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Commentator/Political Analyst
Donald Trump is having a catastrophic Sunday and he is preparing 1500 active duty army paratroopers off the Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson in Alaska to potentially invade Minneapolis and St. Paul in Minnesota any moment now. Further escalating the ICE and Border Patrol, Gestapo, SS invasion of those cities and throughout the state of Minnesota. Donald Trump waking up to catastrophic news like this. Per the latest CBS News poll, the majority of respondents in America by far say ICE is making our country less safe. You go to the generic congressional polling. Yes, Democrats are pulling ahead significantly in the generic congressional polling for the midterms. But amongst those who are deeply motivated to vote, the Democratic advantage has now expanded to a massive 16 point lead heading into the midterm. Now, Donald Trump is raging this morning. He's making posts like a lunatic attacking the governor of Minnesota, attacking Mayor Fry. Let's talk about though, what's going on internationally right now, one of the things that we've learned this morning, and it's something that we obviously all expected, but French intelligence services and most other European intelligence services have completely cut off the United States from any of their information regarding Ukraine and most of their intelligence generally. You see, what happened with France was they came up with a plan with Ukraine to test if Donald Trump and Trump's regime was giving classified information to Vladimir Putin. So the French intelligence service and Ukraine shared false information regarding high priority intelligence issues to Donald Trump's regime, and then that fake information found its way to Russia. So it was very clear to both France and Ukraine that it was coming from the Trump regime who was providing the intelligence from the European services to Russia in order to kill Ukrainians. And, of course, this is at a time where the Trump regime continues to talk about its invasion of Greenland. Donald Trump sent his sycophants all morning to do the various Sunday shows where they were talking about invading Greenland, taking it over, tariffing any country in Europe that doesn't support the invasion of Greenland. You had Donald Trump's treasury secretary over here, Scott Besant. He was asked on Meet the Press. So, what's the national emergency regarding why you will tariff these European nations if they don't support your invasion of Greenland? Watch what Bessen says right out of the dystopian 1984 novel. Play this clip.
Host/Interviewer
Waiting the High Court's decision. What is the national emergency that justifies these new slate of tariffs?
Guest/Expert
The national emergency is avoiding a national emergency. That it. It is a strategic decision by the President. This is a geopolitical decision, and he is able to use the economic might of the US to avoid a hot war. So why wouldn't. Why wouldn't we do that? You know, same same thing.
Commentator/Political Analyst
Oh, yes. So the national emergency is avoiding a national emergency. Are you listening to yourself? And when this guy Scott Besson speaks, the arrogance that comes from the way he just has his chin up and he's like, well, I think it's this way. This guy's one of the biggest scumbags of the entire regime, in my opinion. And I'll give you another data point why I think that Welker then asks him, so is military action on the table still on the table when it comes to Greenland. And then Besant is like, well, I believe the Europeans are gonna hand it over to us. They're gonna let us just acquire it, is what they're gonna do. That's my Besant impression here. Play this clip.
Host/Interviewer
Has not taken military force off the Table. If the United States were to take Greenland by force, how would that be different than Russia's annexation of Crimea?
Guest/Expert
Look, I believe that the Europeans will understand that this is best for Greenland, best for Europe and best for the United States.
Host/Interviewer
So. But military action is still on the table.
Guest/Expert
I haven't spoken with the President on that. And again, I believe that the Europeans will understand that the best outcome is for the US to maintain or receive control of Greenland.
Commentator/Political Analyst
Well, so more from Welker and Besant over here. Where she goes, Is Greenland or NATO more essential to US national security? Let's play this clip.
Host/Interviewer
So let me just put this to you bluntly. Is Greenland or NATO more essential to the United States national security?
Guest/Expert
Well, Chris, that's obviously a false choice. That, that, that's, that's a not from.
Host/Interviewer
The perspective of European leaders.
Guest/Expert
The European leaders will come around and they will understand that they need to be under the US Security umbrella. What would happen in Ukraine, that if the US Pulled its support out, the whole thing would collapse. That the U.S. christine, to be clear, since 1980 the U.S. has spent U.S. military spending versus NATO military spending. We have spent 22 trillion more dollars than the Europeans have. That we are peace through strength. And the Europeans now are only trying to play catch up and that is only through President Trump. President Trump believes in NATO, but he does not believe in the American people being dragged in.
Host/Interviewer
Well, in terms of the cost, Chancellor.
Commentator/Political Analyst
Of Germany Friedrich Mayors just posted. We stand resolutely and united by the side of Denmark and the people of Greenland. As a NATO member, we are committed to strengthening security in the Arctic. Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and carry the risk of escalation. Then Donald Trump sent out Ted Cruz. Remember, Donald Trump said that Cruz's wife was ugly, that Cruz's dad was killed. Jfk, he said all these things about Ted Cruz, but Ted Cruz is out there and says, well, I think that it's definitely American first to invade Greenland. Of course it is. Here, play this clip of Ted Cruz. That's why you can't have though a normal conversation with these people. Sorry. Here, play this clip.
Guest/Expert
When it comes to Greenland, I want to commend President Trump for being single mindedly focus on America first on U.S. economic interest and U.S. national security interest. I believe it is overwhelmingly in America's national interest to acquire Greenland a year ago.
Commentator/Political Analyst
Also a joint statement from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom, also condemning the United States. Kevin Hassett, Donald Trump's national economic adviser, had the following to say about Greenland Here, play this clip.
Host/Interviewer
Europe is pretty outraged over this. These eight states deployed their militaries as a symbolic defense against a NATO ally. The French president seemed to compare the US To Russia, even saying, quote, no intimidation nor threat will influence us, neither in Ukraine, Ukraine nor in Greenland. A member of a Danish member of the European Parliament called this economic warfare and called to sanction, quote, Trump's oligarchs. If the EU sanctions American firms like banks or tech firms, Microsoft, Google, X, what kind of an impact could that have on the US Economy?
Guest/Expert
The one thing I've learned, Jackie, is that when you are engaged in negotiation with any country and with President Trump, that you'll see both sides take very strong extreme positions. But in the end, the President is the person who wrote the Art of the Deal because he's so good at deal making. And, and so I think right now it's really a good time for, you know, cooler heads to prevail and for us to disregard the rhetoric and get to the table and see if there can't be a deal that's worked out that's best for everybody.
Host/Interviewer
Okay?
Commentator/Political Analyst
Now, Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, also has expressed really deep concerns about the escalation on Greenland after Trump's threatened all of these countries with tariffs. Carney also stated that Article 5 of NATO would apply if the United States invaded Greenland and thus the rest of NATO would therefore be going to war with the United States in the event that that took place. Take a look at this article right here. You'll see that 0% right wing media is covering what Prime Minister Carney said about potentially invoking Article 5 and that Carney's concerned about the US escalation on Greenland after tariffs. The only coverage that we've seen is from left wing media and kind of center media. I just want to let you know, I get often asked, how do I stay up to date on the news to make these videos? I stay up to date on the news in order to do this podcast. My biggest go to news source is ground News. You guys, this is a subscriber funded app and news site and every day they pull in thousands of articles from around the world and organize them by story and then show you what the right is reporting, what the center is reporting, and what the left is reported. It's a game changer because as active, responsible citizens, we must get our news from reliable sources and Trump's America being informed about the facts and media bias is the most important thing you can do. But that's why we love ground news for every article. They also tell you, did a media conglomerate put this news out or was it independent media? And they also list the degree of factuality, which is interesting as there are a lot of new sources from Media Conversations conglomerates that have mixed or low factuality. Independent media seems to have a higher factuality, but you get all of that with your Ground News Vantage subscription. I especially like their Blind Spot feed which highlights stories that are disproportionately covered by one specific side. You know, is the right wing? Is it left wing? Is it center? Like the story I just shared about Carney. So join us Go to Ground News MTN to get 40% off of the Ground News Vantage plan that I use every morning. They are subscriber funded and by subscribing you're not only getting a tool we all need today, you're also supporting our work here on this YouTube channel that's G R O U N D News Mtn and we've pinned the link to purchase your subscription below. That's Ground News Mtn. Also, I noticed that a lot of right wing accounts and Trumper accounts were posting this chart right here to show the massive drop in fentanyl deaths. But when you look at the chart, it ends on September 2024. Biden did a great job in bringing down the fentanyl deaths and we've seen a continuation of that decrease and any fentanyl death is tragic. There's still way too many fentanyl deaths taking place right now. Let's be clear. But look at when the drop took place. It took place in 2023, 2024 under Biden and Eric Trump and other right wingers were gushing over the fact that fentanyl deaths in the US Plummeted under Biden's presidency and they didn't realize how to actually read a graph and see that it was September 2024. Donald Trump sent some of his other sycophants, his other SS leaders onto the various networks today. You had Kristi Noem going on Face the Nation and the line that she uses, and this is just total regime propaganda, is, you know, ICE and Border Patrol, what they're doing in Minneapolis and St. Paul. They're there to stop the pedophiles. And we get praised all the time when we try to stop the pedophiles. Y' all are covering up the Epstein files, the biggest child sex trafficking ring there is here. Play this clip.
Host/Interviewer
I can't tell the people of Minnesota exactly how many dangerous criminals they have. I do know that they're extremely grateful every time we get a pedophile off the street. We arrested an individual this week that was raping children. I think those parents in Minnesota can sleep better at night knowing that that person isn't free. Sure, but.
Commentator/Political Analyst
And then more over here from Kristi Noem talking about. Well, she was asked, are your agents going to comply with court orders saying that you can't use chemical weapons on people? Here, play this clip.
Host/Interviewer
And I'm hopeful that he does recognize that he needs to start working with us. I have. Are your agents going to. Sorry. With the federal order on Friday to not use chemical agents. That federal order was a little ridiculous because that federal judge came down and told us we couldn't do what we already aren't doing. We are. We just saw video of chemical agents being used. We only use those chemical agents when there's violence happening and perpetuating. And you need to be able to establish law in order to keep people safe. That's the only situation. So that judge's order didn't change anything for how we're going to operating on the ground because it's basically telling us to do what we've already been doing. Madam Secretary, thank you for your time this morning.
Commentator/Political Analyst
I just want to be clear. It's not normal to use chemical weapons on people in any situation. Police departments don't use chemical gas on people. And these ICE agents regularly throw chemical weapons at people of unknown origin to choking people. You see it saw a six month old almost die from some of this, from these chemical agents. More from Kristi Noem right here. She's asked about the officer Jonathan Ross, who killed Renee Nicole Good. As you know, Renee Nicole Good's widow is now under federal investigation and Jonathan Ross. And Jonathan Ross is under no investigation at all. Brennan says, can you tell me about Jonathan Ross? To which Christy Dung goes. Oh my God, you're doxing our officer. Don't say his name. You've doxed him. You've said his name again. These people are sociopaths. These are sociopaths. Here, play this clip.
Host/Interviewer
Well, you know that it is in dispute about weaponizing a car versus driving forward, but I'll put that aside. No, it's really hard. Tell me about. Everybody can watch the videos and see that. Well, let me talk to you about the officer Jonathan Ross. He was struck, he was hospitalized, but don't say his name. I mean, for heaven's sakes, we shouldn't have. People continue to dock law enforcement when they have an his 900 increase in death Threats against them. I know, but that doesn't mean it should continue to be said. His life. He got attacked with a car that was trying to take his life. And then people have attacked him and his family and they are in jeopardy. And we have law enforcement officers every day who are getting death threats and getting attacked at their hotels. Well, can you tell me about his status right now? And. Well, of course, no one can condone that feeling against anyone.
Commentator/Political Analyst
More over here from this week ABC, you have Congressmember McCaul who used to act like he was this more centrist minded Republican, more moderate Republican. Not at all. Watch this interaction here. Play this clip.
Guest/Expert
So you've seen all the videos that are constantly coming out of what's happening in Minneapolis. Let me just play one of them. This was an incident with a woman who was, you know, kind of driving into a situation. She was going to a doctor's appointment apparently and is obviously confused about what's going on. But look at how the ICE officers deal with this. This woman who says she is disabled and is telling them that she is disabled and is on her way to a doctor's appointment. I mean, what do you think when you say, see this kind of stuff now the optics are, let's be honest, not, not good. They go through federal law enforcement training on conflict resolution, how to deal with that type of, you know, situation. I mean, they smash the window of her car, they cut her out, they throw her to the ground. It appears to be a little overzealous. But what about the, the actions of the murderers and the drug traffickers and. Well, those are horrible too. But that's not our Gun into this country by Joe Biden. Yeah, and my orcas. What about, what about, what about the rights of average Americans from people, you know, like that. And finally on this door to door stop thing, you know, there's fundamental constitutional criminal law 101 is a Terry, stop. You cannot stop a person without reasonable suspicion of crime is being committed. So. But if you're impeding a federal investigation, you can't just stop somebody because you think they look like they're an undocumented immigrant. You have to have. That would not be, that would not be kind. So.
Commentator/Political Analyst
So yeah, it does appear to be bad because it looks like it's out of Russia. I mean, this is an authoritarian regime that's taking place. This is an invasion that has taken place in our country. Thanks everybody for watching. Hit subscribe. Help us get to 6 million subscribers and we appreciate y' all so much.
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Commentator/Political Analyst
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Date: January 18, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas (MeidasTouch Network)
This episode centers on a rapidly escalating political crisis in the United States under Donald Trump’s administration. The Meiselas brothers dissect how Trump’s aggressive policies—both at home and abroad—are causing major backlash from U.S. allies, the general public, and media. From the stunning intelligence cutoff by European agencies, to looming military actions and extreme rhetoric about invading Greenland, the hosts unpack a morning of “catastrophic” developments for Trump’s regime. They blend sobering analysis with their trademark irreverence and pro-democracy zeal.
[03:40] Trump and advisers push the notion of invading Greenland or punishing Europe with tariffs if they don’t support U.S. actions.
[07:24] Chancellor Friedrich Mayors of Germany publicly supports Greenland and Denmark, warning that Trump's tariff threats “undermine transatlantic relations and carry the risk of escalation”.
[08:07] Ted Cruz, despite Trump’s past attacks on him, vocally supports the Greenland move:
[08:25] Eight European nations issue a joint statement condemning U.S. aggression. French president compares Trump’s tactics to Russia's—with calls in the European Parliament to sanction “Trump's oligarchs.”
[11:20] Trump allies spread misleading stats about fentanyl deaths—using a graph that credits Biden-era drops (ending Sep 2024) to themselves.
[13:00] South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem appears on TV defending ICE tactics in Minnesota:
[14:42] The commentator pushes back:
[15:32] Noem stonewalls when questioned about a controversial ICE officer’s status, accusing the host of “doxxing”.
“They smash the window of her car, they cut her out, they throw her to the ground…But what about…the actions of the murderers and the drug traffickers…” (Rep. McCaul, 16:37)
End commentary sums up the moment:
On Trump’s Justification for Tariffs:
On European Intelligence Cutoff:
On Ted Cruz Supporting Greenland Invasion:
On ICE's Use of Chemical Agents:
On NATO Article 5 and Global Consequences:
This summary covers all significant segments of the January 18, 2026 episode, capturing the urgent and incredulous tone of the MeidasTouch hosts while providing context for each quoted exchange and event.