The MeidasTouch Podcast
Episode: Trump has Catastrophic Day as Term Falls Apart
Date: December 31, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Meiselas brothers break down what they call a "catastrophic day" for Donald Trump as his term unravels on multiple fronts—domestically and internationally. With their signature blend of incisive political analysis and witty banter, the brothers discuss Trump’s plummeting popularity, increasing international conflicts, the fallout from major scandals like the Kennedy Center controversy, and how MAGA Republicans are scrambling to deflect blame via right-wing media. The conversation is laced with critiques of Trump’s policies, his enablers, and the MAGA ecosystem, all while highlighting attacks on democratic norms and media manipulation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Waning Popularity and Social Media Silence

[03:45]

• Trump has not made a social media post in two days; his last post included xenophobic rhetoric:
  “Democrats want to replace you with uneducated Mexicans who are easier to enslave.”
• Host points out Trump’s approval is at net -14 in the US, compared to Zelensky’s +12 and Putin’s -73.
• Suggests a connection between remaining Trump supporters and Putin apologists.

2. MAGA Mike Johnson’s Deceptive Fundraising

[04:40]

• Critique of the Speaker’s tactics:
  MAGA Mike Johnson is copying Trump’s fundraising fraud, sending out “official” surveys that redirect to donation pages.
• The hosts raise questions about X (formerly Twitter) ad policies enabling these scams.

3. Escalation of Middle Eastern Conflicts – Trump’s Global Impact

[05:10]

• Reporting on a new conflict between Saudi Arabia and UAE, highlighting Trump’s personal business relationships with both.
• Quote (Ben):
  “Donald Trump has destroyed a global world order...It’s not clear where America stands at any side of the issue other than what gifts are you going to give Donald Trump."
• Intimates Trump’s foreign policy chaos has contributed to world instability: “War is peace, right?”

4. Kennedy Center Defacement and Artistic Boycotts

[06:30]

• Details Trump’s “vandalism” of the Kennedy Center—renaming it after himself—and the resulting mass cancellation of performances.
• Rick Grinnell, a Trump appointee and now Kennedy Center president, lashes out at artists on social media.
  Quote (reading Grinnell):
  “Boycotting the arts to show you support the arts is a form of derangement syndrome.”
• Highlights sacrifices made by artists for moral reasons: jazz ensemble The Cookers and Doug Verone & Dancers cancel events despite financial loss.
• Notable quote (Ben):
  “Morally exhilarating... Financially devastating, but morally exhilarating.” ([08:15])

5. Economic Gaslighting and Health Care Hypocrisy

[10:34]

• Clips played of right-wing media figures and politicians deflecting economic failures onto Biden—even after a year under Trump.
• Senator Ron Johnson laments “Biden’s mess,” ignoring fact that the economy was healthy at transition.
• Quote (Ben):
  “You’re a year in and you’re whining and saying, oh, nothing we can do—just a bunch of babies, in my opinion.”
• Critique of Rep. Sherry Biggs, who offers no real health care plan as Affordable Care Act subsidies are about to expire ([12:09]).
  Ben's commentary:
  "You don't have a plan...you hate Obamacare because his name is on it. If you don't like it, come up with a better plan."

6. Right-Wing “Both Sides” Rhetoric on Ukraine ([14:57])

• Fox News asks if Putin truly wants peace; US NATO Ambassador Matthew Whitaker claims both sides are “95%” to a peace deal and only Trump can broker it.
  Quote (Whitaker):
  “The only person that could bring both sides to the table and, most importantly, keep both sides at the table is President Trump.”
• Host scoffs at manufactured statistics and Trump-as-savior narrative.

7. Blame-Shifting and Xenophobia: The “Somali Fraud” Distraction ([16:19])

• MAGA Sen. Ron Johnson claims Somali immigrants are exploiting welfare:
  Quote (Johnson):
  “Somalis have only been here a few years...They’re literally amateurs in terms of exploiting our vast welfare system.”
• Host counters with outrage over Trump pardoning multi-billion dollar fraudsters, while emphasizing it was Biden’s DOJ charging Somali conspirators in the largest childcare fraud.

8. Exposing the MAGA Media Ecosystem and Russian Influence ([18:40])

• Coverage of right-wing media figures (e.g., Lauren Chen) revealed to have taken Russian state money, then re-admitted to the US with help from Trump State Department officials.
• Quote (paraphrasing Sen. Chris Murphy):
  “Amidst Trump’s immigration crackdown, his State Department worked feverishly to bring back a couple kicked out for running an illegal Russian propaganda effort. Putin is in charge of Trump.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Donald Trump has destroyed a global world order... It’s not clear where America stands...other than what gifts are you going to give Donald Trump?" – Ben Meiselas ([05:21])
• "Morally exhilarating...Financially devastating, but morally exhilarating." – Doug Verone (statement relayed by Ben, [08:15])
• "You’re a year in and you’re whining and saying, oh, nothing we can do—just a bunch of babies, in my opinion." – Ben Meiselas ([11:10])
• "You don't have a plan...You hate Obamacare because his name is on it. If you don't like it, come up with a better plan." – Ben ([13:05])
• "The only person that could bring both sides to the table and...keep both sides at the table is President Trump." – Matthew W. Whitaker, US NATO Ambassador ([15:31])
• "Somalis have only been here a few years...literally amateurs in terms of exploiting our vast welfare system." – Sen. Ron Johnson ([16:26])
• “Putin is in charge of Trump. Putin is running the show in the United States.” – Paraphrasing Sen. Chris Murphy ([19:50])

Key Segment Timestamps

• [03:45] Trump’s silence, approval ratings, MAGA Mike’s scams
• [05:10] Saudi-UAE conflict and Trump’s world disorder
• [06:30] Kennedy Center scandal, vandalism, performer boycotts
• [10:34] MAGA spin on economy and blaming Biden
• [12:09] Healthcare, GOP obstruction, and lack of plan
• [14:57] Fox’s “both sides” Ukraine take, Trump as peace-broker
• [16:19] Fraud narratives, GOP scapegoating Somalis vs. Trump’s pardons
• [18:40] MAGA media’s Russian ties, regime’s loyalty to Moscow

Tone and Delivery

Throughout, the episode maintains the hosts’ signature blend of irreverence, brotherly banter, and righteous anger at attacks on democracy, with frequent digs at Trump and his enablers—“evil regime,” “lifelong felon,” “con artist”—and a call to support truthful, independent media.

This summary delivers a rich, structured overview of the episode’s main arguments and memorable moments, allowing readers to grasp its full content and significance without listening.