The MeidasTouch Podcast: "Trump Has Full Meltdown Sunday Under Pressure" - Detailed Summary
Release Date: May 18, 2025
In this episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, hosts Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas delve deep into the tumultuous actions of former President Donald Trump, analyzing his recent behavior, its implications on American democracy, and the broader socio-political landscape. The discussion is marked by incisive commentary, sharp critiques, and a commitment to upholding democratic values.
1. Trump's Social Media Meltdown
The episode kicks off with a critical examination of Donald Trump's recent activity on social media platforms. Ben Mankiewicz highlights a series of concerning posts made by Trump, showcasing an apparent spiral into erratic behavior.
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Military Tribunals for Obama: Trump calls for "military tribunals against former President Obama," posting a meme depicting himself alongside Obama with the caption, "All roads lead to Obama re truth" (01:57).
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Association with QAnon: He shares a meme from the account "Spiritual Street Fighter," described as a "QAnon death cult account," showing Trump wielding a sword and promoting "blind justice" returning to the republic (02:15).
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Encouraging Violence: Another post urges the "raid James Comey's house in the middle of the night," implying a call to action against the former FBI director (03:05).
Notable Quote:
"He's literally ripping apart the very fabric of the United States of America and trashing the United States Constitution." — Ben Mankiewicz (02:45)
2. Impact on U.S. Credit and Economy
The hosts discuss the recent downgrade of the United States' credit rating by Moody's, attributing it to Trump's destabilizing policies and unchecked spending.
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Moody's Downgrade: The U.S. credit score was downgraded for the first time since 1917, with Moody's citing "an increase in government debt and interest payment ratios" as primary reasons (19:53).
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Failed Budget Bill: Trump's proposed tax bill, aimed at providing $6 trillion in tax cuts for the wealthy, lacks sufficient support in the Budget Committee, primarily due to MAGA Republicans pushing for more drastic Medicaid cuts (05:20).
Notable Quotes:
"The tax bill is the reason why Moody's downgraded it." — MAGA Mike Johnson (20:18)
"President Trump's one big, beautiful bill will be passed, and that will be the key to turning this thing around." — MAGA Mike Johnson (20:55)
3. Criticism of Disaster Response and Government Transparency
Ben voices strong criticism over Trump's handling of natural disasters and the subsequent loss of lives, attributing inadequate weather forecasting and disaster preparedness to the current administration's negligence.
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Delayed Weather Forecasts: Reports indicate that areas like Kentucky received storm warnings only minutes before tornadoes struck, leading to preventable deaths (06:30).
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Suppression of Military Casualties: There's mention of a gag order preventing the military from disclosing casualties related to American operations in Yemen and other regions (07:15).
Notable Quote:
"Donald Trump just murdered at least 16 to 20 people and he doesn't even talk about it." — Ben Mankiewicz (07:50)
4. Leadership within Federal Agencies
The podcast highlights concerns regarding the leadership within the FBI under Trump’s influence, pointing out the appointment of individuals with questionable backgrounds.
- New FBI Leaders: Cash Patel and Dan Bongino, described as "right-wing conspiracy theorist nut bags," now spearhead the FBI, raising alarms about the agency's direction (08:00).
Notable Quote:
"These are the people running the FBI. They were both interviewed together... he killed himself." — Ben Mankiewicz (08:30)
5. Controversy Over Qatari Jets to the U.S.
A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the controversy of President Trump accepting luxury jets from Qatar.
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Treasury Secretary's Defense: Scott Besant defends the acceptance, claiming it brings trillions in investments and job creation to the U.S. (13:52).
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Ben's Rebuttal: Ben counters by comparing the jet to the Statue of Liberty, emphasizing the lack of transparency and national benefit, labeling the jet deal as offensive and indicative of corruption (15:00).
Notable Quotes:
"If you don't know the differences... you’re just offensive." — Ben Mankiewicz (15:50)
"We're doing peace deals, trade deals and tax deals." — Scott Besant (14:22)
6. Republican Responses to Economic Challenges
The episode critiques Republican leaders within the party, particularly their responses to economic challenges like the debt ceiling and credit downgrades.
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MAGA Republicans' Stance: Leaders like Mike Johnson dismiss concerns over the credit downgrade, blaming it on Biden's spending and advocating for aggressive tax legislation as a solution (19:53).
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's Warning: Schumer warns Republicans about the dangers of tax cuts favoring the ultra-wealthy, advocating for responsible fiscal policies (19:53).
Notable Quotes:
"It's just utter nonsense." — MAGA Mike Johnson (20:18)
"This is the Biden spending spree that got us in this mess." — MAGA Mike Johnson (20:18)
7. Immigration Policies Favoring White South Africans
The hosts examine the Trump administration's immigration policies, specifically the prioritization of white South Africans, and the justifications provided by Republican leaders.
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Marco Rubio's Defense: Rubio claims that white South Africans face property seizures and threats, supporting their relocation to the U.S. as a refuge (21:51).
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Ben's Critique: He labels the administration as a "regime of sociopaths" and criticizes the discriminatory nature of the policies (23:18).
Notable Quotes:
"These are people that applied and made these claims in their applications and seek to come to the United States in search of refuge." — Marco Rubio (22:11)
"This is a regime of sociopaths, an idiocracy, sociopathic, malignant, narcissistic mess." — Ben Mankiewicz (23:18)
8. Conclusion and Call to Action
Wrapping up the episode, Ben urges listeners to stay informed, support democratic values, and resist the toxic influence of the current administration. He encourages subscribing to the podcast and supporting their merchandise as symbols of pro-democracy commitment.
Overall Insights:
The episode presents a stark critique of Donald Trump's actions post-presidency, emphasizing the detrimental effects on American democracy, economic stability, and national integrity. The hosts argue that Trump's rhetoric and policies foster division, undermine institutional trust, and prioritize personal gain over national welfare. By highlighting specific instances, such as social media posts, policy failures, and questionable appointments, the podcast underscores the perceived threat to democratic institutions and the rule of law.
Notable Overall Quote:
"This is why I think it's important that you use these research tools the way I do them. It's essential nowadays to kind of see through any double standards in the current media ecosphere." — Ben Mankiewicz (05:10)
For Further Information:
Listeners are encouraged to engage with The MeidasTouch Podcast for more in-depth discussions on current political developments, democratic support strategies, and unbiased news coverage. New episodes are released every Tuesday and Friday, with live video sessions available on their YouTube channel every Monday and Thursday night.