The MeidasTouch Podcast – Episode Summary
Episode: Trump Has Catastrophic MLK Day as Term Collapses
Date: January 19, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Main Theme
This episode tackles Donald Trump’s disastrous handling of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, escalating international controversies, intensifying domestic unrest under his administration, and sharp declines in his approval ratings. The Meiselas brothers dissect a surreal few days in Trump’s presidency, including diplomatic scandals, failures to honor historic civil rights achievements, ICE-related violence, and responses from both American and international figures.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Trump's Scandalous MLK Day Actions
[01:31]
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Trump made history by being the first U.S. president in over 40 years not to acknowledge Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
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Instead of a traditional proclamation, he sent a bizarre text to the Norwegian Prime Minister, threatening Norway for not supporting a U.S. invasion of Greenland, and bizarrely blaming not winning the Nobel Peace Prize for his aggressive foreign policy.
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The message to PM Jonas Gahr Støre included:
“Considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Prize...I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace...but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America...The world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland."
(Ben reading, 02:15) -
Trump’s demand was confirmed by both the Norwegian and Finnish Prime Ministers. The original, diplomatic message from them, meant to encourage de-escalation after Trump’s tariff increases, triggered his angry and erratic response.
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Trump simultaneously invited Vladimir Putin (Russia) and Alexander Lukashenko (Belarus) to join his personal “Board of Peace” overseeing Gaza and other global hotspots—for a $1 billion fee, with funds deposited to a Qatari account.
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Memorable Quote:
"If you give Donald Trump a billion dollars, you get to join the Board of Peace..."
(Ben, 03:55)
2. Trump’s Approval Ratings in Crisis
[06:30]
- Trump’s approval in traditionally supportive states, like North Carolina, has plummeted; his overall U.S. approval rating is now at historic lows (“even worse than Nixon”).
- Cites a TIPP poll: Trump at 39% approval, 53% disapproval in North Carolina; among independents, as low as 29%.
- Memorable Quote:
"Donald Trump now has the lowest approval rating in US history at the one year mark. Even worse than Nixon."
(Ben, 07:40)
3. Escalating Federal Violence & ICE Abuses
[10:17]
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Reports on ICE actions reminiscent of “Gestapo”—armed, masked ICE agents raiding cities like Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN, with disappearances and killings, including the death of activist Renée Nicole Goode.
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By January 18th, seven ICE-related deaths have already occurred in 2026. The episode paints a chilling portrait of unchecked ICE violence and the lack of justice or oversight.
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Notable Moment:
"Masked armed people...dressed in military fatigues...disappearing people, killing people.”
(Ben, 10:25) -
A Reuters report documented ICE dragging a man (later found to be a naturalized citizen) into the cold, raising questions about the unrecorded scope of abuses.
4. Press Freedom and DOJ Targeting Journalists
[11:40]
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DOJ now threatens to prosecute independent reporter Don Lemon for covering church protests against an ICE officer—alleging journalistic involvement in illegal acts.
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Legal commentary draws the line between reporting and participation in criminal conspiracy, with cautionary advice to journalists.
- Notable Quote:
"I would say do not participate in a crime act."
(Legal Expert, 13:13)
- Notable Quote:
5. Calls for Military Escalation
[13:14]
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MAGA-aligned commentators and congressional Republican voices urge Trump to send additional paratroopers to Minneapolis, on top of thousands of ICE and Border Patrol personnel already deployed, drawing heated debate about the militarization of American cities.
- Notable Quote:
“If an officer tells you to stop, you stop…We’ve got to get back to common sense basics.”
(Congressional Representative, 14:18)
- Notable Quote:
6. Epstein Files DOJ Coverup
[14:40]
- Renewed focus on the DOJ’s refusal to release the Epstein files, in violation of the “Epstein Transparency Act.” The segment offers a pointed comparison between evasive U.S. government officials and candid Greenlandic leaders.
7. Greenland's Perspective
[15:16] – [16:32]
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Greenlandic politician Tilly Martinussen rebuffs American interventionism, linking Trump’s actions to resource greed and racial exclusion.
- Notable Quote:
“They're even trying to shoot their friends or invade their friends just for greed…Trump is very much surrounding himself, at least with white power people. We are not white, as you can see. We are of color.”
(Tilly Martinussen, 15:20)
- Notable Quote:
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She highlights solidarity with Indigenous peoples and fear of rights being trampled, contrasting sharply with U.S. officials’ evasiveness.
8. MLK Day Reflections: Texas Senate Candidate James Talarico
[16:58]
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Talarico calls out politicians who co-opt MLK’s legacy while opposing his ideals through policy.
- Quote:
“You can’t quote ‘I Have a Dream’ on MLK Day and then legislate against that dream every other day of the year.”
(James Talarico, 16:59)
- Quote:
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He echoes Dr. King’s three evils—racism, poverty, war—and ties them to Trump-era crises: child poverty, health disparities, militarization, and “new American imperialism.”
- Quote:
"Dr. King dreamed of a world without racism, without poverty, without war. It's the dream that got him killed. And it's the dream that we must make a reality."
(James Talarico, 17:45)
- Quote:
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote / Moment | |-----------|--------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:55 | Ben | "If you give Donald Trump a billion dollars, you get to join the Board of Peace..." | | 07:40 | Ben | "Donald Trump now has the lowest approval rating in US history at the one year mark..." | | 10:25 | Ben | "Masked armed people...dressed in military fatigues...disappearing people, killing people." | | 13:13 | Legal Expert | "I would say do not participate in a crime act." | | 14:18 | Congressional Rep. | "If an officer tells you to stop, you stop...We've got to get back to common sense basics." | | 15:20 | Tilly Martinussen | "They're even trying to shoot their friends or invade their friends just for greed..." | | 16:59 | James Talarico | "You can't quote 'I Have a Dream' on MLK Day and then legislate against that dream..." | | 17:45 | James Talarico | "Dr. King dreamed of a world without racism, without poverty, without war..." |
Important Timestamps
- 01:31 — Trump’s text to Norway, Greenland debacle
- 03:55 — Board of Peace bribery allegations
- 06:30 — Trump’s falling poll numbers
- 10:17 — ICE violence in Minnesota
- 11:40 — DOJ action against Don Lemon
- 13:14 — Calls for military escalation
- 14:40 — DOJ/Epstein files fallout
- 15:20 — Greenlandic critique of Trump
- 16:58 — James Talarico on true MLK legacy
Tone & Style
The episode features sharp, satirical banter among the brothers, grounded in their deep commitment to democracy and clear-eyed outrage at current events. The tone oscillates between incredulity, urgency, and sardonic humor—mirroring the surreal and distressing nature of the week’s news.
Summary
This episode of the MeidasTouch Podcast lays bare the chaos and mounting opposition that defines Trump’s presidency in early 2026. Unprecedented diplomatic scandals—from bizarre Greenland schemes to transactional deals with autocrats—are juxtaposed against Trump’s complete erasure of MLK Day and the proliferation of state-sanctioned violence at home. Through firsthand reporting, international voices, and pointed listener commentary, the Meiselas brothers underscore the gravity of the moment and elevate calls for accountability, justice, and rekindled democratic ideals—reminding listeners of the work yet to be done to realize Dr. King’s dream.