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So I hope you've been enjoying a bit of the deeper dives we've been doing here at the Midas Touch Network, a little bit of a pivot to the type of content that I think you've been seeing. And as I've said before, I'm not showing Donald Trump videos and I'm not playing his audio, but the threat he poses is very real. And I want to talk about an attack that he is currently engaged in attacking the veteran community. And I want to talk very specifically about what he's doing. I don't want to speak in kind of broad language. I want to really get into the nooks and crannies here. So Fred Wellman, who's on the Midas Touch Network and a veteran himself, here's what he writes. He goes, I'm concerned that this chatter, like Wall Street Journal op eds, Sean Hannity pieces, the Economist article, all talking about cutting veterans affairs and cutting veterans benefits, are really just trial balloons to what Donald Trump and Elon Musk and the VAC Ramaswamy are going to do to veterans in the veteran community. They're shaping the discussion. So anything short of cutting all of our benefits, health care and closing the VA is a compromise. And Fred Wellman says what this really means is that millions of veterans are going to be losing life saving benefits, being thrown into an unready civilian healthcare network, and homelessness spiking. I've been in politics long enough to see how this plays out. It's not good. A lot of the current homelessness problems comes from Ronald Reagan's policies as well, like this, basically throwing people onto the streets. Fred Wellman then says, look, to be perfectly clear, what I'm concerned about is all of this chatter from these op EDS that are basically conditioning people. Now here's an example of this. Here's the Economist headline. This is how they're framing it in kind of an academic pandemic way. I referred to it last night on the Midas Touch podcast as the banality of evil, a term that was used to describe what took place during the Nazi era. Here's what the Economist writes. American veterans now receive absurdly generous benefits. An enormous rise in disability payments may complicate debt reduction efforts. The banality of evil right there. Oh, veterans getting rich off of health care benefits, absurdly generous healthcare benefits. Oh, they're, they're live. Are they living in, in palaces with golden toilet bowls? Oh, no, that's Mar a Lago, that's Donald Trump, that's Elon Musk, that's them. Adam Kinzinger, a veteran, writes, this is an insane article. The vast majority of this increase is because we were exposed to burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's our generation's Agent Orange. As a burn pit veteran myself, the Economist is absolutely wrong here. My guess is there were no burn pit vets on the board that wrote this. Exactly. You know, I just don't get who these people are with the audacity. These people have to go after and attack our veterans to attack communities like this. And then it's just intellectualized through this banality of evil lens. Just to remind you over here, Trump's Project 2025 plan to dismantle veterans health care has different tiers. Four main ones that we should discuss. 1. Push veterans to a for profit system. Veterans get pushed out of the VA into for profit care and they will receive worse care. Increase the strain on VA facilities. VA care consistently outranks private care. Cut disability benefits. Millions of disabled veterans could lose critical benefits. Project 2025 seeks to lower the disability ratings to save money. Gut specialized care for veterans and specialized care like reproductive health care for women. That's going to be day one. Threaten to end all non service connected care from the VA which could affect millions of seniors and women veterans. And then the other category, as you hear my dog barking in the background, loyalty over expertise. Trump loyalists will replace experienced VA workers. Politicization will weaken veterans healthcare. And we've already seen, for example, with respect to the Navy, Donald Trump has appointed as the Secretary of Navy someone who's never been in the Navy. A hedge fund guy who's donated like close to $2 million to Donald Trump is now the Secretary of the Navy without any naval experience at all. All right, I want to take a look at the following. I just want you to see this article from the Economist. So you see, in my view, the banality and evil that's taking place and the type of conditioning that Trump and the media is doing to execute this plan. I want you to be knowledgeable so you can share this with veterans in your family because we need to push back against this. So this is the article from the Economist. It's called American Veterans now receive Absurdly generous benefits. An enormous rise in disability payments may complicate debt reduction efforts. Now I just wonder, do you ever see headlines like this from the Economist or the Wall Street Journal about billionaires getting corporate welfare that then allows them to buy 10 extra personal private jets for themselves? Is that absurdly beneficial? Benefits that the billionaires are getting are they getting absurd benefits. That's what's kind of absurd. And again, look, I'm a capitalist. I think that, you know, people can get wealthy, there could be rich people. You know, I'm not a. I just think it is important to not forget that 99% of Americans need to be looked after. I think it's important that we reflect upon the fact that housing is unaffordable for people. And meanwhile, you've got these billionaires getting tax cuts to allow them to buy up more beach houses, more million dollar whatever, and they already have enough. It's enough, you know, and they're getting the handouts to let them do it when we could be helping workers out. But that's just me.
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Here's what it says. This is how the article frames it's through such a fascist language, Donald Trump delights in projecting strength, meaning he loves America's armed forces. The hell kind of introduction is that? During his first term, the President elect signed legislation to spend more on defense before proclaiming that he had accomplished the military. On the campaign trail, he doubled down, vowing further increases in defense spending and promising to tackle a recruitment shortfall. Okay, well their first act is going to be to get rid of transgender service members and what to like, ban gay people from the military. Yet he also wants to cut government waste and has hired Elon Musk to lead a Department of Government efficiency. Again, it's a fake government agency that doesn't exist. But just take a look at that paragraph right there. Every sentence is like Kim Jong Un style propaganda right there. It goes on to say, when it comes to the Department of Veterans affairs, these two instincts may be in tension. The department's budget has surged over the past two decades, rising from 86 billion in today's dollars, then equivalent to 2.6 of the federal budget in 2000, to 336 billion, 5% of today's budget this year, and now receives almost three times as much as the Department of Transportation. Remarkably, this boom has occurred despite nearly a 1/3 decline in veteran population, which has fallen from 26 million to 18 million. Annual spending per veteran as a consequence has risen sixfold. Then goes on to say Mr. Musk is zeroing on discretionary spending. Right? That's how we refer to healthcare for veterans. It's just discretionary. It's an entitlement you're so lucky that you get. No, it should be what's viewed as mandatory spending. Our veterans deserve the best care, which includes programs such as the department's medical services. But the main driver of its spending surge is mandatory outlays for disability compensation. Between2024, such payments ballooned from 26 billion in today's prices to 159 billion. Last year alone saw 17% jump, and the department's latest budget request forecast that compensation will soar to $185 billion over the next two years. You notice how they frame it, too, as compensation. You're getting all of this money. You're rich. You're rich for toxic burn pit exposure. Now you're getting rich again. The economists, they don't write this about their billionaires, who they focus on. The current system was introduced during the first World War, and it goes on to describe the modern program bears little resemblance to its original form. This year, 6 million veterans, or a third of the total, qualified for payments with an average monthly benefit of 2,200. Veterans may file claims for an unlimited number of disabilities and appeal against decisions as often as they wish. Oh my God. They get to apply for all of the disabilities that they have. What? And they get to appeal it an unlimited amount of times if they're suffering from disabilities. For fighting for our troops, for fighting in wars. Oh my God. Let's clutch our pearls. The average rating has climbed above 60%. And one in four disabled veterans now receives the once rare 100% rating. Maybe if you're exposed to toxic burn pits. That's why such a designation ensures a generous 4,000 monthly payment for life with no conditions attached. No conditions attached to everybody. They're rich. Starting at the age of 2025, a former soldier could earn well over $2 million in present value terms over the course of their career. Wow. Oh my gosh. Someone who can't walk or talk or speak or who could be dying. They get that amount of money so that they could frickin live. That's how they cover that. By the way, it should also be noted too, in terms of how they want to treat our troops. I just want you to think about this, Pete. I covered this before, but I think I deserve to cover it in this context now. We all know Donald Trump, Secretary of Defense pick Pete Hegseth, the Fox Weekend News host who doesn't have any experience commanding a military company. We all know, I mean, just think about that sentence that I just said there. We all know that he's also been. That he has sexual assault allegations against him, rape of an unconscious woman, which he denies at a Republican event is where he met this lady who accuses him. He denies the accusations. In addition to that, though, his only leadership. I can even believe I have to go. In addition to the rape accusation. Yeah, but in addition to that, his only leadership of like veterans was two veterans organizations. And here's the article from the New Yorker. So I just want you to think this is the guy Trump picked to look after the military. Defense Secretary Pete Hegsev faces new booze, strippers, debt and NDA claims and veteran groups he rans. It goes on to talk about him having a drunken history of mismanaging veterans organizations, two of them that left the staff so disgusted by his allegedly lecherous behavior that they pushed him out. One group, the Veterans for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America, was the other group, Veterans for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America. They describe financial mismanagement, inappropriate sexual advances, and at one point Hegseth drunkenly yelling kill all Muslims at a bar while on an official tour in Ohio. Hegseth denies it, as lawyers call these accusations outlandish and being spread by a disgruntled former worker at the organizations. But let's not Forget that Pete Hegseth's own mother sent him a letter in 2018 calling him an abuser of women who needs to get help immediately. This is who Trump picked to lead the Defense Department. It goes on to talk about this whistleblower report on Hegseth at the organization Concerned Veterans for Americans from 2013 to 2016 and accuses him of being repeatedly drunk while on the clock. It talks about while he was married at that time, by the way, he had a baby with his third wife while he was married to his second wife and during that time period is also accused of rape. It goes on to say that he would divide the women who worked for him into two camps, party girls and not party girls, and he would try to sexually pursue all of the female employees who worked under him. It talks about another NDA for one of the women who worked there after a strip club incident that took place. And then it talks about this kill all Muslims incident where he said that at a bar very loudly. One person who worked there said. I've seen him dragged away not a few times, but multiple times. To have him lead the Pentagon would be scary. So I just want you to reflect on this all we can say we support our troops. We can say we support our veterans, but we do that with our actions, with our behavior, with our conduct. And I'm so sick and tired of hearing Donald Trump and the media is going the troops, the troops. You heard what he said in the Economist. He says he loves the troops. Well, his actions show the exact opposite. And by the way, what the Economist describes right there and how they describe it and how they normalize it is absolutely disgusting. Let me know what you think Hit Subscribe I hope you've been liking the new format of these videos. Sometimes a lot of me talking less Trump videos, but let me know what you think in the comments. And occasionally you hear my dog barking and my little girl in the background. Thanks for watching. Hit subscribe let's get to 4 million.
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The MeidasTouch Podcast Summary: "Trump ATTACK ON BRAVEST will BACKFIRE in HIS FACE"
Release Date: December 4, 2024
Host: MeidasTouch Network (Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas)
In the December 4, 2024 episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, the Meiselas brothers delve into the alarming strategies employed by former President Donald Trump aimed at undermining the veteran community in the United States. The discussion centers around Trump's purported Project 2025, which seeks to dismantle veterans' healthcare and benefits, and the broader implications of such actions on America's veterans. The episode also critically examines media portrayals of veterans' benefits and the controversial nomination of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense.
The episode begins with Speaker A addressing the severe threat Trump poses to the veteran community. He emphasizes the need to move beyond generalizations and scrutinize the specific attacks targeting veterans.
Speaker A [00:30]: "The threat he [Trump] poses is very real. And I want to talk about an attack that he is currently engaged in attacking the veteran community."
Speaker A critiques the media's role in normalizing cuts to veterans' benefits, referencing op-eds and articles from reputable outlets like The Economist and Wall Street Journal.
Speaker A [02:15]: "The Economist is absolutely wrong here. My guess is there were no burn pit vets on the board that wrote this. Exactly. You know, I just don't get who these people are with the audacity."
He compares the media's framing of veterans receiving "absurdly generous benefits" to propaganda, highlighting the disconnect between the portrayal and the reality faced by veterans.
Speaker A [03:10]: "American veterans now receive absurdly generous benefits. An enormous rise in disability payments may complicate debt reduction efforts. The banality of evil right there."
A significant portion of the discussion focuses on Trump's Project 2025, outlining its four main tiers aimed at reducing or eliminating veterans' benefits and healthcare.
Shift to For-Profit Systems: Pushing veterans out of the VA into for-profit care, which is expected to result in worse healthcare outcomes.
Speaker A [04:45]: "Veterans get pushed out of the VA into for-profit care and they will receive worse care."
Cutting Disability Benefits: Lowering disability ratings to save costs, potentially stripping millions of veterans of critical support.
Speaker A [05:10]: "Project 2025 seeks to lower the disability ratings to save money."
Elimination of Specialized Care: Removing essential services like reproductive healthcare for women veterans.
Speaker A [05:30]: "Gut specialized care for veterans and specialized care like reproductive health care for women."
Politicization of VA Workforce: Replacing experienced VA workers with Trump loyalists, undermining the expertise necessary for quality veterans' care.
Speaker A [06:00]: "Trump loyalists will replace experienced VA workers. Politicization will weaken veterans healthcare."
The episode scrutinizes Trump's nomination of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, highlighting Hegseth's controversial background and lack of military experience.
Speaker A [09:20]: "He [Pete Hegseth] has never been in the Navy. A hedge fund guy who's donated like close to $2 million to Donald Trump is now the Secretary of the Navy without any naval experience at all."
Speaker A brings to light multiple allegations against Hegseth, including sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement, and inflammatory statements, painting a picture of incompetence and moral bankruptcy.
Speaker A [12:05]: "He would divide the women who worked for him into two camps, party girls and not party girls, and he would try to sexually pursue all of the female employees who worked under him."
The discussion underscores the dangers of appointing individuals with questionable backgrounds to critical defense positions, suggesting that such appointments could have detrimental effects on military leadership and morale.
Concluding the episode, Speaker A reflects on the broader implications of Trump's actions on democracy and the welfare of veterans. He calls for vigilant support of veterans through actions rather than just rhetoric, criticizing both Trump and the media for their detrimental narratives.
Speaker A [16:30]: "We can say we support our troops, but we do that with our actions, with our behavior, with our conduct. And I'm so sick and tired of hearing Donald Trump and the media is going the troops, the troops."
Speaker A [00:30]: "The threat he poses is very real. And I want to talk about an attack that he is currently engaged in attacking the veteran community."
Speaker A [02:15]: "The Economist is absolutely wrong here. My guess is there were no burn pit vets on the board that wrote this."
Speaker A [03:10]: "American veterans now receive absurdly generous benefits. An enormous rise in disability payments may complicate debt reduction efforts. The banality of evil right there."
Speaker A [04:45]: "Veterans get pushed out of the VA into for-profit care and they will receive worse care."
Speaker A [05:10]: "Project 2025 seeks to lower the disability ratings to save money."
Speaker A [06:00]: "Trump loyalists will replace experienced VA workers. Politicization will weaken veterans healthcare."
Speaker A [09:20]: "He has never been in the Navy. A hedge fund guy who's donated like close to $2 million to Donald Trump is now the Secretary of the Navy without any naval experience at all."
Speaker A [12:05]: "He would divide the women who worked for him into two camps, party girls and not party girls, and he would try to sexually pursue all of the female employees who worked under him."
Speaker A [16:30]: "We can say we support our troops, but we do that with our actions, with our behavior, with our conduct. And I'm so sick and tired of hearing Donald Trump and the media is going the troops, the troops."
The Meiselas brothers, particularly Speaker A, deliver a compelling and critical analysis of Donald Trump's actions and policies aimed at dismantling support for America's veterans. Through detailed examination of Project 2025, media portrayals, and controversial appointments like Pete Hegseth, the podcast underscores the potential backfire of Trump's strategies against the very individuals who have served the nation. The episode serves as a clarion call to listeners to actively support veterans through informed actions and to remain vigilant against policies that threaten their well-being.
Note: Advertisements and non-content sections from the transcript have been intentionally excluded to focus solely on the substantive discussions and analyses presented in the episode.