Trump Gets Stunned as Massive Protests Get Even Bigger

Summary

Podcast Summary: The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode Title: Trump Gets Stunned as Massive Protests Get Even Bigger
Release Date: January 24, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

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Overview

This episode dives deep into the surging protest movement against the Trump administration’s aggressive ICE raids and border enforcement tactics, with a focus on the historic general strike and mass demonstrations in Minnesota. Drawing on exclusive on-the-ground reporting from their independent media partners at Status Coup News, the Meiselas brothers capture the scale, resolve, and emotional undertones of the protesters braving subzero temperatures in a collective stand for democracy, dignity, and community solidarity. Throughout, listeners are offered moving firsthand accounts and sharp commentary on the current state of American democracy.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Historic Protests and General Strike in Minnesota

• Scale: Tens of thousands participate despite extreme cold (–10°F to –22°F wind chill).
• Solidarity: Protesters unite against ICE operations and the Trump administration’s authoritarian tactics.
• General Strike: The largest strike seen “in generations” shuts down sectors across the state.
• Underreported by Mainstream Media: Coverage driven by independent journalists, especially Status Coup, not legacy media.

2. ICE Crackdown and Political Repression

• Aggressive Tactics: ICE and Border Patrol described as a “Gestapo” terrorizing communities (03:28).
• Targeting Civilians: Protesters allege indiscriminate targeting and cite trauma within immigrant and working-class neighborhoods.
• Protesters' Demands: Explicit calls for ICE to leave Minnesota and for airlines to cease participating in deportations.

3. Community Response & Building Networks

• Mutual Aid: Strikes and protests spark new neighbor coalitions, organizing for “something they’re not prepared for” (08:55).
• Priests and Clergy Arrested: Over 100 arrested for peaceful resistance at Minneapolis airport—clergy take the frontlines in below-zero temperatures (05:39).

4. On-the-Ground Perspectives

• Courage and Resolve: Protesters highlight that large numbers turning out in extreme weather proves their commitment and exposes the administration’s lies (07:21).
• Stories Interrupted: Protesters share deeply personal motivations—emphasizing every life as a “story” disrupted by unjust policies (14:49).
• J.D. Vance Backlash: Protesters rebuke Vice President Vance’s characterization of ICE as ‘unsung heroes’—calling agents “barely restrained criminal thugs” (17:39).

5. Memorable and Impactful Quotes

• On Protest Motives:

  "We are seeing tens of thousands of people taking to the streets here in Minnesota in a popular demonstration of mass rage against the Trump administration. And rage, that is the emotion that... Minnesotans express more than anything else."
  — Status Coup Reporter, 04:32

• On Solidarity:

  "This is a show of solidarity. It's a show of community... we're building something, a network of neighbors in this city that I don't think they're prepared for."
  — Minnesota Protester, 08:55

• On Government Repression:

  "Stop kidnapping and murdering our people."
  — Protester, 12:23

  "It's tyrannical and we're falling under a fascist regime very quickly."
  — Protester, 12:39

• ICE and Trump Criticism:

  "All of these people that ICE and the Trump administration are fucking over, every single one of those people is a story. And they've had their story interrupted... The story isn't over. But that child's story is dark."
  — Protester, 14:49

• On Community Strength:

  "We're stronger than them, and I think being out here on a cold morning like this really shows that. I hope they get frostbite. We are strong and we are together. You cannot divide us."
  — Protester, 16:14

  "They are not the heroes. They are barely restrained criminal thugs, barely trained. It's a crowd of proud boys, Oath Keepers, 3 percenters, that they're still wearing the same shit and they just threw on an ICE patch over it."
  — Protester, 17:39

6. Critique of Trump’s Response

• Out-of-Touch Leadership:
  Trump reportedly posts about “golden arches,” AI-generated IndyCar races at the Capitol, and self-enriching international ventures, while ignoring real protests (18:04).
• Contrast: Protesters’ ‘heroic’ stand juxtaposed with Trump’s self-serving distractions and regime corruption.

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Notable Moments & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Quote | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:00 | Introduction of the massive Minnesota protests and general strike | | 04:32 | Status Coup reporting live in –10 to –22°F conditions | | 05:39 | Over 100 priests arrested for anti-ICE protest at Minneapolis airport | | 07:21 | Protesters undeterred by cold: “icicles forming on people’s eyelashes” | | 08:55 | Protester explains community solidarity and new organizing | | 12:23 | Harrowing protest chant: “Stop kidnapping and murdering our people.” | | 12:39 | “We’re falling under a fascist regime very quickly.” | | 14:49 | Every person is a story: personalizing the policy’s human cost | | 16:14 | “We’re stronger than them... We are strong and we are together.” | | 17:39 | Denouncing ICE as “criminal thugs:... still wearing the same shit...” | | 18:04 | Trump’s out-of-touch antics compared to the gravitas of the protests |

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Tone, Style, and Closing

The hosts maintain their signature combination of biting political critique, heartfelt support for grassroots activism, and fraternal banter, while lifting up the unfiltered voices of those risking everything in the face of authoritarianism. The episode’s tone is unapologetically fierce, urgent, and community-driven, spotlighting real stories that mainstream outlets have ignored.

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Conclusion

“Trump Gets Stunned as Massive Protests Get Even Bigger” is a powerful, frontline chronicle of American resistance at a historic moment. If you’ve missed the live action, this summary pulls you into the drama, determination, and humanity shaping Minnesota’s response—providing both context and inspiration for listeners and activists nationwide.

Transcript

[A]

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[C]

This photo of the protests taking place right now in Minnesota. These protests are getting bigger and bigger. Tens of thousands of people showing up there in Minnesota. We're seeing protests across the country as well that I'll get to in just a moment. But as I reported earlier today, in Minnesota there has been a general strike. One of the biggest general strikes we've seen in generations, if not ever. And it's something that we think we need to see in states across this country. If Donald Trump is going to invade our peaceful cities, we need to shut it down and stand in solidarity with each other as right wing oligarchs bend the knee and expect workers to just do their bidding. We need to stand in solidarity with each other and let these CEOs who are getting paid tens of millions of dollars at the expense of workers who screwing over their workers as health care is being ripped away, as people who are working jobs can't afford homes. We need to show them who really runs this country. So a general strike took place in Minnesota today. But then the protests in connection with this general strike have exceeded all expectations. I want to give a shout out to our friends over at Status Coup News. They are on the ground in negative 20 degree weather where no other corporate news is covering this at all. Our independent reporting here at the Midas Touch Network through our partnership with Status Coup have captured these protests. Scenes of these protests we've speak, we've spoken with the peaceful protesters, those on this general strike to bring you exclusive images that you're not seeing anywhere else. Just first and foremost, again take a look at how huge this crowd is right here. Here are some other pictures and here's Status Coup on the ground reminder. Subscribe to the Status Coup YouTube page. Subscribe to their substack. Obviously I want you to subscribe to the Midas Touch YouTube page and help us get to 6 million subscribers if you're not subscribed. But more importantly than us, Status Coup have been such incredible partners on the ground in Minnesota, capturing the destruction and terrorizing of communities caused by ICE and border Patrol Gestapo. And now they're out there documenting these protests. So here it is, a negative 10 to negative 20 degree weather in Minnesota. You'll see thousands of Minnesotans marching together in solidarity as part of this general strike demanding ICE leave the state. Here, play this clip.

[D]

What we are doing here right now, showing what the, what the will of the masses is here in Minnesota. I have gone this whole time without noting what the temperature is outside. As of right now it should be about negative 10. It feels colder with the wind chill. Earlier today it reached a low of negative 22 degrees. And yet we are seeing tens of thousands of people taking to the streets here in Minnesota in a popular demonstration of mass rage against the Trump administration. And rage, that is the emotion that I have heard Minnesotans express more than anything else. All surrounding me are Americans are Minnesotans who paid their taxes and have seen their taxes come back to them and in the form of tear gas, in the form of retribution from immigration agents and in the form of bullets that entered. Renee Goode I want to say that the biggest thing you can do to support us is also the, the smallest ask I can make, which is to Just like or share this street.

[C]

Now this next image is not brought to you by Status Coup. Other reporters got us this one or got you this one. Over 100 priests arrested in Minneapolis for protesting ICE in Minnesota. Where today it's again negative 21 degr degrees. Outside of the airport, you'll see clergy gathering in prayerful solidarity to demand that airlines, especially Delta and Signature Aviation cease contracting to deport individuals with dhs. Take a look right here at what was taking place outside of the airport. Now I'm gonna go back to Minnesota in a moment, but take a look at these huge anti ICE protests taking place right here in Georgia at Meadow Creek High School where there was a student walkout that just took place moments ago. Let's play. Next. Going back on the ground with status coup news here you'll see some protesters in this -20 degree weather. You'll see icicles forming on people's eyelashes here. Play this clip.

[D]

You know, last I said, I said, last I checked it was negative 24 with the wind chill and these Minnesotans are out here to, to make their voices heard all the same protesting seemingly undeterred. I mean, I'm seeing, I'm seeing icy icicles form on people's. People's eyelashes out here on mustaches, on eyebrows from just the condensation from their own breath freezing against, against their face. I don't know if I have any on mine. I'm seeing some ice hanging off of John's beard right now behind the camera. Poor John has to hold the camera, the cold metal camera in his hand as we talk here. Luckily I've seen him set it down on occasion. But I just want to say that if this reporting is important to be able to show that as you know, as this administration has been want to do to frame that it's the vast majority of Minnesotans are behind the administration's efforts that ICE agents are the unsung heroes that there isn't much in the way of anti ice demonstration and protest. I mean, I think this is pretty irrefutable out here this morning that this many people are willing to come out in these temperatures. There is not the mainstream press out here. It's us. It's us and just a few other independent journalists.

[C]

And then we were able to get some comments from people on the ground. You had J.T. sisowski there, incredible reporter at Status Coup. One of the protesters talked about how this is a show of solidarity. Let's play it.

[B]

So this is, this is a show of solidarity. It's a show of community. It's a show of, you know, strength in numbers to show that we are organized, we are together, we're all one in this. This has given us motivation, kind of sparks organization within communities that we've never had before. You know, neighbors meeting neighbors, neighborhoods all banding together, forming groups, having community meetings, talking about what we can do to keep our community safe. And people have banded together. We're, we're building something network of neighbors in this city that I don't think they're prepared for.

[D]

When you say that, you don't think they're prepared for it.

[B]

I think they really underestimated what we can do to keep each other together, to keep us safe and to show solidarity. They want to divide us, they want to make us feel powerless. And what we're seeing here today is that together we do have power. We have power to resist their regime. We have power to come together, to organize, to look out for each other. And they're not going to stop that. They can. They've, they scared of us. They're scared of us. Yeah, they status coup. Everyone donate right now, I'm saying, you know, they, all they have is force. They don't have love, they don't have the strength of community. They don't have the togetherness that we do. And you know, they're doing this in January. We're used to this. Like they think this is going to scare us. We, we deal with this every year, the winter.

[D]

This is another Friday in Minnesota.

[E]

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[C]

Another ICE protester told JT Satowski. Stop kidnapping and murdering our people. Get the F out here. Play this clip.

[F]

Stop kidnapping and murdering our people.

[D]

Yeah, absolutely. And get out. Please.

[F]

Get the F out of our. Yeah.

[D]

Where does it say about the current state of our country that you have to tell the federal government not to murder its own. Its own citizens?

[F]

It's tyrannical and. And we're falling under a fascist regime. Regime very quickly.

[D]

Exactly Correct. Couldn't have said it better. Fascism. I mean, is that, Is that where you think? I mean, are we there? Is this 1930s Germany, is that. Is that what you see?

[F]

Oh, it started in the 1930s Germany. Sean would be able to. Yeah. Get in the historical part, but yeah, it's. We're following the exact pattern of what.

[D]

Happened then history repeats and we're just letting it happen. I mean, we're not trying to let it happen, but the administration is obviously. So that's why we're out here. I want to get your reaction to J.D. vance's visit yesterday. Came out here, tried to make ice sound like the, the unsung heroes in what is happening out here in Minnesota. When you saw the vice President come out here and speak, use Minneapolis, the Twin Cities as the backdrop for the propaganda that the administration is putting out. What was your reaction to what he had to say?

[F]

Everything they say is lies constantly. I mean, what else can be the reaction? Just almost. It's not. It would be funny if this wasn't so detrimental to our nation. My lips are starting to freeze. But yeah, I mean, it's just. It's complete bs, Pure propaganda.

[D]

That's all. That's all I thought. Propaganda.

[F]

That Is, Is. Is. Nah, this is not the right place for that.

[C]

Another protester called out ICE and the Trump regime and said all these people that ICE and the Trump administration are effing over, every single one of these people have their own story and we're marching right now for them. Here, play this clip.

[G]

I'm here and I don't give a about cold.

[D]

Clearly not. You don't even have your face covered. You're a. You're a different kind of metal.

[G]

Oh, believe it or not, I'm wearing cargo shorts underneath the car hearts. I'm. I'm a 365 shorts guy, so.

[D]

Okay, well you approved put up the.

[G]

Car hearts cuz I'm going to be outside for a while.

[D]

Well, you're earning that moniker as a365Shorts guy today. Oh, hell yeah. Yeah, you're living it. I want to talk to you a little bit about your sign that says every person is a story. ICE out of Minnesota. Can you explain that message? Every person is a story.

[G]

So every. Every person, every life is a story that begins at birth and ends at death. And your life is your story. Your story is your life. All of these people that ICE and the Trump administration are fucking over. Every single one of those. Every single one of those people is a story. And they've had their story interrupted. They've had their very. What's the word I'm looking for? Co opted by this fascist regime who wants people to do what they want them to do. And these people need to remember that these people that they're hauling off these five year olds that they're shipping to detention facilities in Texas, that child's story is. The story isn't. The story isn't over. But that child's story is dark. And every person is a story. Every. Every story deserves to be told. Every story deserves its chance to come to its rightful conclusion. To be honest, I was kind of between this message and hey, Bavino, go fuck yourself. But I figured I'd do something more constructive.

[D]

Absolutely.

[C]

Another protester said, we're stronger than them. We're stronger. And we're here to show that today. Play this clip.

[D]

Why did you want to be out here this morning? I mean, it's negative 20. There are other days to protest. You wanted to be out here this morning. Why was that important to you?

[H]

We're stronger than them and I think being out here on a cold morning like this really shows that. I hope they get frostbite. We are strong and we are together. You cannot divide us. We Love our neighbors, we love our community. And go home.

[D]

Go home. The Trump administration has said that its actions in this city and in others are nominally about keeping people safe, about arresting criminals. Can you describe to people who are not here in the Twin Cities area who are the kinds of people that the Trump administration is targeting?

[H]

Honestly, anyone? They are not arresting criminals. They are arresting our neighbors, our fellow people. They're not making the community safer. They're making it much more dangerous, actually, just even with just their driving. So, yeah, I don't know what they're talking about. They're just spreading lies, propaganda, whatever they want to say, it's not true. If you're not here, you don't get it.

[C]

Back to another protester he saw before saying, how dare J.D. vance call these ICE and Border Patrol terrorist heroes. They're not. They're criminal thugs is who they really are. Play this clip right here.

[D]

Are ICE agents the heroes, the way JD Vance framed them. And if not, you know what, how are they comporting themselves here in the Twin Cities area?

[G]

They are not the heroes. They are barely restrained criminal thugs, barely trained. It's a crowd of proud boys, Oath Keepers, 3 percenters, that they're still wearing the same shit and they just threw on an ICE patch over it. So, no, they are not the heroes. They're not making anybody safer. They're not making anybody feel better.

[C]

Now, all of that was taking place. You had Donald Trump posting images of golden arches that he wants to build. You also had Donald Trump sharing AI generated videos showing an IndyCar race surrounding the Capitol building. That's what Donald Trump finds interesting right now. He wants to do UFC fights, Indy car races, golden ballrooms, Club Mar A Lago, Take oil money from Venezuela that he sells to right wing oligarchs and ship them off to bank accounts in Qatar for himself. Create a board that he calls a peace board, which is filled with authoritarian leaders, and have them pay him a billion dollars and. And then ship that off to Qatari bank accounts. That is for himself. That is what the Trump regime is doing. Horrific, horrific stuff. We'll keep you posted on these protests. Tens of thousands, maybe even more here in Minnesota protesting this terroristic regime. We'll keep you posted every step of the way and shout out to all of the protesters out there. The Midas Touch Network stands in solidarity with you, and we hope that we are doing it even a little bit of justice in uplifting your stories. Thanks for watching.

[E]

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