The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Trump Flees DC and Panics as Tables Get Turned on Him
Date: November 8, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Meiselas brothers dive into Donald Trump’s tumultuous week, highlighting his bizarre behavior, policy decisions that hurt everyday Americans, and the disconnect between Trump’s lavish lifestyle and the struggles faced by many. The brothers combine political critique with their signature mix of humor and outrage, focusing on Trump’s efforts to deny SNAP benefits, his administration’s spin on economic data, and his increasingly erratic public appearances. The episode underscores the broader impacts of Trump-era policies on American families, democracy, and economic wellbeing.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Behavior: From Disabled Mockery to Public Outbursts

• [00:27] The episode opens with Ben highlighting the irony and “karma” of Trump’s decline, referencing both his past mockery of disabled people and his recent incidents—such as allegedly passing out or falling asleep at a press conference.
  • Quote (Ben, 01:10):
    “Here he is getting off the airplane back in Florida that we, the taxpayers pay for… I mean, just take a look at him. Are they screaming at random people there?”
• Trump’s public appearances at Mar-a-Lago are described as erratic, with Ben sharing anecdotes and video footage of Trump “yelling at people.”

2. Mar-a-Lago Parties and Excess Amid Struggles

• The brothers discuss lavish parties at Mar-a-Lago juxtaposed with Americans in need.
  • [02:05] Reference to exclusive events with “half-naked women in martini glasses” and high-end jewelry auctions while Americans are “starving.”
  • Quote (Ben, 02:48):
    “Great optics and great behavior. I’m being sarcastic, of course. While Americans are suffering right now, how despicable is that?”

3. The SNAP Benefits Controversy

• [03:29] Ben breaks down the Trump administration’s legal fight to block SNAP (food stamp) payments.
  • Shares a quote by Attorney General Pam Bondi:
    • Quote (Pam Bondi, relayed by Ben, 04:26):
      “Our attorneys will not stop fighting day and night to defend and advance Trump’s agenda. You gave $40 billion to Argentina. That’s the Trump agenda... but when a district court orders you pay the SNAP benefits, you have the money. It’s sitting in a contingency fund... just pay the people.”
• The brothers frame Trump’s policies as “cruel and unusual punishment,” an intentional infliction of emotional distress on vulnerable Americans.

4. Trump’s Economic Spin: The “Affordable Thanksgiving” & Fact Checking

• [06:55] Trump claims via a Walmart press release that the cost of Thanksgiving dinner is “25% cheaper” than under Biden—the brothers expose this as misleading, noting the Walmart list this year contains fewer (and only generic) items.
  • Quote (Trump, 06:57):
    “It was a con job. Affordability, they call. It was a con job by the Democrats.”
• When challenged by a reporter, Trump attacks the media.
  • [08:54]
    • Quote (Trump, 09:03):
      “Fake news. NBC. You fake news... NBC’s gone down the tubes along with most of the rest of them.”

5. SNAP Benefits and “Liquidity” Argument

• Trump claims the nation must remain “liquid” and cannot afford the SNAP benefits, despite other lavish spending.
  • [10:36]
    • Quote (Trump, 10:38):
      “Our country has to remain very liquid because problems, catastrophes, wars, could be anything. We have to remain liquid. We can’t give everything away based on a number.”
• Ben calls this one of the biggest “Ponzi schemes” in history:
  • Quote (Ben, 09:36):
    “What’s going on here, folks, is that Trump is engaged in the largest Ponzi scheme in the history of the world...”

6. The Prolonged Government Shutdown

• [11:10] Ongoing government shutdown discussed—Democrats offered to extend Obamacare subsidies for one year as a compromise, rejected by “MAGA Republicans.”
• “Shutdown will go into 2026,” with MAGA Senator John Kennedy quoted as saying the end is nowhere in sight.

7. Dire Economic Data

• [12:39] Ben covers job losses, including unreleased stats from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and low consumer confidence, especially among young people.
  • “Recessionary or depression-style numbers,” the worst since the Great Recession and COVID.

8. Trump’s Rage and Distraction Tactics: Beef Prices Conspiracy

• Trump issues a statement suggesting criminal collusion in the beef industry, vowing DOJ investigations.
  • [13:48]
    • Quote (Ben, 15:06):
      “He’s talked about bringing beef from Argentina that has foot and mouth disease. So when he says, you know, oh, the foreign, we’re going after foreign collusion, dude—you’re out there saying you want to bring in the foreign beef… this guy’s lying to you.”

9. Big Picture: Trump’s Impact on America

• Ben summarizes: Trump as a lifelong conman, now scaling his schemes to the nation.
  • Quote (Ben, 15:22):
    “This is a bad human being, like a real bad vile person who just is a predator. And he goes and he takes and he deceives... Sometimes it’s just a simple explanation like that.”
• Ending with Trump’s historically low approval ratings and a call to the community to push back.

Notable Quotes & Moment Timestamps

• 01:10 (Ben): “Here he is getting off the airplane back in Florida that we, the taxpayers pay for… I mean, just take a look at him.”
• 02:48 (Ben): “Great optics and great behavior. I’m being sarcastic, of course.”
• 04:26 (Pam Bondi via Ben): “Our attorneys will not stop fighting day and night to defend and advance Trump’s agenda. You gave $40 billion to Argentina...”
• 06:57 (Trump): "It was a con job. Affordability, they call. It was a con job by the Democrats."
• 09:03 (Trump): “Fake news. NBC. You fake news...”
• 09:36 (Ben): "Trump is engaged in the largest Ponzi scheme in the history of the world."
• 10:38 (Trump): “Our country has to remain very liquid because problems, catastrophes, wars, could be anything. We have to remain liquid.”
• 15:06 (Ben): “He’s talked about bringing beef from Argentina… this guy’s lying to you.”
• 15:22 (Ben): “This is a bad human being... a predator... Sometimes it’s just a simple explanation like that.”

Key Segments & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |---------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:27–02:10 | Trump’s odd behavior at Mar-a-Lago and mocking of disabled people | | 02:10–04:00 | Mar-a-Lago parties vs. American suffering, Resolute desk grift | | 04:00–06:00 | Blocking of SNAP benefits, cruelty of policies, Bondi quote | | 06:55–08:51 | Trump’s Thanksgiving price claims, Walmart fact-check, media attack| | 09:11–10:36 | Trump’s “liquidity” excuse for SNAP program cuts | | 11:10–12:39 | Government shutdown’s persistence and failed negotiations | | 12:39–14:45 | Job loss data, economic woes, consumer confidence | | 14:45–15:22 | Trump’s conspiracy about beef pricing and DOJ announcement | | 15:22–16:47 | Big picture: Trump’s character, community call to action |

Takeaway

This episode is a blistering critique of Trump’s actions, rhetoric, and policy failings as experienced by everyday Americans. Through humor and frustration, the Meiselas brothers expose the human cost of Trump’s priorities and call out the grift, cruelty, and deception at the heart of his administration. The show offers listeners a clarifying lens on the stakes for democracy, the disconnect between leadership and people’s needs, and the importance of continued resistance.