Trump Goes Mute on US War Deaths…Markets Crash!!!!

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Trump Goes Mute on US War Deaths…Markets Crash!!!!
Date: March 9, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

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Main Theme & Purpose

This episode delves into the chaos unleashed by the Trump administration’s war against Iran: increased US service member deaths, catastrophic global market crashes, environmental devastation, and Trump’s evasive and self-aggrandizing responses. The Meiselas brothers break down the unfolding crisis with their signature blend of sharp political analysis, emotional candor, and biting humor.
Focus Areas: the human toll of Trump’s decisions, global economic fallout, environmental and geopolitical backlash, political grifting, and public outrage.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. US-Iran War: Rising Death Toll and Administration Secrecy

[00:33–02:00]

• As of recording, at least seven confirmed US service member deaths in combat, with an eighth unconfirmed due to lack of transparency from the Trump administration.
• The brothers emphasize the regime’s reputation for lying about casualties.
  • Quote (Political Commentator, 00:46): “The Trump regime lies. I just want to say that… So eight service members actually dead.”
• Trump remains silent on the issue, choosing instead to play golf at his Miami resort.

2. Global Economic Fallout

[01:15–02:40]

• Largest oil shock in history: Strait of Hormuz closure leads to a loss of 20 million barrels per day.
• Oil prices surge to $115+ per barrel; expectation of $4–$5/gallon gasoline.
• Major stock markets tumble: South Korea (-7%), Taiwan (-6%), Japan (-6%), Australia (-4%), US futures plummet.
  • Quote (Political Commentator, 01:31): “We are now seeing the single largest oil shock in world history… A global economic me caused by Donald Trump and his despicable regime.”
• Consequences extend to diesel prices and global supply chains.

3. Trump’s Public Response & Disconnect

[02:45–05:50]

• Trump observed forcing golf guests to clap for him, then frantically calling media outlets (including Times of Israel) to praise himself.
• Claims partnership with Netanyahu will determine war’s end: “Me and Netanyahu are gonna figure it out together.”
  • Calls Netanyahu’s leadership “an Amazing job” in the face of devastation.
• Quote (Political Commentator, 04:21): “‘An amazing job? What the hell are you talking about? It doesn’t get much more catastrophic and devastating.’”
• Social media antics: Trump posts that high oil prices are “a very small price to pay” for safety, reminiscent of his COVID-era downplaying.

4. Iran’s Response and Geopolitical Shift

[05:51–08:20]

• Regime Change: Old Ayatollah Khomeini killed, Mojtaba (his son) becomes new Ayatollah—heavily supported even by prior regime critics, rallying Iranian nationalism.
• Bombings unite the public behind hardliners, ostensibly strengthening Iran’s resistance and anti-US stance.
  • Quote (Political Commentator, 07:01): “The people of Iran are more entrenched than ever right now against the United States. Everything that Trump and his regime and Netanyahu’s done has absolutely backfired.”
• Environmental disaster: Israeli bombings of oil depots turn Tehran into “nuclear winter”-like conditions; future health implications loom.
• Iran retaliates by threatening or attacking desalination plants in neighboring countries, risking widespread water shortages.

5. US and Israeli Military Actions: Atrocities & Denials

[08:21–10:56]

• Confirmation emerging that the US struck an Iranian elementary school with Tomahawk missiles—over 150 children killed.
  • Quote (Political Commentator, 09:02): “It’s basically undisputed… our regime is just covering it up. And I don’t want to have to, like, convey that news to you. That’s what I do—telling you the truth. It’s tragic.”
• The Trump administration remains silent or evasive about accountability for civilian deaths.
• Israeli military faces prolonged conflict in southern Lebanon, incurring additional soldier casualties.

6. Draft Fears & Escalation

[13:07–13:56]

• Trump administration refuses to rule out ground troops or a military draft.
  • Caroline Levitt (13:33): “President Trump wisely does not remove options off of the table… it’s not part of the current plan right now, but… keeps his options on the table.”
• Anxiety among US families about their children being drafted—uncertainty and lack of clear assurances.

7. US Involvement in Civilian Casualties: Official Stonewalling

[14:51–15:24]

• Pete Hegseth questioned on CBS about US involvement in the Manob girls’ school bombing:
  • CBS Reporter (15:12): “If you could tell the American public it definitively was not us, you would tell us, wouldn’t you?”
  • Pete Hegseth (15:25): “I would say that it’s being investigated, which is the only—”
• Evidence from intelligence agencies and on-the-ground crater analysis point to US responsibility.

8. Historical Context and Grift

[15:30–16:59]

• Compares current oil crisis to previous supply shocks (1978 Iranian Revolution, Russia-Ukraine war).
• Trump’s past statements on oil: failed to refill strategic petroleum reserves when prices were lower, worsening crisis now.
• Trump files trademarks to commercialize “Trump250” — literally branding the American flag as a grift during the crisis.
  • Political Commentator (16:55): “It’s all one gigantic grift from this Trump regime.”

9. Diplomatic and Regional Breakdown

[17:08–17:50]

• US evacuating embassies (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Kuwait); oil-producing countries halt production due to storage overflow.
• Global crash: international markets, bitcoin, and precious metals all affected—a crisis on every front.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump’s priorities:
  “Yesterday, Donald Trump was golfing at Doral, his resort in Miami, Florida, and he was forcing people to clap for him as he would walk around. And then he would frantically call reporters. Like he even called the Times of Israel to say, look how great I’m doing.”
  — Political Commentator, [01:44]

• On the war’s backfire:
  “Everything that Trump and his regime and Netanyahu’s done has absolutely backfired.”
  — Political Commentator, [07:01]

• On the grift:
  “It’s all one gigantic grift from this Trump regime.”
  — Political Commentator, [16:55]

• On accountability for civilian deaths:
  “If you could tell the American public it definitively was not us, you would tell us, wouldn’t you?” — CBS Reporter, [15:12]
  “I would…” — Pete Hegseth, [15:25]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• US Service Member Deaths & White House Evasion: [00:33–02:00]
• Global Markets & Oil Crisis: [01:15–02:40]
• Trump’s Bizarre Public Behavior: [02:45–05:50]
• Iran’s Response & Regime Change: [05:51–08:20]
• US/Israeli Atrocities & Coverups: [08:21–10:56]
• Draft Speculation: [13:07–13:56]
• Government Stonewalling on Civilian Deaths: [14:51–15:24]
• Trump’s Political Grifting: [15:30–16:59]
• Worldwide Diplomatic Fallout: [17:08–17:50]

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Episode Tone & Final Takeaway

The hosts convey a tone of frustration, disbelief, and sorrow—all underscored by sardonic wit and the urgency of democratic accountability. Their message is clear: the Trump administration’s reckless policies are not only causing incalculable damage abroad and at home but are also being leveraged for political profit and self-aggrandizement.

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This summary captures the main narrative and emotional through-line of the episode for listeners who need an in-depth, timestamped overview of the critical issues, memorable moments, and the Meiselas brothers’ impassioned perspective.

Transcript

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[Political Commentator]

Donald Trump is panicking as his unlawful war against Iran is beyond catastrophic. We are learning about more US Service members who have been killed in combat. The number is now officially seven service members killed in combat that we are aware of. Remember, the Trump regime lies. I just want to say that also apparently an eighth service member died, apparently through circumstances that the Trump regime is not giving any details on. So eight service members actually dead. In this war against Iran, we are now seeing the single largest oil shock in world history. Right now we're losing about 20 million barrels of oil supply per day with the Hormuz Strait being closed essentially based on this war against Iran. In addition, markets are crashing all throughout Asia, Australia, throughout the entire world. Stock markets are crashing. The US Futures as of last night was absolutely crashing. The Dow, Nasdaq S&P down more than 2%. And that looked like it was going to get worse and worse by the minute. And speaking about by the minute, the price of oil exceeding $115 per barrel, we're likely going to see four to five dollars a gallon gasoline on average here in the United States. And the price of diesel is gonna be even more than that. I mean, you look at some of the markets yesterday, whether it was South Korea's market down 7%, Taiwan 6%, Japan 6%, Australia 4%. A global economic me caused by Donald Trump and his despicable regime. Yesterday, Donald Trump was golfing at Doral, his resort in Miami, Florida, and he was forcing people to clap for him as he would walk around. And then he would frantically call reporters. Like he even called the Times of Israel to say, look how great I'm doing. Isn't this amazing? To which the Times of Israel reporter said, well, when does this end? You know, are you able to withdraw on your own? Or do you have to wait for Netanyahu in order for this war against Iran to end? Because the global devastation that you're causing is absolutely massive right now. And Trump says, you know, it'll be a mutual decision. Me and Netanyahu are gonna figure it out together. Trump says, how great is Netanyahu? He's doing an Amazing job. An amazing job? What the hell are you talking about? It doesn't get much more catastrophic and devastating. And this. You know, interestingly, Lindsey Graham, who was out there saying yesterday morning on the morning shows, we're gonna bomb the hell out of Iran. We're gonna bomb the hell out of you. When more details, I guess, came out about how Israel was targeting these oil depots in Iran, basically turning all of Iran into what looks like a. Like, nuclear winter. The entire country was engulfed in these black clouds from the oil. And just about, not just the thousands of people who have been killed in Iran by the United States and Israel right now, but in the future, the people who are going to get cancers and other illnesses as a result of what has transpired. I mean, you saw those images yesterday in Tehran where, as a result of the oil being blown up, these oil depots being blown up by Israel and seeping into the sewage, you had basically this ignition moment where the flames, like, literally engulfed the whole of Tehran. And meanwhile, in Tehran and in Iran proper in general, as you know, they've elected a new Ayatollah Manchaba, the son of the old ayatollah. And you had people now who are even against the ayatollah in Iran very supportive of this regime now rallying around the ayatollah, rallying around Iranian nationalism. Trump lost the people who were out there even protesting against the ayatollah before. And a lot of the chants you're hearing in the street is, we now got a younger ayatollah, was Khomeini, who is 84, 85 years old. We now have his son. His son Mojaba, who's the new ayatollah, was greeted with huge applause in the streets. Mean the people of Iran are more entrenched than ever right now against the United States. Everything that Trump and his regime and Netanyahu's done has absolutely backfires. And Mon job is a more extremist, more of a zealot, more of a hardliner than even his father Ayatollah and his father's been killed and all of his family members have been killed by the Trump regime in the United States. So you think this guy's going to be out there doing negotiations with the United States, Trump and the United States. And Trump's regime at this point wants desperately to get a seat, ceasefire. But Iran's like, why would we do a ceasefire with you right now at all? We see that you're bringing down the global markets. You have destroyed all of your alliances. You have not been able to defeat Iran. Iran just picked its new ayatollah. They showed that they could have this transition of power. And sure, the United States and Israel, you're hitting Iran hard. You're blowing up oil depots and desalination posts. But Iran's like, well, we'll strike back. Also, we'll hit the desalination posts of Bahrain and some of the Middle east neighbors. You know, one of the big issues in the Middle east, even bigger than oil, which right now is an utter disaster as you basically have all of the nations in the Middle east shutting down productions of oil. But desalination is like the biggest issue. Purified water. They don't have a lot of water in the desert or purified water out there. So when Israel goes and attacks Iran's desalination, Iran's plan was, okay, well now we're going to hit the desalination in Bahrain and all of the neighbors and we can knock out all of the water that goes to example, to Bahrain or Qatar or Saudi Arabia or United Arab Emirates. And we shut down the water. You kill people because the people aren't able to drink, people aren't able to access water. So this massive global crisis has been unleashed by, by Donald Trump and his despicable regime right now. And the people of Iran more entrenched against Trump in this regime than ever before. And what's Donald Trump doing again? He was walking around Doral, his resort in Miami, Florida yesterday, golfing and sending messages like this. This is a real post from Donald Trump last night. Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for USA and work, world safety and peace. Only fools would think differently. President DJT remember when he was in charge during COVID or I should say was not in charge, but was in the Oval Office during COVID Like a miracle. It's all going to go away. We'll bend the curve by Easter. It's all going away. I promise you. He is a liar. So as I mentioned, he called Times of Israel and he was asked by, by the Times of Israel reporter whether he alone would decide when the war with Iran ends or if Netanyahu would also have a say. Donald Trump says again while he's walking around his property in Doral. I think it's mutual a little bit. We've been talking. I'll make a decision at the right time, but everything's going to be taken into account. Asked whether Israel could continue the war against Iran even after the US Decides to halt its strikes. Trump declined to entertain the theoretical possibility before adding, I don't think it's going to be necessary. Uh, Donald Trump went on to say that he thinks that. He goes, we'll see what happens. Regarding the new Ayatollah, um, what else did Donald Trump say in this interview regarding Netanyahu? Donald Trump said, this was on Sunday. Donald Trump said, netanyahu and I have done a great job together, like what we're doing with Iran right now. Donald Trump then says, Iran was going to destroy Israel and everything else around it. Now look what we have. Look what we have done. We have destroyed them. And Trump says he's not surprised by how widespread support for Iran war is in Israel, joking that the only thing more popular there is his own favorabilities. He says that he's joking. He, Donald Trump thinks this is all one big, One big funny thing right here. Especially as we learn more and more details that, yes, indeed, the United States blew up the elementary school in Manob in Iran. It was our Tomahawk missiles that did it. It's basically undisputed at this point. And our regime is just covering it up. And I don't want. I don't want to have to, like, convey that news to you. That's what I do that telling you the truth. It's tragic. It's sad to me that that is something that's catastrophic that has happened, but that is what the United States is. That's what we've become. That's what we are under the Trump regime, you know, and. And it brings absolute pain to me. Donald Trump goes, bb's done a great job. He's a wartime prime minister. Look at how well we work together. Many people will disarm because of the war against Iran. Right now, Iran is in a position that it's never known before. And it's only going to get worse for them, really, because let me show you what's going on in Tehran right now where you can see the chants that are going on in the streets right now while Donald Trump was out there saying that. Here you have the people out there with the announcement of the new Ayatollah saying, here I am at your service, Khomeini. Here, play this clip. And here the people are shouting in favor of having Khomeini be the next Ayatollah. You can see for yourself. Now, contrast that to Donald Trump in Doral at his resort as guests clapped for him as he was golfing while he was doing all of this. Play this clip. Now. Also on Donald Trump social media platform, they are running ads. So he's taking paid ads that say, should we stop attacks on Iran, yes or no. And when you click the ad, it then brings you to a place where you can buy golden Trump products. Right now. Also, in addition to the US Casualties, Israel sustaining casualties, Israel's talking about how the war that it's involved in in southern Lebanon right now is going to take a long time. Two soldiers at least died in southern Lebanon right now and many others injured. We also don't fully know how many American soldiers really have been seriously wounded. In addition to eight. Eight dead. The Trump regime is saying nine. But the Trump regime lies about everything. Oh, and regarding the possibility of people getting drafted, Trump's not ruling out a draft and ground troops and a draft. Here's Donald Trump's chief propagandist, Caroline Levitt. Not ruling out the draft. Let's play it.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. And the president had an interesting exchange on Air Force One over the weekend. Caroline, I want to get your take about this idea of troops on the ground. Mothers out there are worried that we're going to have a draft that they're going to see their sons get and daughters get involved in this. What do you want to say about the president's plans for troops on the ground? As we know, it's been largely an air campaign up until now.

[Caroline Levitt]

It has been and it will continue to be. And President Trump wisely does not remove options off of the table. I know a lot of politicians like to do that quickly. But the president, as commander in chief wants to continue to assess the success of this military operation. It's not part of the current plan right now, but the president again wisely keeps his options on the table.

[Political Commentator]

In addition, here's Pete Hegseth when he was asked on CBS yesterday about whether he can assure the American people that the United States did not strike the elementary school in Manob, killing 150 children. And like over 180. 50, 185 people total. By the way, our intelligence service are telling members of Congress that the United States did it. It's been independently confirmed over and over again. If you look at the crater sites of where the Tomahawk missile struck, you'll see nearby, like a few blocks away, there's Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps buildings and other and other buildings like that. And so you see whatever was used to target it specifically picked all of these buildings in the surrounding area to blow up. And you can see the tomahawk craters in It. Anyway, here's what Hegseth had to say. Let's play it.

[CBS Reporter]

You were asked earlier in the week about this girls school. You said the US was investigating it. Have you made any conclusions about whether or not the United States advertently or not was involved in any military strike at that school?

[Pete Hegseth]

Well, we're still investigating and that's where I'll leave it today. But what I will emphasize to you and to the world is that unlike our adversaries, the Iranians, we never target civilians.

[CBS Reporter]

There was a report late in the week from two officials that it was likely U.S. involvement. Is that report false?

[Pete Hegseth]

I've already said we're investigating.

[CBS Reporter]

If you could tell the American public it definitively was not us, you would tell us, wouldn't you?

[Political Commentator]

I would.

[Pete Hegseth]

I would say that it's being investigated, which is the only.

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Yeah.

[Political Commentator]

As I noted earlier, this is the largest oil supply shock in history, losing 20 million barrels a day. The top oil supply shocks in history. Right now, the Strait of Hormuz closure. 20 million barrels a day. The next closest thing was the Iranian Revolution in 1978 where there was a 5.5 million barrel a day loss in the Russia Ukraine war. In 2022 there were two point there were about 2 million barrels a day that were that were lost then. You know, I just think about other statements that Donald Trump's made over time as well. Like remember October 1, 2024 when Donald Trump said oil is up, the world is crashing, we need Trump. That's what he said then. Or how about when he was in office on July 1, 2025? Donald Trump says he's waiting for lower oil prices to fill up the country's strategic petroleum reserve. We think it's going to get lower. When the market is right, we'll fill it up. So he screwed us also by not filling up the strategic reserve when he should have filled up the strategic reserve. Again, in every aspect I go. So I want to go through this in detail with you so you can just see it for yourself piece by piece. Right here. Anyway. Well, oh well, all I'll mention this. While all of this is taking place, Donald Trump's private business, the Trump. Org filed trademarks to put Donald Trump's name front and center at America's 250th in one filing submitted on Friday. This is where his priorities are. A Trump250 image was trademarked to be used on a variety of merchandise, by the way, including putting his name on the American flag. TRUMP 250 OVER the American flag. And this is how they're going to grift and make, you know, additional money. It's all one gigantic grift from this Trump regime. And I also mentioned America's United States evacuating its Saudi Arabia embassy, as I mentioned before, Qatar, Iraq, Kuwait, essentially shutting down its production of oil because it can't store it anymore. You know, it can't send the oil out, so its storage facilities are full. So therefore it can't keep producing because it has to go and be transported somewhere so they don't have any more place to put the oil, so they have to shut down the production. And this is where we're at right now. Markets crashing, the price of oil surging past $115 a barrel. International markets crashing, by the way, bitcoin crashing. Even areas like gold and silver aren't doing well right now. Again, what an absolute disaster from this Trump regime. We'll keep you posted every step of the way. It's the latest developments. Thanks for watching. Hit subscribe let's get to 7 million subscribers. Please want to stay plugged in? Become a subscriber to our [e-mail] you'll get daily recaps from Ron Filipkowski, ad free episodes of our podcast and more exclusive content Only [e-mail].

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