The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Trump Gets Put in His Place by Newsom at Press Conference
Date: October 23, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett & Jordy Meiselas (MeidasTouch Network)
Main Guest Speakers: Gavin Newsom, Barack Obama, Adam Mockler

Episode Overview

In this compelling episode, the Meiselas brothers focus on California Governor Gavin Newsom's fiery press conference, where he directly confronts former President Donald Trump regarding his administration’s actions. The episode highlights Newsom’s unyielding criticism of Trump’s recent policy measures, the symbolism of White House demolition, and Trump’s authoritarian tactics. Former President Barack Obama joins an earlier event to support California’s Prop 50, and host commentary blends robust analysis with the MeidasTouch signature brotherly banter.

The discussion underscores the themes of moral clarity, institutional accountability, and the urgent defense of American democracy, with Newsom positioned as both a political and moral counterweight to Trump.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Newsom’s Direct Rebuttal to Trump’s Leadership (00:43–01:03)

• Moral Clarity Against Trump:
  Gavin Newsom opens with a bold declaration:

  “Donald Trump's a broken man. He's trying to break this country. Everybody knows that.”
  (Gavin Newsom, 00:43)

• Accountability for Enablers:
  Newsom reproaches those enabling Trump:

  “To see people in positions of power and influence do absolutely nothing when they must know better ... they're going to have a lot to reconcile at the pearly gates.”
  (Gavin Newsom, 00:47)

2. Symbolism: White House Demolition as National Decline (01:13–02:08)

• Extravagance Amid Hardship:
  Newsom criticizes Trump’s White House renovations:

  “Trump has literally destroyed the east wing ... to put his ballroom up for a quarter of a billion dollars ... We're now days away from eliminating food to 5.5 million Californians around Thanksgiving...”
  (Gavin Newsom, 01:14)

• Rising Food Insecurity:
  He spotlights how Trump’s policies are directly linked to escalating food prices and widespread need.

3. Economic Consequences: Tariffs, Higher Costs, Harm to California (02:28–03:05)

• Tariffs as Massive Tax Increases:
  Newsom criticizes Trump’s tariffs:

  “We're currently experiencing one of the largest tax increases in American history with tariff rates that are higher than they've been since the 1930s. ... This is code red from an economic perspective.”
  (Gavin Newsom, 02:28)

• Impact on Education and Science:
  He highlights damaging effects on H1B visa holders, universities, and research funding.

4. Preparedness Against Federal Overreach: Legal and Political Resistance (03:24–04:03)

• Legal Action Ready:
  Newsom brandishes a draft lawsuit, vowing immediate legal action if Trump attempts to deploy military force in San Francisco:

  “This is the lawsuit that I will file within a nanosecond of any efforts to send the military to one of America's great cities, San Francisco ... Only Donald Trump can wreck that. And we will push back with clarity and conviction and we'll continue to win in court.”
  (Gavin Newsom, 03:24)

5. Condemnation of Cronyism and ‘State Capitalism’ (04:33–06:08)

• Media-Business Collusion Unveiled:
  Newsom lambastes business leaders, media personalities, and Silicon Valley figures supportive of Trump:

  “Laura Ingraham now has a SPAC business ... she gets to be their spokesperson on the Pravda network ... This great grift, unprecedented in modern history. Billions and billions of dollars.”
  (Gavin Newsom, 04:33)

• Satirical Callout with "Knee Pads":
  He lampoons those “bending their knee” to Trump, promising to distribute “signature Siri knee pads” to business and academic leaders.

• Authoritarian Risk:

  “As this guy's rolling back ... putting us back to pre-1960s world censoring historic facts. Wake up, everybody.”
  (Gavin Newsom, 06:32)

6. Mobilization of the National Guard for Humanitarian Aid (07:41–09:02)

• Guard Used for Support, Not Force:
  Newsom explains deploying the California National Guard to aid food banks and prevent hunger — drawing a sharp contrast with Trump’s purported use of force for political theater:

  “I'm very worried about 5 million people ... losing food stamp, losing their SNAP benefits ... So we're going to make sure we protect their food insecurity ... And that's what I think we should use the National Guard for. Not this folly, not this nonsense, not this, the vanity project to show strengths …”
  (Gavin Newsom, 07:41)

7. Resisting Authoritarian Playbooks: The San Francisco Example (09:18–10:00)

• Explaining Trump’s Tactics (with Adam Mockler):

  “This is right out of the dictator's handbook. Donald Trump does this over and over again ... create conditions for anxiety ... This is no different than the arsonist putting out the fire. We need to call that out and we cannot play his game.”
  (Adam Mockler, 09:18)

8. Obama Joins Newsom to Defend Democracy and Prop 50 (12:23–13:52)

• Obama Condemns Anti-Democratic Manipulation:
  Barack Obama draws attention to Trump’s pre-election redistricting:

  “They want to change around the maps, not the way it's always been done every 10 years after a census. They want to do it before any election in which they're worried they might lose ... It's brazen ... I could not be more appreciative of the work Governor Newsom ... are doing in saying, stop. This is not how American democracy is supposed to operate.”
  (Barack Obama, 12:23)

9. Newsom’s Ongoing Public Statements and Social Media (13:52–17:00)

• Direct Communication:
  Newsom amplifies his critiques online, calling out Trump and GOP Congress for food benefit cuts and touting California’s intervention.

• Historical Parallels and Warnings:
  He accuses DHS of spreading “Nazi propaganda” and draws historical analogies with Japanese internment and state-sponsored intimidation.

10. Urgency, Call to Action, and Democratic Safeguards (17:01–22:01)

• Meeting the Moment:
  Newsom underscores the existential threat to democracy and California’s unique approach to redistricting:

  “We're fighting fire with fire. ... we move forward by putting the maps not only through the California legislature ... but now in front of the voters in the most transparent and democratic way possible. It will be the first maps ever to be in front of the voters in the United States of America.”
  (Gavin Newsom, 17:01)

• Warning Against Intimidation:
  Newsom recounts incidents of federal intimidation at campaign events:

  “Masked men showed up right in front of the rally before we kicked off to intimidate and chill, free expression to intimidate people from walking into our event.”
  (Gavin Newsom, 17:01)

• Final Words of Empowerment:

  “You have the power. You have the power with Prop 50. ... The future is not something to experience, it's something to manifest. It's our decisions, not conditions.”
  (Gavin Newsom, 21:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Context | |-----------|--------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:43 | Gavin Newsom | “Donald Trump's a broken man. He's trying to break this country. Everybody knows that.” | | 01:14 | Gavin Newsom | “Trump has literally destroyed the east wing ... to put his ballroom up for a quarter of a billion dollars.” | | 02:28 | Gavin Newsom | “We are currently experiencing one of the largest tax increases in American history...” | | 03:24 | Gavin Newsom | “This is the lawsuit that I will file within a nanosecond...” | | 04:33 | Gavin Newsom | “Laura Ingraham ... gets to be their spokesperson on the Pravda network, Fox Prime Time. ... Billions and billions of dollars. The great grift.” | | 06:32 | Gavin Newsom | “New knee pads ... for all these CEOs ... bending their knee ... as this guy's rolling back, rewriting history.” | | 07:41 | Gavin Newsom | “We're going to make sure we protect their food insecurity ... that's what I think we should use the National Guard for.” | | 09:18 | Adam Mockler | “This is right out of the dictator's handbook. Donald Trump does this over and over again. ... This is no different than the arsonist putting out the fire.” | | 12:23 | Barack Obama | “They want to tinker around with it to see if they can give themselves an advantage. And it's brazen. ... This is not how American democracy is supposed to operate.” | | 17:01 | Gavin Newsom | “We're fighting fire with fire ... putting the maps ... in front of the voters in the most transparent and democratic way possible.” | | 21:45 | Gavin Newsom | “You have the power ... It's our decisions, not conditions.” |

Important Timestamps

• Press Conference Highlights/Begins: 00:43
• White House Demolition Symbolism: 01:14
• Economic Disasters and Tariffs: 02:28
• Legal Preparedness Against Federal Overreach: 03:24
• Cronyism & "Knee Pads" Satire: 04:33 / 06:32
• Mobilizing National Guard for Aid: 07:41
• Authoritarian Playbook Exposed: 09:18
• Obama’s Speech on Democracy & Prop 50: 12:23
• Historic Parallels & Voter Intimidation: 17:01–22:01
• Closing Empowerment Message: 21:45

Summary Flow

The episode is a rousing, often urgent, examination of the current political crisis facing California and the nation, with the MeidasTouch brothers spotlighting both the seriousness and absurdity of Trump-era politics. Governor Newsom emerges as the protagonist—unapologetic, combative, and determined—while former President Obama provides statesmanlike reinforcement of democracy’s basic rules. Throughout, the conversation blends legal acumen, biting satire (knee pads), historical analogies, and a continuous call for activism, transparency, and public accountability.

For Listeners

If you missed the episode, this summary encapsulates the major revelations, the urgency of the moment, and the personalities in play—especially Newsom’s multidimensional opposition to Trump’s regime, Obama’s call for redistricting reform, and the MeidasTouch team’s ongoing encouragement to defend democracy and vote.