Podcast Summary: “Trump Has Catastrophic Sunday as Meeting Blows Up Early”
The MeidasTouch Podcast | December 28, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Main Theme
In this episode, the Meiselas brothers deliver a sharp and comedic breakdown of a series of explosive political events surrounding Donald Trump’s recent public statements and actions. With their signature brotherly banter and unwavering pro-democracy stance, the hosts dissect Trump’s controversial handling of U.S. foreign diplomacy—particularly with Russia and Ukraine—his use of social media, and the propagation of misinformation in the press. They also spotlight under-discussed domestic issues and offer analysis on policy, government officials, and the media landscape.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Trump’s “Catastrophic” Morning and the Zelensky Meeting
- Overview: Trump announced he spoke to Vladimir Putin before meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky, indicating favoritism and possible undue influence from Putin ([00:28]).
- Discussion:
- Trump’s statement: “I just had a good and very productive telephone call with President Putin of Russia prior to my meeting at 1pm today with President Zelensky of Ukraine…” (Trump’s social post, paraphrased by the host) ([00:32]).
- Zelensky was not greeted by any U.S. official upon arrival—“not a single US Official was there to greet Zelensky upon his arrival” ([01:03]).
- Dramatic contrast drawn with “the red carpet treatment” Trump provided previously to Putin in Alaska, including an instance where U.S. soldiers “got down on their knees for Vladimir Putin and rolled out that red carpet” ([01:31]).
- Insight: The hosts see Trump as blatantly disrespecting Ukraine and favoring Russia, endangering U.S. interests and alliances.
2. Trump’s Social Media Outbursts and Disinformation
- Examples Discussed:
- Iran Nuclear Deal Accusations: Trump falsely accused Obama of funding Iran’s nuclear program, despite his own failed attempts at arms deals ([03:14]).
- Racist, Divisive Posts: Trump reposted a message claiming Democrats “wanted to replace you with uneducated Mexicans who would be easier to enslave” ([04:06]).
- Host reaction: “Donald Trump saying that Democrats wanted to replace you. And I guess he's referring to white people…” ([04:16]).
- Propaganda Images: Trump posted imagery of Manhattan under nuclear attack to incite fear ([04:25]).
- Insight: The brothers stress Trump’s unchecked dissemination of “lies about everything” and the lack of critical media coverage, calling this a major threat ([06:12]).
3. Media Coverage and Ground News
- Host Recommendation: Ben Meiselas highlights the Ground News app for media bias and factuality tracking ([06:47]).
- Noting the dangers when “center media... just regurgitate Donald Trump's talking points” ([06:51]).
- Insight: The brothers urge listeners to use resources that expose media bias and promote informed citizenship.
4. Domestic Policy: Small Business and Economy Claims
- SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler’s Claim:
- She touts “small business optimism is really spiking under President Trump after four very difficult years under under Joe Biden,” and claims small business owners are “excited to pay their taxes. Thanks to President Trump” ([10:43]-[11:24]).
- Host’s Reaction: The brothers push back, doubting that current economic realities match this optimism ([11:26]).
- HUD and the 50-Year Mortgage:
- HUD (Scott Turner) is vague about the feasibility: “I think more research needs to be done on a 50 year mortgage…” ([12:10]).
- Insight: The hosts suggest these policies are either out of touch or lack substantive backing.
5. Ukraine-Russia Conflict: Trump’s Allegiances
- Congressman Mike Turner’s Comments:
- Claims Trump is “on the side of peace and he’s trying to balance these two forces,” but admits “a war of aggression is started by Russia” ([12:52]-[13:38]).
- Host’s Critique: The brothers find Turner’s defense of Trump insufficient and misleading ([13:19]).
- Insight: They reaffirm that Trump aligns more with Russian interests, using peace-brokering as a veneer.
6. Senator Bernie Sanders on Data Centers
- Segment Highlight:
- Sanders argues for a “moratorium on data centers,” citing environmental impact and rising electric bills ([14:37]).
- Quote: “Frankly, I think you gotta slow this process down. It’s not good enough for the oligarchs to tell us it’s coming. You adapt…” ([14:47]).
- Insight: The hosts applaud Sanders for elevating overlooked issues that have profound local and national impact.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “I think Donald Trump is trying to set up Zelensky yet again with Vladimir Putin…he’s holding this important meeting in a dining room. Just want you to think about the message that that sends and the level of disrespect”
—Ben Meiselas ([00:41]) - “Not a single US Official was there to greet Zelensky upon his arrival. Once again, Trump is showing his true colors.”
—Ben Meiselas ([01:03]) - “Trump said we bombed Nigeria to protect the Christians. Trump said…when you go with Trump says, guess what? He lies about everything.”
—Ben Meiselas ([06:55]) - "It's not good enough for the oligarchs to tell us it's coming. You adapt. What are they talking about? They're gonna guarantee healthcare to all people. What are they gonna do when people have no jobs? What are they gonna do? Make housing free. So I think we need to take a deep breath and...probably a moratorium on Data Centers."
—Sen. Bernie Sanders ([14:47]) - Brotherly Banter & Sarcasm:
- “Another peace, war, peace, war, peace, war. This is your fault right now and you have no clue what you’re talking about.” ([05:46])
- Regarding Ground News: “It’s a game changer because as active, responsible citizens, we must get our news from reliable sources.” ([07:29])
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:28 — Trump’s morning statement about speaking with Putin before Zelensky
- 01:03 — Lack of official U.S. welcome for Zelensky
- 01:31 — Contrasted treatment of Putin and Zelensky
- 03:14 — Trump’s posts on Iran and Democrats
- 04:06 — Trump’s divisive social media rhetoric
- 10:43 — SBA Chief touts “small business boom” under Trump
- 12:10 — HUD Chief’s remarks on the 50-year mortgage
- 12:52 — Rep. Mike Turner on Trump “balancing” Ukraine/Russia
- 14:37 — Bernie Sanders calls for a moratorium on data centers
Closing Takeaways
- The Meiselas brothers continue their pointed critique of Trump and his administration, exposing perceived corruption, misinformation, and the undermining of democratic norms.
- They champion fact-based reporting and responsible news consumption, offering actionable recommendations for listeners to stay informed.
- The episode concludes with acknowledgment of under-discussed policy topics, focusing on their real-life impacts.
For listeners seeking sharp, progressive, evidence-driven criticism of the Trump era—mixed with humor and urgent calls to civic action—this episode gives a fast-paced, trenchant update on the state of U.S. politics and media.