Trump as Saturday from Hell and Is Bashed Overseas

Summary

The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Trump as Saturday from Hell and Is Bashed Overseas
Date: February 14, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

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Main Theme Overview

This episode, hosted by the Meiselas brothers, focuses on the global backlash facing former President Donald Trump as he is sharply criticized by world leaders at the Munich Security Conference. The discussion centers on the perceived decline of American leadership, rising European security independence, and heightened geopolitical tensions, using both pointed commentary and direct clips from key international figures.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Trump’s Erratic Social Media Activity (00:58–03:18)

• The episode opens with the host highlighting Donald Trump’s unhinged social media posts on the same morning world leaders are gathering in Munich.
• Trump attacks TV host Bill Maher, claims Maher’s ratings are poor, and makes strange comments involving hockey, Canada, and China.
• Host Commentary: "Do we realize, like how demented it is for the president of the United States to make a post that just physically, visually, like, looks like this, yet alone the underlying content of it?" (01:59)

2. Volodymyr Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference

• Ukraine’s Frustration with the US and Europe (03:19–05:45)
  • Zelensky points out the US and others keep asking Ukraine for concessions, never Russia.
  • He stresses the need for Europe’s voice at the negotiating table.
  • Zelensky: "The Americans often return to the topic of concessions, and too often those concessions are discussed in the context only of Ukraine, not Russia. Europe is practically not present at the table." (03:20)
• Comparisons to History & Putin as Hitler (04:10)
  • Zelensky compares Putin to Hitler and references the Munich Agreement of 1938.
  • Zelensky: "It would be an illusion to believe that this war can now be reliably ended by dividing Ukraine, just as it was an illusion to believe that sacrificing Czechoslovakia would save Europe from a great war." (04:10)
• Stalled Peace Talks (05:20)
  • Zelensky expresses skepticism about upcoming trilateral meetings with Russia and the US, saying both sides often talk past each other.
  • Zelensky: "Sometimes it feels like the sites are talking about completely different things." (05:20)
• Ukraine’s Military Strength and NATO (06:17)
  • Zelensky claims the Ukrainian army is now the strongest in Europe, emphasizing the need for NATO membership or support.
  • Zelensky: "The Ukrainian army is the strongest army in Europe, thanks to our heroes…it's simply not smart to keep this army outside NATO." (06:17)
• Election Demands and Double Standards (07:18–08:15)
  • Zelensky pushes back on Western calls for immediate Ukrainian elections, criticizing unfair expectations.
  • Zelensky: "Sometimes I heard, yes, we had elections in the United States during Lincoln's time...How we can compare it? We have missiles, our people under missiles..." (07:49)
  • He sarcastically suggests Russia should also only get a ceasefire after holding elections. (07:18)
• Russian Casualties (08:20)
  • Zelensky candidly states the Ukrainian army’s goal is to inflict "at least 50,000 [casualties] per month" on Russian occupiers. (08:20)

3. Europe's Assertive Response and Calls for Sovereignty

• Ursula von der Leyen on Digital and National Sovereignty (08:43)
  • The European Commission President affirms Europe will not allow external interference (e.g., from the US or tech moguls) in its laws and digital policies.
  • von der Leyen: "We are very steadfast to pursue this very clear demand for us... our digital sovereignty is our sovereignty. Bright lines. Get the hell out." (08:43, paraphrased by host at 09:30)

4. Rising Global Tensions and Hard Power

• China’s Wang Yi on UN and Taiwan (10:01, 13:43)
  • Wang Yi warns Japan about "gambling" with militarism.
  • He underscores the importance of the UN for global order: "Without the UN, the world would revert to the law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak..." (10:40)
  • On Taiwan, Wang Yi cautions the US against crossing "China's red lines" but signals confidence: "China believes that history always moves forward. Despite twists and turns, China is confident..." (13:43)
• Keir Starmer, UK PM, on European Defense (11:23–13:02)
  • Starmer calls for a European “hard power” renaissance: "We must build our hard power because that is the currency of the age... we must be ready to fight..." (11:23)
  • Critiques Europe’s fragmented defense procurement and inefficiency: "Europe has over 20 types of frigate and 10 types of fighter jet... wildly inefficient." (11:58)
  • Advocates for less dependence on the US, more European military collaboration: "...delivering generational investments that moves us from over dependence to interdependence." (12:59)

5. American Cynicism and Right-Wing Influence

• Marco Rubio’s Disdain for the United Nations (14:40)
  • Rubio bemoans the passing of the old world order and the unreliability of global alliances.
  • Rubio: "The old world is gone, frankly, the world I grew up in..." (14:40)
• Steve Bannon and Epstein Revelations (15:12)
  • The episode reveals new Justice Department documents showing collaboration between Steve Bannon and Jeffrey Epstein, targeting Pope Francis and planning right-wing power grabs in Europe.
  • Host Commentary: "Bannon liked the chaos because Bannon liked to be a puppet master to install his right wing MAGA people for Donald Trump." (15:13)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Host on Trump’s behavior:
  "Do we realize, like how demented it is for the president of the United States to make a post that just physically, visually, like, looks like this, yet alone the underlying content of it?" (01:59)

• Zelensky on universal expectations:
  "Americans often return to the topic of concessions, and too often those concessions are discussed in the context only of Ukraine, not Russia." (03:20)

• Keir Starmer on European power:
  "The road ahead is straight and it is clear: We must build our hard power because that is the currency of the age." (11:23)

• von der Leyen on digital sovereignty:
  "What is forbidden offline is forbidden online...our digital sovereignty is our sovereignty. Bright lines. Get the hell out." (08:43, 09:30 paraphrase)

• Wang Yi on global order:
  "Without the UN, the world would revert to the law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak..." (10:40)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Trump’s Social Media Outburst: 00:58–03:18
• Zelensky Calling Out the West: 03:19–05:45
• Ukraine’s Military Power Argument: 06:17–06:56
• Zelensky on Elections & Ceasefire: 07:18–08:15
• European Digital Sovereignty (von der Leyen): 08:43–09:30
• China’s Wang Yi on UN and Taiwan: 10:01–10:54, 13:43–14:16
• Keir Starmer Advocating European Military Independence: 11:23–13:02
• Rubio on the "Old World" End: 14:40–15:06
• Steve Bannon’s Collusion with Epstein: 15:12–15:13

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Tone and Style

The Meiselas brothers use a mix of humor, incredulity, and passionate pro-democracy advocacy. While their banter is present, the tone is mainly urgent, critical, and deeply concerned about the direction of both American and global affairs.

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Summary Takeaway:
This episode captures a pivotal moment when the US, under Trump’s continued influence, is seen as receding on the world stage, spurring European leaders to demand sovereignty, military strength, and policy independence. The hosts tie this geopolitical shift to the rise of right-wing networks and the urgent need for democratic vigilance, using sharp commentary and powerful audio from the world’s leading political figures.

Transcript

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[Political Commentator/Host]

Is losing it this morning on Saturday as world leaders are calling him out strongly in Munich. World leaders from President Zelensky to Prime Minister Kier Starmer to the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen to the Foreign Minister of China and others are out there calling out the United States for its weakness, for abandoning the United Nation, for abandoning the world and isolating itself. Let me show you what's going on, folks. You've got Donald Trump making posts like this in this morning. He goes sometimes in life you waste time. TV host Bill Maher, he asked to have dinner with me through one of his friends, also a friend of mine. He came into the Oval Office much different than I thought he would be. He was extremely nervous. He had zero confidence. I mean, he goes on and just look how long this messages that Donald Trump posted about Bill Maher. He's like I jokingly stated recently in a truth that China will do first is terminate all ice hockey being played in Canada and permanently eliminate the Stanley Cup. Well, he Bill Maher went on and on about the hockey statement. Like, what kind of person would say such a foolish thing as this? As though I were being serious when I said it. Because fortunately his television ratings are really bad. And he goes on to say, Bill Maher's television ratings, they're like Kimmel or Fallon or Colbert. Regardless, I'd much rather spend my time making America great again. Oh, he was just joking, everybody. He was just joking. Do we realize, like how demented it is for the president of the United States to make a post that just physically, visually like, looks like this, yet alone the underlying content of it? Then you contrast that to what was going on in Munich this morning or there this afternoon or early evening at the Same time that Donald Trump was making those posts, you had President Zelinsky of Ukraine basically calling out Trump in the United States for saying, you want us to make concessions here, concessions there, but never Russia. You always want Ukraine to concede, we're not going to give up our damn territory and we've made our concessions. Watch Zelensky here.

[Producer/Assistant Cueing Clips]

Play this clip.

[Volodymyr Zelensky]

The Americans often return to the topic of concessions, and too often those concessions are discussed in the context only of Ukraine, not Russia. Europe is practically not present at the table. It's a big mistake to my mind, and it is we, I think we Ukrainians, we Ukrainians who are trying to bring Europe fully into the process so that Europe's interests and voice are taken into account.

[Political Commentator/Host]

Then Zelensky calls Putin Hitler and he compares Putin to Hitler, which is an accurate comparison. And Zelensky is not mincing words. He ain't holding back. Show you this clip and it seems.

[Volodymyr Zelensky]

Putin hopes to repeat Munich and not Munich 2007, when they only spoke about dividing Europe, but Munich 1938, when previous Putin began dividing Europe. In reality, it would be an illusion to believe that this war can now be reliably ended by dividing Ukraine, just as it was an illusion to believe that sacrificing Czechosloma Kevin would save Europe from a great war.

[Political Commentator/Host]

More from Zelensky right here about the meetings that will be taking place between representatives of Russia, the US And Ukraine in Geneva. And Zelinsky is like, okay, yeah, we have these trilateral meetings, sure, but honestly, sometimes it feels like we're just talking about different things. And clearly Ukraine is talking about peace and ceasefires and actual concessions. And Russia brings like a historian with them and talks about why Ukraine needs to capitulate. Russia has never made a single concession.

[Producer/Assistant Cueing Clips]

Let's play this clip.

[Volodymyr Zelensky]

We are the more realistic peace becomes. A lot of time now is spent on negotiations. We truly, we truly hope that the trilateral meetings next week will be serious, substantive, helpful for all of us. But honestly, sometimes it feels like the sites are talking about completely different things.

[Political Commentator/Host]

And Zelensky, though, points out that the Ukrainian army right now undoubtedly is the strongest army in Europe by far. And the Ukrainian army is one of the strongest armies in the world right now. It's combat tested. It showed how you can stand up to remember. People said, well, Russia's like the second biggest army in the world or third biggest army in the world. It's the second biggest army in Ukraine right now because Ukraine is bigger than. Is not bigger, but it's stronger than Russia's. Army in many ways.

[Producer/Assistant Cueing Clips]

Here, play this clip.

[Volodymyr Zelensky]

American backstop. That is why Europe needs Ukraine. The Ukrainian army is the strongest army in Europe, thanks to our heroes. And it's simply, I think it's simply not smart to keep this army outside NATO.

[Political Commentator/Host]

But.

[Volodymyr Zelensky]

At the very least, let that be your friends. Your decision, not Putin's decision.

[Political Commentator/Host]

And I loved when Zelensky talked about, you know, everyone's like, you need to do. Not everybody ever in the Trump regime. They're like, Zelensky, you need to do elections immediately. Like, I will do a ceasefire in Ukraine and we'll do elections. And how about we do this? Why don't. We'll give Russia a ceasefire if they do elections as well. Watch this line, Secretary General, even.

[Volodymyr Zelensky]

But we can also give ceasefire for Russians if they will do elections in Russia.

[Political Commentator/Host]

And then Zelensky's like, everyone is also saying, well, you know, Lincoln was able to have, there was able to be elections during the civil war. And Zelensky's like, okay, but there weren't missiles that were flying on you. And so if the issue is that we don't want our people out there and then those locations to get blown up and people to get massacred on election day.

[Producer/Assistant Cueing Clips]

Here, play this clip.

[Volodymyr Zelensky]

And we can't compare. Sometimes I heard. Sorry, sometimes I heard, yes, we had elections in the United States during Lincoln's time and etc. How we can compare it? We have missiles, our people under missiles. It's not just land war, a lot of missiles. We're under ballistic attacks. So give us ceasefire. President Trump can do it.

[Political Commentator/Host]

Then Zelensky talks about the Russian casualties that were inflicted.

[Producer/Assistant Cueing Clips]

Let's play this clip.

[Volodymyr Zelensky]

For our army, the mission is clear to destroy more Russian occupiers, because they are occupiers. And the goal is specific, at least 50,000 per month, even for Russia. That would be serious, I'm sure.

[Political Commentator/Host]

And we heard from the president of the European Union Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Here's what she had to say.

[Producer/Assistant Cueing Clips]

Play this clip.

[Ursula von der Leyen]

So, for example, I want to be very clear, our digital sovereignty is. Our digital sovereignty very clear on that one. And we have a long tradition in freedom of speech. Actually, the enlightenment started on our continent. And we are very clear with digital sovereignty also that what is forbidden offline is forbidden online. And we will not flinch. What that is concerned. We will be very steadfast to pursue this very clear demand for us. But if I may also look at the quote of the Secretary General of.

[Political Commentator/Host]

NATO, she made it clear, don't Talk. We don't care that if America or Elon Musk is attacking our, you know, laws and our digital sovereignty. Our digital sovereignty is our sovereignty. Bright lines. Get the hell out is what she's saying. Then we heard from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and here's what he said to Japan. Basically very serious threats. He leveled that Japan right here, you can hear it for yourself and track them along.

[Wang Yi]

And every country that values peace should shout this loud and clear at Japan right now. If you go back down that old road, it will be a dead end. If you try gambling again, the loss will be faster and more devastating.

[Political Commentator/Host]

And you have Wang Yi, the Foreign Minister of China, talking about the importance of the United Nations. And it's fascinating to me to see over here. I'll show you in a moment. You had Marco Rubio disparaging the United nations in Munich, while you had Wang Yi praising the United Nations. It's very fascinating.

[Producer/Assistant Cueing Clips]

Here, play this clip.

[Wang Yi]

Without the un, the world would revert to the law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak and many medium and small sized countries would lose the multilateral foundation critical to their survival and development.

[Political Commentator/Host]

Then we heard from Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of uk and he talked about how with the United States basically taking the positions that it's taken, Europe needs to build out hard power, military, military buildups. Once again. We are now in a pay in a point and page in human history where hard power is necessary, where militaries and wars are going to have to be regular.

[Producer/Assistant Cueing Clips]

Here, play this clip.

[Keir Starmer]

The road ahead is straight and it is clear we must build our hard power because that is the currency of the age. We must be able to deter aggression and yes, if necessary, we must be ready to fight, to do whatever it takes to protect our people, our values and our way of life.

[Political Commentator/Host]

More from Keir Starmer here calling Europe a sleeping giant.

[Producer/Assistant Cueing Clips]

Let's show you this clip.

[Keir Starmer]

As I see it, Europe is a sleeping giant. Our economies dwarf Russia's more than 10 times over. We have huge defence capabilities. Yet too often this adds up to less than the sum of its parts. Fragmented industrial planning and procurement have led to gaps in some areas and massive duplication in others. Europe has over 20 types of frigate and 10 types of fighter jet. We have over 10 types of main battle tank, whilst the US has one. It's wildly inefficient.

[Political Commentator/Host]

And then Starmer's like, rather than pretending the US is going to be there for us, we just can't anymore. You know, we can still do deals and stuff with the US but, you know, we've got to build out our own capabilities.

[Producer/Assistant Cueing Clips]

Let's play this clip.

[Keir Starmer]

So rather than pretending that we can simply replace all US Capabilities, we should focus on diversifying and decreasing some dependencies. We should deliver generational investments that moves us from over dependence to interdependence.

[Political Commentator/Host]

More from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi right here about how history moves forward. And I think, you know this, the subtle signal here is, yeah, you got this crazy guy in the United States doing all this stuff, but history, we move forward. And China's been around for 5,000 years. Like that's the, that's the subtext to what he's saying here.

[Producer/Assistant Cueing Clips]

Play this clip.

[Wang Yi]

Yeah, try to split Taiwan from China and stepping on China's red lines, which would very much likely push China and the United States toward conflict. But China on our part wants to see the first prospect. And I believe you share the same way. But China is well prepared to address all kinds of risks. China believes that history always moves forward. Despite twists and turns. China is confident about the prospects of the China U. S relations.

[Political Commentator/Host]

Here's what Rubio had to say when he arrived about how the United nations cannot be trusted anymore and that the world is changing and that the old world is gone. Yeah, the old world, where the United States was leading the world was the economy was the envy of the world where everybody wanted to put their money into the United States. That world is gone because y' all destroyed it.

[Producer/Assistant Cueing Clips]

Here, play this clip.

[Marco Rubio]

The world is changing very fast. Right on a. The old world is gone, frankly, the world I grew up in and we live in a new era of geopolitics and it's going to require all of us sort of re examine what that looks like and what our role is going to be. And it's. We've had many of these conversations are private. Many of our allies, they are our allies and need to continue to have those conversations. And I think Saturday, hopefully, and the meetings will have there when Wilfelson end.

[Political Commentator/Host]

This all comes on the same day. We're seeing more like look at just Steve Bannon and Epstein together.

[Producer/Assistant Cueing Clips]

They were like really good friends.

[Political Commentator/Host]

I mean, you saw the emails between them. Newly released Justice Department files show that in 2019, Steve Bannon messaged Jeffrey Epstein about efforts to undermine Pope Francis, writing that he hoped to take down the pontiff. Bannon, a former Trump advisor, viewed Francis as a barrier to his nationalist populist agenda. And he talked. We're going to take down the eu we're going to take down this person, that person. And Bannon was working with Epstein to prop up right wing authoritarian governments and to destroy democracies. Epstein liked it because it was money opportunities for him and more of the Epstein class. Bannon liked the chaos because Bannon liked to be a puppet master to install his right wing MAGA people for Donald Trump. That's what was going on in a lot of those emails. If you were paying, if you're, if you saw some of our prior coverage. Well, there you have it everybody. Let me know what you think. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 6 million subscribers. Thanks everybody so much for watching. Happy Valentine's Day to everybody out there. New Midas Merch drop. Check out the latest pro democracy sticker packs, T shirts, hats, sweatshirts, and more.

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