The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Trump Has Psychotic Meltdown on Live TV at WH Presser
Date: December 9, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Meiselas brothers (Ben, Brett, and Jordy) dissect what they describe as a "psychotic meltdown" by former President Donald Trump during a White House press conference. The press event, intended to address a financial bailout for American farmers hurt by Trump’s tariffs, devolves into a display of erratic responses, deflections, and conspiracy-laden rhetoric. The brothers provide critical commentary, play numerous clips from the press conference, and highlight both the absurdity and the potential dangers of the spectacle.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Erratic Handling of Press Questions

• Venezuela Boat Strike Video Footage

  • Trump backtracks on earlier promises to release footage of a military strike involving a US fishing boat. When pressed, he deflects blame and accuses reporters of spreading "fake news."
  • Quote (Trump, 03:48): “I didn’t say that. This is ABC fake news.”
  • Hosts call out the contradiction and play a receipt of Trump previously saying, “...they’d certainly release [the footage], no problem.” (04:28)

• Affordability & Inflation Claims

  • Trump asserts inflation is "essentially gone" and claims economic victories, contradicting visible economic data.
  • Quote (Trump, 04:51): “Prices are way down. We brought prices way down from what it was. We inherited high prices... inflation is essentially gone.”

• Republican Resignations & Reporter Attack

  • Trump bristles at questions about GOP retirements, attacks the reporter’s preparedness, and angrily insists the issue affects Democrats equally.
  • Quote (Trump, 06:36): “No, no, you’re unprepared because you should know the Democrats. You’re totally unprepared.”

2. The Absurdity of Administration Synergy

• Cabinet Praise and Loyalty Displays

  • Brooke Rollins, Agriculture Secretary, excessively praises Trump, calling him “the greatest boss in the world.”
  • Quote (Rollins, 07:08): “To the greatest boss in the world... it’s an honor to be here.”

• Lawnmower IQ Claim

  • Trump rants about environmental regulations making farm equipment too complex, bizarrely claiming “you need about a 185 IQ to turn on a lawnmower.”
  • Quote (Trump, 07:52): “You really have to be, in many cases, you need about 185 IQ to turn on a lawnmower.”

3. Tariffs and Farmer Bailouts

• Tariff Damage & Bailouts

  • Trump announces a $12 billion bailout for farmers, blaming everyone but himself for their struggles caused by his tariffs. He claims these tariffs now enable the bailout payments.

  • Quote (Trump, 09:25): “We’re going to use that money to provide $12 billion in economic assistance to American farmers. 12 billion is a lot of money.”

  • Hosts point out the contradiction: tariffs caused the problem, now being spun as a solution.

4. Embracing Conspiracy Theories

• January 6th "Fed Direction"
  • During Q&A, a pro-Trump “reporter” claims January 6 was a federal setup. Trump validates the conspiracy and promises to “look into” his own prosecutors.
  • Quote (Trump, 14:10): “This was a whole Democrat hoax. The whole thing was a Democrat hoax. And it’s all being looked at.”

5. Legal Appointments and Attacks on the Judiciary

• Alina Haba’s Disqualification
  • Trump denies his appointee’s disqualification, instead blaming procedural rules and Democrats for obstructing appointments.
  • Quote (Trump, 15:18): “She’s not disqualified... it’s a horrible thing. It makes it impossible to appoint a judge or a U.S. attorney.”

6. Dangerous Public Health Comments

• Vaccinations and Health Care Policy

  • Trump claims Americans get "88 shots all wrapped up in one" and vows to reduce vaccines, despite recent policy rolling back hepatitis B protections for newborns.

  • Quote (Trump, 16:23): "I think we take like 88 different shots all wrapped up in one. One big glass of stuff like that. And we're going to be reducing [them] substantially."

  • He floats the idea of abolishing insurance companies, giving Americans $2,000 “for health care,” and insists the proposal “became number one viral.”

  • Quote (Trump, 17:07): “I want the money to go for health care, to go to the people and let the people buy their own health care through an account.”

7. International Mockery & Adversarial Relationships

• Xi Jinping Soybean Story
  • Trump recounts telling Xi Jinping that American soybeans are "more nutritious," only for Xi to (apparently) mock the claim. The hosts highlight how Trump misses the joke.
  • Quote (Trump, 18:17): “Our soybeans are more nutritious than competitors. Somebody said, is that a Trump statement or is that real?... President Xi asked me that question.”

8. Choreographed Farmer Testimonials

• Farmer’s “Christmas” Story
  • A farmer present at the presser claims his son would rather have Trump for Christmas than Santa Claus, in a moment the hosts call “pathetic propaganda.”
  • Quote (Farmer, 19:22): “Daddy, I don’t want Santa Claus to come to our house for Christmas. I want President Trump.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote/Description | Speaker | |-----------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------| | 03:48 | "I didn’t say that. This is ABC fake news." | Donald Trump | | 04:51 | "Prices are way down... inflation is essentially gone." | Donald Trump | | 06:36 | "No, no, you’re unprepared because you should know the Democrats." | Donald Trump | | 07:08 | "To the greatest boss in the world..." | Brooke Rollins | | 07:52 | "You need about 185 IQ to turn on a lawnmower." | Donald Trump | | 09:25 | "$12 billion is a lot of money. Meryl, what do you think?" | Donald Trump | | 14:10 | "This was a whole Democrat hoax." | Donald Trump | | 15:18 | "She’s not disqualified... it’s a horrible thing." | Donald Trump | | 16:23 | "I think we take like 88 different shots all wrapped up in one." | Donald Trump | | 17:07 | "I want the money to go for health care..." | Donald Trump | | 18:17 | "Our soybeans are more nutritious than competitors..." | Donald Trump | | 19:22 | "Daddy, I don’t want Santa Claus... I want President Trump." | Farmer at the White House |

Important Segments (Timestamps)

• [02:47] Press conference meltdown begins – Venezuela boat strike video
• [04:51] Trump’s claims on inflation and economy
• [05:59] Trump lashes out over retirement question
• [07:06] Cabinet flattery and lawnmower IQ statement
• [09:09] Announcing $12B bailout for farmers
• [13:37] January 6 and “fed direction” conspiracy
• [15:09] Alina Haba’s disqualification and judiciary attacks
• [16:23] Anti-vaccine rhetoric
• [17:07] Health care financial voucher proposal
• [18:17] “Nutritious soybeans” Xi Jinping anecdote
• [19:22] Farmer’s Christmas propaganda moment

Tone and Takeaways

The episode blends sharp critique, incredulity, and trademark “brotherly banter.” The Meiselas brothers are unflinching in their analysis, characterizing the press conference as not only a display of incompetence and dishonesty, but also as indicative of deeper issues—ranging from possible cognitive decline to an embrace of authoritarian and conspiratorial politics.

Listeners are left with an urgent sense of the surrealism and danger present in the current administration's public communications, and an encouragement to remain vigilant and supportive of democratic norms.

Final Call to Action

The hosts reiterate their call for listeners to subscribe to their YouTube channel, emphasizing the challenges of operating independent media under an adversarial regime and fostering solidarity with their audience, dubbed the "MeidasMighty."