The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: "Trump Looks Terrible on Trip as Havoc Breaks Loose"

Date: September 18, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas (MeidasTouch Network)

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Meiselas brothers delve into the disastrous trip Donald Trump took to the UK, highlighting his poor public image, the political fallout, and his ongoing attacks on free speech, the media, and democracy itself. The hosts break down the international protests against Trump, the scandal surrounding Jimmy Kimmel's firing, Trump's authoritarian tactics, and pivotal moments in recent Congressional hearings regarding Jeffrey Epstein. True to form, the episode mixes biting political commentary, humor, and a call to action for defenders of democracy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump's UK Visit: A PR Fiasco

• The hosts ridicule Trump's appearance and conduct during his trip:
  • Melania is mocked for her "ridiculous hat."
  • Trump's appearance is described as "sickly" while being paraded around in a golden carriage.
  • Criticism of his attire and detachment during meetings with UK royalty, particularly King Charles.
  • Publics' and protesters' open opposition in London and Windsor, with repeated shout-outs to Meidas Mighty listeners for making their voices heard.

  "Look how sickly he looks in the golden carriage." (Political Commentator, 02:26)

• The brothers joke about sending Trump permanently to the UK or Russia to be "with his boy Vlad."

2. Crackdown on Free Speech: Jimmy Kimmel's Firing

• Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show is canceled by ABC/Disney, allegedly due to mild comments about Donald Trump and Charlie Kirk, spotlighting how Trump’s regime leverages the FCC and friendly station owners (Sinclair, Nexstar) to threaten or silence critics.

  "What Jimmy Kimmel said wasn't even offensive... That's what they're saying was grounds for firing Kimmel, which is utterly ridiculous." (Political Commentator, 03:46)

• Ben Meiselas wrote an open letter inviting Kimmel to the MeidasTouch Network, emphasizing their defense of free speech.

  "Join the Midas Touch network... you can say whatever you want to say. We actually support free speech..." (Political Commentator, 04:54)

• Trump celebrates Kimmel's firing on social media and calls for similar firings at NBC:

  "Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage... Kimmel has zero talent and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that's possible... Do it, NBC President DJT." (Quoting Trump’s post, ~05:42)

• The hosts draw alarming historical parallels to Putin’s authorial crackdown on comics and impersonators.

3. Hypocrisy, Projection, and Authoritarianism

• Trump and his associates ramp up talking points about free speech, while simultaneously pushing for purges and designations of "enemies"; he labels Antifa (an ideology, not a group) as a "major terrorist organization."

  "Antifa is like not a real group... Anti-fascists are the bad guys to the fascists." (Political Commentator, 08:40)

• The segment highlights Trump’s pattern of projecting authoritarian tactics onto opponents while practicing them himself.
  • Notable snippets of Trump claiming to have “restored free speech,” only to then suppress and censor critics.
    • [10:26] Trump: “I banned all government censorship and restored free speech in America.”
    • [11:08] Trump: “On day one, I signed an executive order to stop all government censorship.”

4. Corporate Media Complicity

• Discussion of FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr’s comments praising Kimmel's firing; the possible quid pro quo behind Sinclair/Nexstar’s business interests and Trump regime’s FCC merger approvals.

  “Nextar wants to merge with its rival Tegna… but nexstar needs approval by the Trump regime FCC…” (Political Commentator, 12:17)

• Broad corporate media, according to the hosts, “bends the knee” rather than defending journalistic and comedic independence.

5. Violence and Political Purges

• Condemnation of the weaponization of recent tragedies (Charlie Kirk’s death) by the Trump regime to justify government purges of “enemies.”
• Clarification that Kimmel’s comments about Kirk were fact-based and inoffensive, with the real issue being the suppression of dissent.

  “Kimmel could have pointed out that Charlie Kirk has said so many anti Black statements before, anti Hispanic statements, anti gay... but Kimmel didn't bring any of that up.” (Political Commentator, 13:39)

• The hosts caution against trends reminiscent of foreign autocracies, emphasizing the importance of moral clarity and outspokenness.

6. Pushback from the Right and Intra-GOP Confusion

• Fox News and right-wing figures like Sean Hannity and J.D. Vance dismiss the idea that Kimmel’s firing was censorship:

  “I can't find a single prominent conservative voice in the country that even remotely wanted or hoped... to get Jimmy Kimmel taken off the air.” (Sean Hannity, 14:55)

• The hosts critique the hypocrisy and opportunism of GOP figures, including J.D. Vance, who has contradicted himself on many issues and once compared Trump to Hitler.

7. Trump’s Economic Track Record

• Congressional Rep. Jim McGovern delivers a floor speech highlighting the damaging effects of Trump’s tariffs and economic promises that backfired:

  “The Trump economy is not working for the American people... grocery prices spiked... For the first time in nearly four years, the economy lost jobs in June.” (Rep. Jim McGovern, 16:50)

8. The Epstein Files Hearing: Call for Transparency

• The podcast wraps with a discussion of the FBI’s testimony on the Epstein files, focusing on attempts (primarily by Republicans) to cover up or obscure the connections between Trump and Epstein.
• Notable confrontation between Rep. Eric Swalwell and FBI Director Chris Wray over the number of times Trump’s name appears in the Epstein documents.

  “You said you don't know the number of times Trump's name appears in the files. So it could at least be a thousand times, right?”
  “I don't know the number, but it's not that.” (Swalwell & Wray exchange, 19:35–20:11)

• Wray vigorously defends the integrity of the FBI and rebuffs suggestions of political cover-ups.

  “Anyone that says that needs to look at the stats alone and go back to the state of California who's receiving the biggest surge in FBI resources through my redeployment...” (Chris Wray, 20:36)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Trump’s UK Visit:

  “Let’s just send them to Russia. Maybe we’ll just both send him to Russia together so he could be with his boy Vlad.” (Political Commentator, 02:56)

• On Free Speech and Authoritarianism:

  "This is what authoritarians do. They can’t handle jokes... Looking in the camera and saying, Donald Trump is a piece of trash. That’s moral clarity because it’s true.” (Political Commentator, 06:53)

• On Corporate Media:

  “Our corporate media bends the knee and fires people like Jimmy Kimmel, fires great reporters. What the hell are you doing?” (Political Commentator, 07:30)

• On Antifa as Pretext:

  "Antifa is like some concept that they've made up of people who are anti-fascist. Anti-fascists are the bad guys to the fascists." (Political Commentator, 08:40)

Important Segment Timestamps

• [02:26] – Trump’s UK trip imagery, protests, and host banter
• [03:46] – Jimmy Kimmel firing explainer
• [05:42] – Trump celebrates Kimmel’s firing, hints at future purges
• [08:40] – Antifa as "terrorist organization" announcement
• [10:26 & 11:08] – Trump’s contradictory free speech claims
• [12:17] – FCC, Nexstar/Sinclair corporate maneuvering
• [13:39] – Discussion of Charlie Kirk rhetoric and Kimmel’s restraint
• [14:55] – Fox News denial and GOP rhetoric
• [16:50] – Rep. Jim McGovern’s speech on Trump economy
• [19:35–20:14] – Epstein files hearing (Swalwell and Wray exchange)

Tone and Delivery

The episode is combative, urgent, and laced with the Meiselas brothers’ trademark humor and exasperation at political developments. They balance caustic critiques of Trump and the right-wing establishment with rallying calls to defend democracy, media freedom, and transparency.

Final Notes

• The episode is packed with detailed breakdowns, real-time reactions to emerging news, and recommendations for listeners to stay involved and vigilant.
• The hosts repeatedly encourage engagement, subscriptions, and continued support for independent media and free speech platforms.
• The summary skips all introductions, advertisements, and non-content material to focus squarely on the critical coverage and analysis.