The MeidasTouch Podcast: "Trump Has Disaster Friday as He Gets Awful News"
Date: August 29, 2025
Hosts: Ben Meiselas, Brett Meiselas, Jordy Meiselas
Podcast Network: MeidasTouch Network
Episode Overview
This episode tackles what the Meiselas brothers describe as a “disastrous Friday” for Donald Trump, delving into the latest political setbacks, unfolding scandals, and shifting winds in the American political landscape. The hosts provide news analysis through their familiar combination of sharp legal insight, political critique, and brotherly banter, highlighting the ongoing decline in Trump’s popularity, expanding issues within the Republican party, and emerging international challenges for the U.S. They underscore how these developments signal potential fractures in the MAGA movement and a pivotal moment for Democrats ahead of the midterms.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Trump’s Tumultuous Friday and Flailing Messaging
- Trump’s Fundraising Pleas: Trump’s frequent fundraising emails are highlighted, with the hosts mocking his urgent, melodramatic pleas for small donations and linking them to the “ongoing grift” of his political activities.
- Secret Service Revocation: News broke that Trump revoked Secret Service protection for former Vice President Kamala Harris, which the hosts describe as “petty” and emblematic of Trump’s vindictiveness.
- Republican Defections & Warning Signs:
- Iowa Senator Joni Ernst announces she won’t seek re-election in 2026, signaling instability for Republicans in traditional strongholds.
- The Democratic win in a deeply red Iowa State Senate seat further illustrates a shifting landscape.
- Polls & Economic Forecasts:
- Trump’s Quinnipiac poll approval drops to the mid-30% range, particularly among the youth demographic (Democrats up nearly 30 points among voters 18-29).
- Economic downturns expected through 2026, with slower GDP growth, rising debt, “more waste, fraud, and abuse than ever before,” and Trump’s policies called out for worsening both the economy and international standing.
Quote:
“The grift just keeps on grifting. Donald Trump has revoked the Secret Service protection for former Vice President Kamala Harris. He is a small and petty man.”
— Political Commentator (Ben), [01:50]
2. International Developments & U.S. Standing
- U.S.-Asia Tensions:
- Japanese trade delegation cancels talks after Trump’s “lies about the trade deal” (04:55).
- India’s PM Modi pivots toward Asia, attending summits in Japan and China as U.S.-India relations sour, and Brazil analyzes retaliation against the U.S.
- China’s Ascendance in Solar Energy:
- The hosts criticize U.S. backsliding on green energy while China rapidly expands solar power, soon to outproduce all U.S. consumption (03:55).
3. Domestic Political Feuds — Newsom vs. ‘MAGA Mike’ Johnson
- Newsom Trolls Trump:
- California Governor Gavin Newsom continues to get under Trump’s skin with pointed social-media humor, including a satirical magazine cover of himself as “The American King” (05:40).
- Crime Rates & State Comparisons:
- Louisiana’s Speaker Mike Johnson (dubbed “MAGA Mike”) struggles in interviews to defend his state’s higher crime rate versus California (Fox News at 06:51; CNN at 09:09).
- Johnson evades whether he’d call in the National Guard for Shreveport, admits, “I don’t know. That’s not my call. It may be necessary.” (10:18).
- Disastrous GOP Messaging:
- Johnson tries to explain the unpopularity of the “disastrous budget bill,” blaming misinformation and touting tax cuts and energy policies as benefits for the “lower and middle class” (11:31).
Quote:
“Again, Gavin Newsom will do anything for attention. He needs to go and govern his state and not be engaging in all of that… We’re the party that’s going to bring [crime-fighting] forward.”
— MAGA Mike Johnson, [07:20]
Quote:
“Are we going to be seeing the National Guard in your congressional district? Because there's more crime there than Los Angeles.”
— CNN Host to Mike Johnson, [09:33]
4. Trump’s Cabinet Oddities & Further Policy Fallout
- RFK Jr. Mocked for Pseudoscientific Claims:
- The hosts ridicule RFK Jr.’s bizarre claim about “diagnosing” children with mitochondrial issues just by looking at them, calling him “a freaking weirdo who takes away their SNAP benefits” (12:44).
- Cuts to Social Programs & Government Waste:
- SNAP cuts threaten free meals for all Wake County schools in NC.
- “Alligator Alcatraz,” a wasteful government project, is slated for closure at a taxpayer cost of $400 million; examples of runaway deficit and poor oversight.
- Trump’s firing of government watchdogs is cited as reason for increased waste, fraud, and abuse.
Quote:
“There's way more waste, fraud and abuse. So government spending's up. Our debt is spiking through the roof, which is increasing our deficit by massive amount.”
— Political Commentator (Ben), [13:45]
5. Media Lapses and Host Banter
- Fox News Gaffe:
- Host Dana Perino mistakenly refers to Trump as “President Truth,” corrects herself, but the brothers suggest the nickname ironically fits Trump’s brand of misinformation (12:10).
- Recurring Jokes:
- Ben, Brett, and Jordy maintain their banter throughout, skewering the absurdity of current events (“The grift just keeps on grifting,” and “Trump about to go play golf again and just abandon the White House”).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Trump’s Pleas for Money:
“I hate to bug you, but I need $10 right now. This can’t wait any longer. I have an end of the month deadline…I’m being sued. Give right now. Show your support. My entire cabinet, that radical Democrats are trying to destroy.”
— Quoting Trump fundraising message, [00:50] -
On International Fallout:
“Japan says we ain’t showing up. You’re lying about what we discussed in a proposed non-binding trade deal. So we’re not showing up.”
— Political Commentator (Ben), [05:30] -
On “President Truth”:
“She goes, Oopsie, I misspoke. But he may like that nickname. Let’s call him President Truth. Now, really the biggest liar, fraud, criminal felon, sexual abuser. I mean, this is the strangest thing in the world, man.”
— Political Commentator (Ben), [12:24] -
On Republican Policy Failures:
“It looks like Alligator Alcatraz is going to be shut down. $400 million waste of our taxpayer money. There’s a reason why the deficit is increasing right now.”
— Political Commentator (Ben), [13:14]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:30 — Trump’s disastrous Friday, fundraising pleas, Secret Service revocation, Iowa Senate shift
- 03:55 — U.S. economic outlook, China’s solar energy dominance
- 04:55 — U.S.-Asia relations: Japan, India, Brazil retaliation
- 05:40 — Gavin Newsom’s social media trolling, MAGA Mike interviews begin
- 06:51 — MAGA Mike Johnson’s Fox News response on crime rates
- 09:09 — CNN presses Mike Johnson on National Guard, Shreveport crime
- 10:59 — Budget bill unpopularity and GOP spin
- 12:10 — Fox gaffe: “President Truth” nickname
- 12:44 — RFK Jr. mocked for bizarre “mitochondrial” comments
- 13:14 — SNAP cuts, Alligator Alcatraz government waste
- 13:45 — Rising deficit, government oversight
Episode Tone & Style
The MeidasTouch brothers keep their tone sharp, irreverent, and unapologetically pro-democracy, mixing factual news breakdown with plenty of sarcasm, snark, and inside jokes aimed at MAGA Republicans and the daily chaos surrounding Trump’s political world. Frequent zingers and direct call-outs add levity and immediacy to their coverage—all designed to rally their audience and push for civic engagement.
Summary prepared for readers seeking a comprehensive, timestamped breakdown of the episode’s key themes and moments. Perfect for catching up on the chaos if you missed the show!