Trump Gets Scared Bad as Newsom Confronts Him in NY

Summary

The MeidasTouch Podcast – Episode Summary

Title: Trump Gets Scared Bad as Newsom Confronts Him in NY
Date: September 24, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on California Governor Gavin Newsom’s trip to New York during Climate Week while Donald Trump was in town for the United Nations General Assembly. The brothers focus on Newsom’s confrontational stance against Trump, especially highlighting Newsom’s sharp public critiques and climate-focused leadership. The episode sharply contrasts Trump's chaotic week—marked by a widely mocked UN speech and personal mishaps—with Newsom’s assertive, policy-driven actions, particularly regarding climate change and democracy. The banter is laced with both pointed criticism and comedic jabs, staying true to MeidasTouch’s pro-democracy, pro-accountability tone.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Newsom in New York, Trump Under Fire (01:34)

• Newsom travels to New York for Climate Week, meeting with international leaders, presenting himself as a U.S. statesman—effectively pitching him as a leader in contrast to Trump.
• Trump suffers a disastrous UN General Assembly week, including technical failures and embarrassing moments attributed to his own team.

Quote:

“Governor Newsom was there to mock him, humiliate him, but most importantly, show moral clarity and powerfully stand up to Donald Trump.”
— Host (01:34)

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2. Newsom’s Social Media Power Plays and Mockery (02:00–04:01)

• Newsom posts photos with world delegations, emphasizing climate cooperation with Brazil—juxtaposing his diplomacy against Trump’s antagonism toward Brazil.
• Most notably, Newsom roasts Trump’s mishaps, referencing the infamous escalator incident and comparing Trump’s performance—both physically (with the escalator) and politically (at the UN)—to a retiree at "Memory Meadows retirement resort."
• Newsom’s viral posts feature lines like:

Quote:

“Dozy Don was defeated by the escalator. Poor guy. The entire world is laughing at the low IQ President… Next stop, the best room at Memory Meadows retirement resort, Tylenol included. Enjoy your stay, Don.”
— Gavin Newsom (03:15)

• The hosts praise Newsom’s willingness to confront Trump directly, contrasting this with more subdued Democratic leaders.

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3. UN Speech Disaster and Right-Wing Backlash (04:01–06:30)

• Trump’s team’s mishandling of logistics at the UN—broken teleprompter, escalator failure—becomes right-wing fodder for conspiracy theories.
• Hosts play and comment on Fox News personalities like Jesse Watters, who float absurd claims: “What we need to do is either leave the UN or we need to bomb…”
• Newsom trolls these attempts with tongue-in-cheek bravado:

  “I only walk up escalators because that’s what real manly men do.” (05:00)

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4. Contrasting Climate Leadership: Newsom v. Trump (06:30–11:18)

• Trump’s UN remarks on climate: he calls climate change “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world” and touts the MAGA “right about everything” hat.
• Newsom claps back with policy wins:
  • 2/3 of California’s energy is clean
  • 25% new cars are EVs
  • Clean truck sales more than doubled the 2024 mandate
• Newsom also releases (and sells) a parody “Newsom Was Right About Everything” hat.

Quote:

“Good for the environment, good for business, good for manufacturing. And Donald Trump wants to rip it all away.”
— Host (08:15)

“Trump’s teleprompter broke. He told every other nation they are going to hell. He bragged about violating international law. He blamed climate change on immigrants. He complained about the wind not blowing enough and made a plug for his campaign hats. What a disgrace.”
— Gavin Newsom, quoting Trump’s speech (08:40)

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5. International Alliances and Real Leadership (11:18–12:33)

• Newsom meets with EU Climate Commissioner WB Hoekstra, reaffirming cross-continental climate cooperation.
• Calls Trump “an arsonist, lighting your future on fire,” intensifying the indictment of the federal government’s environmental backsliding.

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6. Protecting Democracy Against Trump’s Authoritarian Moves (12:33–13:21)

• Newsom and AOC team up in a campaign (via video) promoting California’s Prop 50, which aims to counter Trump-attempted gerrymandering.
• The Prop 50 video spotlights the threat to American democracy posed by Trump’s attempts to redraw congressional maps.

Quote:

“Donald Trump is redrawing election maps to force through a Congress that only answers to him, not the people. If he gets away with it, all bets are off for our health care, our paychecks and our freedoms. With Prop 50, we can stop him.”
— AOC (12:35)

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7. Trump’s Immigration Tactics and State Resistance (13:21–14:29)

• Newsom recounts a disturbing incident: Trump’s administration, via Stephen Miller, sent masked men to intimidate voters at California’s Democracy Center—likened to historical moments of injustice.
• California, Newsom says, stands up to such anti-democratic tactics.

Quote:

“That’s Trump’s America, but it is not the America we’ve grown up in.”
— Gavin Newsom (14:15)

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8. Environmental Policy and the Fight with the EPA (14:29–16:29)

• Newsom denounces the Trump EPA’s plan to revoke the Endangerment Finding, pitting science against fossil fuel interests.
• Shares stark climate facts from 2023: 28 natural disasters, 400+ fatalities, $92B in damages—all exacerbated by climate change.
• Newsom finishes with a vow for California to press forward on climate action regardless of federal support.

Quote:

“California will not wait. We will continue to lead because we have no choice. The lives and livelihoods of our people depend on it.”
— Gavin Newsom (16:10)

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9. Newsom Action on Housing Crisis (16:29)

• Newsom announces $414 million for nearly 3,000 affordable homes, highlighting California’s proactive approach to homelessness and housing—another area in which he draws a contrast to the Trump agenda.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Newsom’s “Memory Meadows” roast of Trump: (03:15)
• AOC’s democracy defense rallying cry: (12:35)
• Newsom’s critique of “masked men” voter intimidation: (14:15)
• Newsom’s climate and leadership commitment: (16:10)

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Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|----------------------------------------------| | 01:34 | Newsom’s arrival and intent in New York | | 03:15 | Newsom’s “Memory Meadows” social jab | | 04:01 | Trump’s disastrous UN speech, Newsom mocks | | 05:00 | Fox News’s wild UN escalator conspiracies | | 08:15 | Newsom’s clean energy economic case | | 12:35 | AOC & Newsom on Prop 50/democracy | | 14:15 | Newsom recounts federal voter intimidation | | 16:10 | Newsom’s passionate climate vow | | 16:29 | Newsom on affordable housing progress |

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Tone & Language

• Direct, irreverent, and sharply critical of Trump and right-wing media.
• Newsom’s voice: confident, mocking, at times biting – “I’ve been right about everything”; “arsonist, lighting your future on fire.”
• The hosts amp up the sibling banter and humor but stay laser-focused on laying out a contrast between Newsom’s vision and Trump’s chaos.

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Conclusion

This episode is a showcase of Governor Newsom’s willingness to confront and publicly mock Trump, positioning himself as both a national and international leader grounded in climate action, policy results, and defense of democracy. The MeidasTouch brothers, with their characteristic wit and clarity, sharply draw the contrast between strong, proactive governance and the chaos of Trump-era politics. The episode is both a rallying cry for progressives and an accessible, entertaining breakdown of a consequential week at the intersection of state, national, and global politics.

Transcript

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[Governor Gavin Newsom]

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[Narrator/Host]

Donald Trump got a rude awakening in New York when California Governor Newsom was there to greet him. No, Governor Newsom was there to mock him, humiliate him, but most importantly, show moral clarity and powerfully stand up to Donald Trump. Governor Newsom announced that he arrived in New York early in the morning. Of course, it's the same week where Donald Trump gave that disastrous speech in the United Nations General Assembly. Governor Newsom post Good morning from New York. It's Climate Week in New York City. So while Donald Trump was at the United nations attacking climate change research and spreading disinformation, Governor Newsom was there forming alliances as though Governor Newsom was actually the leader of the country with our traditional allies in Europe and elsewhere meeting with the Brazil delegation, which I don't think was a coincidence, as Donald Trump keeps attacking Brazil and put Magnitsky sanctions on the Brazil Supreme Court judge's wife because the Brazil Supreme Court found their insurrection as former President Jair Bolsonaro criminally liable of leading an insurrection and sentenced him to over 25 years the way our Supreme Court should have. But let's show what Governor Newsom did as he's just living rent free and Donald Trump's head. So he posts that photo Governor Newsom does with the Brazilian delegation and talks about this memorandum of understanding where California and Brazil will collaborate together to fight climate change. But I know what you're here for, folks. And so does Governor Newsom mocking Dozy Don. Governor Newsom posts the following on his social media account. Dozy Don was defeated by the escalator. Poor guy. The entire world is laughing at the low IQ President and he puts president in quotes. And next stop, the best room at Memory Meadows retirement result resort, Tylenol included. Enjoy your stay, Don. Gcn Governor Newsom's initials. Then Governor Newsom made this video to mock, humiliate and bully Donald Trump the way it should be done. Watch this here. Play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

And I don't mind making this speech without a teleprompter because the teleprompter is not working. Your countries are going to hell, bruh. The wind doesn't blow. Those big windmills are so pathetic and so bad. The best selling hat. Gavin Newsom was right about everything.

[Narrator/Host]

Beautiful. And take a look at this photo right here of Donald Trump from that disastrous speech at the United Nations. Now you know that Donald Trump and Maga, they've been whining about the escalator shutting down before Donald Trump went on it in the United Nations. And they've been whining about the teleprompter not working. Notably, Trump's team was in charge of the teleprompter and it was Trump's videographer. You know the ones who make those horrific videos where they attack the migrants. Yeah, it was that videographer. Those videographers, they were the ones who actually stopped the escalator as they rushed up. That's what the subsequent investigation by the United nations found. But as Governor Newsom said, to mock all of this right wing media madness, whining about the escalator not working, Newsom goes, I only walk up escalators because that's what real manly men do. Jesse Watters and Fox, Can I just show you pathetic Donald Trump who couldn't get up that escalator because his own team broke it. Watch this clip. Let's play it.

[Sponsor/Advertiser Voice]

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[Andrew (United Pilot)]

President Trump, President Trump, Schumer.

[Narrator/Host]

And then Governor Newsom was attacking the Jesse Waters clip. Where Jesse Waters suggested a military strike on the United nations over the escalator and teleprompter. Here, watch this. What's going on with the escalator? What do you think? Yeah, they sabotaged them.

[Donald Trump]

Yeah.

[Narrator/Host]

And they could have hurt the first lady.

[Andrew (United Pilot)]

Yeah.

[Narrator/Host]

Trump would have fallen and would have gotten back up, but, you know, they would have blamed it on his rhetoric. And then they sabotaged the teleprompter.

[Donald Trump]

Yeah.

[Narrator/Host]

I mean, this is, this is an insurrection. And what we need to do is either leave the UN or we need to bomb is in New York though, right?

[Governor Gavin Newsom]

Yeah.

[Narrator/Host]

There'd be some fallout there. All right. No. And Governor Newsom was there in New York, really, I think to show what real leadership looks like in contrast to Donald Trump's pathetic, weak, whatever the hell you want to call it. Right. The United States Department of Energy posted a clip of Donald Trump's disastrous speech in front of United nations where Donald Trump said climate change is the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world. If you don't get away from the green energy scam, your country is going to fail. I'm not going to play the video of Donald Trump because I really don't want to watch it. But that's a direct quote of what Trump said. So Governor Newsom responds. Meanwhile, back in reality, California, the fourth largest economy in the world, is running on 2/3 clean energy, with 25% of all new car sales being electric vehicles, not to mention billions going back into the pockets of millions of Californians. And Governor Newsom is not shying away that California believes in climate change, but also it is a profitable thing as well. It is driving industry and it is driving making the environment better. Governor Newsom announced clean truck sales continue to rise in California. Manufacturers reporting 30,000 emission trucks, buses and van sold, representing nearly 23% of all new truck sales. Why this matters. That is more than double the minimum statewide target for the 2024 model year and marks the highest total of sales every ever reported, up from just 1% four years ago. Good for the environment, good for business, good for manufacturing. And Donald Trump wants to rip it all away. Governor Newsom posts the following about Donald Trump's disastrous speech at the United Nations. Governor Newsom goes Trump's telepom teleprompter broke. He told every other nation they are going to hell. He bragged about violating international law. He blamed climate change on immigrants. He complained about the wind not blowing enough and made a plug for his campaign hats. What a disgrace.

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[Narrator/Host]

Then Governor Newsom mocks Donald Trump by posting a Newsom was right about everything red hat, which Newsom is actually selling. And Newsom goes, I'm really good at predicting things. During the campaign they had a hat, a best selling hat. Newsom was right about everything. And I don't say that in a braggadocious way, but it's true. I've been right about everything. And he's mocking Donald Trump's speech where Trump said the following Play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

Slimate change because if it goes higher or lower, whatever the hell happens, is climate change. It's the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world, in my opinion. Climate change, no matter what happens, you're involved in that. No more global warming, no more global cooling. All of these predictions made by the United nations and many others, often for bad reasons, were wrong. They were made by stupid people that have cost their country's fortunes and given those same countries no chance for success. If you don't get away from this green scam, your country is going to fail. And I'm really good at predicting things. You know, they actually said during the campaign they had a hat, the best selling hat. Trump was right about everything. And I don't say that in a braggadocious way, but it's true. I've been right about everything. And I'm telling you that if you don't get away from the green energy scam, your country is going to fail.

[Narrator/Host]

Governor Newsom then posts a photo of himself with the European Union Climate Commissioner WB Hoekstra, where he goes, hoekstra and I reaffirmed our commitment to strengthen climate change cooperation between California and the EU and to continue working toward our mutual goals. Right? Just take a look at that photo right there. Right? That's what real leadership Looks like. Governor Newsom then, in all caps, says the following to Donald Trump. Donald Trump is an arsonist, lighting your future on fire. Governor Newsom accuses EPA head of abandoning climate goals. Now, Governor Newsom then posted three videos I want to share with you right now. In the first video, it is a video of aoc. I don't know, Newsom, AOC kind of has a nice ring to it, I guess. And Governor Newsom, post this video that AOC made. Trump is redrawing maps to force a Congress that only answers to him, not the people. AOC knows California can stop him with Prop 50. Newsom, AOC here. Play this clip.

[Andrew (United Pilot)]

California, you know we don't back down from a fight. And this November, the fight belongs to you. Donald Trump is redrawing election maps to force through a Congress that only answers to him, not the people. If he gets away with it, all bets are off for our health care, our paychecks and our freedoms. With Prop 50, we can stop him. Prop 50 levels the playing field and gives power back to the people. Fight for democracy in all 50 states. Yes, on 50.

[Narrator/Host]

Then Governor Newsom posted this video of himself playing with people's livelihoods, ripping away hardworking parents of US Citizens from their families. Is that just all collateral damage to you, Donald Trump and Stephen Miller? Is this the heartlessness really, that the America that you want to live in? Play this clip.

[Governor Gavin Newsom]

We announced just a few weeks ago that we were standing up and pushing back as it relates to the rigging of elections. We were at the Democracy center in Little Tokyo, the sacred site where we were interning and busing the Japanese, that shameful part of our past. And what did the administration do? What did Stephen Miller do? What did Donald Trump do? They sent masked men to intimidate folks from walking in to that event. Masked men, Poor soul that happened to be in the area. Delivery guy delivering strawberries was detained because he just happened to be in the area. Collateral damage disappeared. These masked men had no identification. These masked men did not provide any information. Name, badge number hidden from accountability, any transparency, any oversight. That's Trump's America, but it is not the America we've grown up in.

[Narrator/Host]

And finally, Governor Newsom post this video right here where he proudly talks about California combating climate change. And he goes, it's real. We believe in the environment here in California. The Trump administration's decision to revoke the EPA endangerment finding isn't just scientifically wrong. It violates the principles of the Clean Air act by repeatedly siding with polluters Trump is actively damaging Americans health and failing our nation. Here, play this clip this week I.

[Governor Gavin Newsom]

Submitted a formal comment opposing the US EPA's proposal to rescind what is known as the Endangerment Finding. It was a 2009 landmark ruling that climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions threatens both public health and welfare. The Endangerment finding is based on science, not politics and provides the foundation for years and years of key clean air regulations at the federal level, including rules that protect Americans from polluting cars and trucks. But now the Trump administration, they want to erase all of that and they're relying on cherry picked propaganda spoon fed to the EPA by the oil industry. And if you don't believe by the way in science, they should believe in their own set of eyes. Consider this. In 2023 alone we saw 28 separate national disasters, fires and hurricanes and floods each made more devastating by climate change. Those claim, by the way, some 400 lives and $92 billion in damages. The EPA is siding once again with polluters over science and telling fire victims to ignore the flames, flood victims to ignore rising water, and parents of asthmatic children to ignore their kids choking. This is not leadership. This is betrayal. Betrayal of the American people that the EPA is duty bound to protect. California will not wait. We will continue to lead because we have no choice. The lives and livelihoods of our people depend on it. We should be able to count on the federal government to do the same.

[Narrator/Host]

There you have it folks. Oh and Governor Newsom posted about $414 million in California funds headed out the door to create another 2,999 affordable homes. With California outperforming the rest of the country in turning our state's homeless crisis around and creating more homes is a key component of that strategy. Thanks for watching folks hit subscribe. That to me is the leadership we read need right now. Let's get to 6 million subscribers.

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