she goes, Donald Trump has given has resulted in his behavior, has resulted in nine wars ending. He needs a Nobel Peace Prize. Here, play this clip.
Phillip (Reporter)
And just my last one on this. If President Trump launches a bigger military campaign in the Caribbean, is he jeopardizing a possible Nobel Peace Prize?
Caroline Levitt (White House Press Secretary)
Look, the president has proven over the past year that he is more than worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize. I think he's been nominated for it nearly 100 times this past year, which is definitely a record. He's solved, I think nine conflicts around the world we are up to now. He's actively working on the Russia Ukraine war, which is the big one as we speak and has been over the past year. With respect to any additional action in Venezuela, I'm definitely not going to get ahead of the president or the United States military. Mary, let's be clear.
Midas Touch Network Host
War is raging in Ukraine right now, right, with Russia's invasion. War between Thailand and Cambodia is raging. Russia threatening war with all of Europe right now. You have Congo and Rwanda still at war. You have innocent Palestinians still being killed by the IDF right now on a daily basis. That gets very little reporting. There are more wars than ever before. Right now. The world is on the brink of World War iii. And that's what you're saying. Caroline. Next, she's asked about Abrego Garcia because a federal judge today, Judge Zinnis ordered Abrego Garcia be released because his detention was unlawful. And here's what she says about the DOJ appealing. Play this clip, Joey. Yeah, thanks, Caroline. A federal judge today ordered the immediate release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from ICE detention. Does that, does White House have a response to that and does the administration plan to appeal that decision?
Caroline Levitt (White House Press Secretary)
Absolutely. The White House, the administration opposed this activism from a judge who is really acting as a judicial activist, which we've unfortunately seen in many cases across the country. Abrego Garcia is present in our country illegally. He is a proven human trafficker. He is a proven gang member. The administration has evidence of that. And as you saw from the Department of Homeland Security, they issued a statement saying they'll continue to fight this legal battle in court.
Midas Touch Network Host
Caitlin and do you see that, by the way, that right there is a violation of the court's injunction against the White House. They're not allowed to say that. I'm going to flag that as well, because that's clearly a violation of the gag order. You can't just start saying that people are human traffickers. And by the way, Abrego isn't, let's be clear. And the Trump DOJ doesn't even want to prosecute him for human trafficking. They're trying to deport him to Africa, where he has no ties to. And he's like, you know, what are you even, what, what are you even doing? He goes, let's do the trial, if you want to do the actual trial. And while Donald Trump is pardoning the biggest drug traffickers that there are, like the president, the former president of Honduras. Next, a reporter asks again, well, you know, these aca, these Affordable Care act subsidies are expiring in like two weeks. What are you doing here? Play this clip, Mary.
Caroline Levitt (White House Press Secretary)
It now seems all but certain that the Obamacare subsidies will expire at the end of the year. It means More than 20 million Americans are now bracing for their health care costs to soar. Is the President prepared to let this happen or is he going to step in? The President is prepared to take action on health care and he wants Republicans on the Hill to do the same. As you have seen, Senate Republicans put forth their own legislation earlier this week. As for the subsidies that are set to expire, I would like to remind you and every everybody at home why this is on the brink of happening. Democrats wrote Obamacare, they passed it without a single Republican vote and then they ballooned it with these expensive Covid subsidies that completely distorted Yep and all they're.
Midas Touch Network Host
Doing is attacking Democrats. There you have it folks. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 6 million. Thanks for watching.
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Episode: Terrified WH Holds Disaster Presser as Trump Spirals
Date: December 12, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas, MeidasTouch Network
In this episode, the Meiselas brothers break down a tumultuous White House press conference led by Trump’s Press Secretary Caroline Levitt, highlighting a series of contentious exchanges with the press. The episode centers on the White House's attempts to defend controversial presidential actions and statements while fielding tough media scrutiny on topics from inflation and the economy to foreign policy and healthcare. Through pointed analysis and sarcastic banter, the brothers spotlight what they describe as misinformation, deflections, and “gaslighting” by the Trump administration amid growing national and international crises.
On the “Bandaged Hand” Excuse:
“He wears bandages because of the handshakes. No, something is seriously wrong there.”
— MeidasTouch Host (04:51)
On White House Economic Claims:
“No, Caroline, your paper is wrong.”
— Unnamed Reporter fact-checking Levitt (05:27)
Defending Trump’s Billionaire Status:
“Is it a good look for him to be telling parents...they should only buy, you know, two or three dolls for your kid when he's one of the wealthiest people in the country?”
— Andrew, Reporter (14:03)
On “Nine Wars Ended” Boast:
“He's been nominated for [the Nobel Peace Prize] nearly 100 times this past year...He’s solved, I think, nine conflicts around the world."
— Caroline Levitt (17:26)
This episode of MeidasTouch casts a spotlight on what the brothers characterize as a White House frantically trying to control damaging narratives amid tough press questioning. The hosts dissect the administration’s talking points, highlight misleading or false statements, and call attention to the wider context—continued economic struggles, ongoing wars, and the undercutting of democratic norms. Throughout, the MeidasTouch team balances their signature comedic banter with a serious warning about the state of American democracy and press freedom as they see it.