The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Trump Gives Disaster Speech After Kirk Assassination
Date: September 11, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas (MeidasTouch Network)
Main Theme:
The brothers break down Donald Trump’s controversial Oval Office speech following the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. They analyze the response from Trump and right-wing figures, highlight the spread of disinformation and political rhetoric blaming liberals, and underscore the dangers of escalating political violence in America. The episode is characterized by the Meiselas brothers’ direct critique, concern for democracy, and signature banter.

Episode Overview

The Meiselas brothers open by addressing Donald Trump’s divisive Oval Office speech after Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Rather than uniting the country or calling for restraint, Trump and key right-wing figures aggressively blamed the “radical left” without evidence, further stoking partisan tensions. The hosts dig into the cycle of misinformation, politicized blame, and the double standards in public reactions to political violence, drawing parallels to similar events involving both conservative and liberal victims.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump's Reaction to the Kirk Assassination (01:25, 12:46)

• Trump’s immediate response did not focus on unity or facts, but rather blamed Democrats and the left, using highly inflammatory rhetoric.

• Quote (01:25):
  “Donald Trump's statement is to say these. This is the fault of the radical left and Democrats and they did this and they're scum and we should go after them.” – [Podcast Host, Ben]

• Trump referenced prior attacks—including the attempt on his own life and the killing of Minnesota’s Melissa Hortman—blaming the left in those cases as well.

• The hosts highlighted the pattern where facts are ignored in favor of narratives that paint liberals as violent instigators, regardless of actual evidence.

2. The Spread of Misinformation and Conspiracies (03:45, 08:00)

• Right-wing influencers (e.g., Libs of TikTok, Laura Loomer) quickly called for retaliation or labeled Democrats as domestic terrorists without any supporting facts.
• Quote (03:45):
  “Right away though, the way the right wing uses this, weaponizes it, says the Dems did this, the liberals did this. Get rid of them. Eradicate, exterminate the. They use that language, I mean, is horrific.” – [Ben]
• The hosts condemned this dangerous escalation, emphasizing that the facts about the shooter were still unknown.
• The government’s mishandling of the investigation—including misidentifying suspects and public misstatements by FBI head Kash Patel—was called out as emblematic of deeper structural issues.

3. Condemnation of Political Violence (05:30, 10:32)

• The Meiselas brothers reiterated their unequivocal rejection of any kind of political violence, regardless of political alignment.
• Quote (05:30):
  “The way you handle your disagreements is not through political violence ... I condemn political violence.” – [Ben]
• They contrasted their stance with the inflammatory rhetoric used by right-wing politicians and influencers.

4. Examples of Double Standards and ‘Both Sides’ Discourse (07:08, 08:00, 09:09)

• Congressional responses vary wildly by party. Rep. Nancy Mace directly blamed Democrats, even as facts remained unclear.
• Quote (07:08):
  “Democrats own what happened today ... Democrats own this 100%.” – [Nancy Mace]
• When pressed about right-wing violence against Democrats (notably, the assassination of Melissa Hortman), such figures refused to acknowledge a broader issue of political violence.
• House Speaker Mike Johnson echoed the blame-the-left narrative, suggesting social media dialogue and Democrat statements incited the violence:
  • Quote (08:16):
    “It's clear. You've had people who have resorted to political violence because they were encouraged along by the dialogue out in the public square.” – [MAGA Mike Johnson]

5. Critique of Law Enforcement and the FBI (09:32, 13:54)

• The hosts criticized the FBI for multiple missteps during the investigation, including firing experienced officials (notably, Metab Saeed—a Pakistani-American woman who led the Utah field office).
• Quote (09:32):
  “They got rid of her, which could have been helpful to prevent situations like this from the outset … Now you have some 22-year-old intern … running the Domestic Terrorism Unit. That's horrible stuff right there.” – [Ben]

6. Democratic Leaders’ Responses: Contrast in Tone (10:32)

• Democrats, such as Rep. Jamie Raskin and Sen. Mark Kelly, issued measured statements condemning violence and offering thoughts for Kirk’s family, emphasizing unity and de-escalation.
• Quote (10:32):
  “We must categorically reject all violence in our society.” – [Rep. Jamie Raskin]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ben (Podcast Host) on Trump’s Speech (01:25):
  “Rather than try to bring Americans together ... Donald Trump's statement is to say these. This is the fault of the radical left and Democrats and they did this and they're scum and we should go after them.”

• Nancy Mace, Rep. (07:08):
  “Democrats own what happened today. I am devastated. My kids have called panicking ... Democrats own this 100%.”

• MAGA Mike Johnson (08:16):
  “It's clear. You've had people who have resorted to political violence because they were encouraged along by the dialogue out in the public square.”

• Donald Trump (12:46):
  “For years, those on the radical have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world's worst mass murderers … This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we're seeing.”

• Ben, on the state of politics and violence (05:30):
  “Regardless of my views of Charlie Kirk and how I think Charlie Kirk has some of the most hurtful and hateful ideology ... I condemn political violence.”

Important Timestamps

• 01:25 – Opening analysis of Trump's divisive Oval Office speech
• 03:28 – Trump’s dismissive response on calling Governor Walz after Melissa Hortman’s assassination
• 05:30 – Ben’s categorical condemnation of all political violence
• 07:08 – Nancy Mace blames Democrats for Kirk shooting
• 08:16 – Speaker Mike Johnson blames left-leaning rhetoric for violence
• 09:32 – Critique of the FBI's handling and Trump’s personnel changes
• 10:32 – Democratic leaders’ measured statements
• 12:46 – Trump’s full Oval Office remarks blaming the left
• 13:54 – Host's closing thoughts, summary of broader systemic failures

Episode Tone & Style

The hosts exhibit their characteristic intensity and directness, combining legal and political expertise with urgency. The conversation is laced with gallows humor and brotherly banter but underpinned by deep concern for the state of American democracy. They maintain a strong stance for civility, facts, and rule of law, assertively calling out hypocrisy and danger in the rhetoric of influential right-wing figures.

Conclusion

This episode underscores the urgent threat posed by escalating political violence and the amplifying effect of irresponsible leadership and social media narratives. The Meiselas brothers argue forcefully that facts matter, violence must be condemned universally, and double standards only deepen division and danger. Their analysis cautions listeners against knee-jerk blame and highlights the importance of preserving democratic norms and civil discourse, especially in moments of national crisis.