The MeidasTouch Podcast: Trump Has Awful Saturday After Fatal Ambush
Date: December 13, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Episode Focus: A grim Saturday for Trump marked by international crises, damaging connections resurfacing, and the exposure of administration failures—delivered with the Meiselas brothers’ trademark banter, sharp political commentary, and media literacy insights.
Main Theme Overview
This episode unpacks a particularly chaotic Saturday for Donald Trump, highlighting multiple crises domestically and abroad. The brothers discuss a deadly ambush involving U.S. troops in Syria, Trump’s controversial past and present with figures like Jeffrey Epstein, his misleading claims about foreign "peace deals," and the impending expiration of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies. Using humor and urgency, they stress the dangers of misinformation and emphasize the need for accurate news sources.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. White House in Panic: The Epstein Photo Leaks
- The episode opens with the Trump White House scrambling over the selective release of photographs from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, showing Trump in compromising contexts.
- Ben (00:51): “Donald Trump is having a terrible Saturday...they are putting out statements that the Democrats are misleading the public by, quote, selectively releasing photos from the Epstein estate to try to make Donald Trump look bad. But Donald, I thought that you didn’t even know Epstein.”
- The brothers argue that Trump’s own actions—not Democrats’ transparency—are responsible for damaging his reputation.
2. Fatal Ambush of U.S. Troops in Syria
- News breaks about a deadly ambush involving U.S. and Syrian troops, carried out by ISIS-affiliated fighters.
- Ben (01:44): “This has Donald Trump...brought the former leader of Al Qaeda, who’s now the leader of Syria, into the White House and Donald Trump was spraying perfume all over him and sniffing him because Donald Trump thought that was funny or Donald Trump got off on that. Whatever the reason, it is incredibly odd and there are serious things happening around the world.”
- The event is presented as symptomatic of the Trump administration’s confusion, priorities, and chaotic foreign policy.
3. Trump’s False “Peace Deals” and International Tensions
- Trump claims to have brokered new ceasefires—in Southeast Asia and the Middle East—which are debunked on-air:
- Ben (02:37): “Donald Trump was posting...that he had brought peace yet again to Thailand between Thailand and Cambodia...But in fact, there is no ceasefire. He is absolutely lying.”
- Ben (03:25): “Thailand denies Trump’s ceasefire claim as clashes with Cambodia continue at the border. More than two dozen people in Thailand have been killed...the war has never been worse there. Trump makes things worse. Trump is creating these wars around the world.”
- Trump’s self-congratulatory posts are juxtaposed with on-the-ground violence, including ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine.
4. Misinformation and Media Consumption
- The hosts stress media illiteracy as a core problem, highlighting how partisan news reporting shapes public opinion and policy misconception.
- Ben (06:34): “We all know that right now people are terrified in the United States that their health care in a matter of days is about to get ripped away from them...Almost no media on the right is covering this.”
- The brothers recommend Ground News, a platform that contextualizes media bias and factuality, urging listeners to diversify their news intake.
5. Affordable Care Act Subsidies Set to Expire
- The show pivots to domestic policy, underscoring the looming expiration of ACA subsidies and the resultant potential loss of healthcare for up to 24 million Americans.
- Ben (07:38): “For the first time in American history, you have a political party under this cruel and unusual Trump regime as their platform is taking away people’s healthcare...they want to see people die. That’s what MAGA and Republicans are all about, in my opinion.”
- They call out the lack of mainstream media coverage—especially on the political right—about this high-impact issue.
6. Trump’s Fundraising Gimmicks & Dismissive Tone
- Trump’s relentless email fundraising efforts, misleading supporters, are lampooned on-air.
- Ben (10:42): “He’s always asking them for money. Do what, what is it that you’re...You’re not even running for office. Do you see what he’s doing right here?”
- When asked about ACA subsidies expiring, Trump deflects and belittles concerns.
- Trump press clip (12:05): “‘Don’t make it sound so bad, because, you know, obviously you’re a...you know, syncofan for Democrats...’”
7. Trump’s Strange Press Conduct and Apparent Health Issues
- Trump’s erratic behavior—including donning a cowboy hat during a press conference and up-close photos revealing hand injuries—are discussed.
- Ben (12:51): “We’ve also been covering Donald Trump’s declining health. You see the photos of him passing out. You see the hand that always has bandages on it, and it’s wildly discolored...Maybe the cognitive decline is caused by him spraying the perfume on people.”
- The segment is a mix of humorous ribbing and genuine concern over Trump’s fitness for office.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “But Donald, I thought that you didn’t even know Epstein. What do you mean that they’re making you look bad? Maybe you look bad by being best friends with Jeffrey Epstein.” — Ben (00:54)
- "Trump makes things worse. Trump is creating these wars around the world. But as they said in 1984, War is peace, right? And that is what Donald Trump’s entire philosophy is, the gaslighting and the lies.” — Ben (03:36)
- “For the first time in American history, you have a political party...as their platform is taking away people’s healthcare...they want to see people die. That’s what MAGA and Republicans are all about, in my opinion.” — Ben (07:42)
- Trump wriggles out of tough questions (Press clip, 12:05):
Reporter: “At the end of this year, those extended Obamacare subsidies expire. What’s your message to those 24 million Americans who will see their insurance premiums go up?”
Trump: “‘Don’t make it sound so bad, because, you know, obviously you’re a...you know, syncofan for Democrats...’” - On Trump’s health:
Ben (12:51): “You see the hand that always has bandages on it, and it’s wildly discolored...Maybe the cognitive decline is caused by him spraying the perfume on people. Is that...does that make sense to you? Does that comport with your MAGA logic?”
Key Segment Timestamps
| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------| | 00:51 | Epstein photos and White House panic | | 01:44 | U.S. troops ambushed in Syria, Trump’s “perfume” stunt | | 02:37 | Trump falsely claims to broker Thailand–Cambodia ceasefire | | 03:25 | Refuting Trump’s peace claims, report on war carnage | | 04:57 | Perfume “gag” audio clip involving Trump and guests | | 06:34 | ACA subsidies, lack of media coverage on the right | | 07:38 | ACA subsidy expiration and Republicans’ policy platform | | 10:42 | Trump’s fundraiser emails and misleading tactics | | 12:05 | Trump’s dismissive comments on healthcare expiration | | 12:42 | Trump’s bizarre press conference behavior (cowboy hat) | | 12:51 | Trump’s health, hand bandages, speculation |
Conclusion
Through banter and biting analysis, the Meiselas brothers paint a dire picture of Trump’s Saturday: beset by international instability, damaging personal associations surfacing, a failing policy agenda at home, and an administration reliant on misdirection and misinformation. Listeners are urged to be vigilant news consumers and to see beyond the propaganda, highlighting the stakes of the moment—both for democracy and for the everyday lives of Americans.