The MeidasTouch Podcast
Episode: Trump looks very Sick as he Falls Apart in Mar-A-Lago
Date: November 30, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Theme: An incisive, humor-laced dissection of Donald Trump’s physical, political, and ethical decline; the state of American democracy; and the ongoing dangers from Trump and his allies in government and business.
Episode Overview
This episode focuses on a dramatic week for Donald Trump, both in terms of public appearance and policy, with the Meiselas brothers scrutinizing his recent behavior, social media posts, and the growing bipartisan and business world backlash against him. The hosts blend pointed criticism with their trademark banter, contextualizing Trump’s actions within the larger battle for American democracy, truth, and civic values.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Trump’s Deteriorating Physical Appearance and Public Behavior
Segment Start: [03:01]
- The hosts open by discussing recent photos and videos of Trump at Mar-a-Lago, looking frail and out of sorts.
- “Donald Trump looking very sick and very weak at Mar a Lago this weekend and behaving very sick and weak. Take a look at him right now. Zoom in right there. Do you see him?” [03:01]
- They mock the presence of a name placard at Trump’s breakfast table (“President Donald J. Trump 4547”), suggesting this reflects his need for constant affirmation.
- Trump’s recent social media posts—photos of golf and meetings with the Saudi crown prince—are interpreted as tone-deaf and out of touch with the struggles of everyday Americans.
- “You're posting photos of yourself golfing, saying, winning is always nice. As the American people are suffering…” [03:39]
- The brothers argue that Trump prioritizes his image and personal gain over national interests.
2. Corruption and Dubious International Deals
Segment Start: [04:05]
- They detail how Trump’s interactions with the Saudis, Russians, and others are about self-enrichment rather than U.S. security.
- Trump gave F-35 jets, nuclear and AI chip tech to the Saudis, but “what did the United States get in return... Donald Trump got a business deal out of it with the Saudis.” [04:42]
- The hosts cite corruption concerns (“$2 trillion business deal” between Trump and Russians) and accuse Trump of undermining U.S. alliances for personal gain.
3. Trump’s False Economic Claims and Propaganda
Segment Start: [05:13]
- Trump’s claim of historic drug price reductions (“500%, 600%, 700%”) is debunked as mathematically impossible and factually untrue.
- “Something can't drop 700% unless the pharmaceutical companies are paying us $700 for a $1 item, which they're not doing.” [05:36]
- The brothers highlight the Department of Labor’s use of Nazi-style imagery and language (“American Prevail,” gothic text, Lincoln and 11 stars) as another instance of extremist propaganda. [06:12]
- “You have Trump's Department of Labor just posting Nazi propaganda at this point.” [06:03]
4. Economic Reality Check: Job Losses and Foreclosure Surges
Segment Start: [06:28]
- The show pivots to hard economic data, highlighting spikes in credit card delinquencies, student loan defaults, and home foreclosures.
- Quotes University of Michigan economics professor Justin Wolfers on the worst job growth in 15 years outside the pandemic.
- Justin Wolfers: “So this is the worst when the world was shut. Yeah, it is the worst first nine months for the labor market in 15 years.” [08:15]
- “The unemployment rate is up half a point...that's a lot more suffering. And we haven't been talking about it enough.” [08:54]
5. Corporate America Rethinking Its Relationship with Trump
Segment Start: [09:19]
- Jamie Dimon (JP Morgan Chase CEO) explains the risks of appearing to “buy favors” with Trump, citing concerns about how a post-Trump Department of Justice might view such actions.
- Jamie Dimon: “We have to be very careful how anything is perceived and also how the next DOJ is going to deal with it. So we're quite conscious of the risk we bear by doing anything that looks like, you know, buying favors or anything like that.” [10:38]
- The hosts interpret this as a sign that even big business is preparing for a world without Trump and wary of future investigations.
6. Bipartisan Pushback Against Trump-Era War Crimes and Policy
Segment Start: [11:10]
- Both House and Senate Armed Services Committees issue bipartisan statements investigating alleged “double tap” (war crime) military strikes in the Caribbean under Trump’s command.
- Top military JAG lawyers publicly call for prosecution of those responsible.
- The hosts stress that bipartisan unity against Trump’s abuses is growing.
7. Trump’s Threats Against Venezuela: Oil Grift Disguised as Anti-Drug Policy
Segment Start: [13:19]
- Trump’s threats of war against Venezuela are deconstructed: the real motivation is access to massive oil reserves, not “narco-trafficking.”
- “All of those things are true. At the same time, we can actually give the facts that there's not fentanyl coming in from Venezuela...the drugs that are killing Americans are coming in from Mexico or coming in from the Pacific.” [14:23]
- The brothers draw analogies to Putin’s justifications for Ukraine war (“de-Nazification”) and expose MAGA politicians' public calls for seizing Venezuelan oil.
8. Trump’s Desperate Fundraising Tactics and Grifting
Segment Start: [16:04]
- The hosts dissect Trump’s fundraising emails, highlighting two:
- Begging followers for “personal sacrifice” donations to meet fundraising goals.
- “Will you make a personal sacrifice to help me reach my fundraising goal? He’s begging his supporters to make a personal sacrifice...” [16:45]
- Promises of “tariff rebate checks” that ask supporters for money rather than giving them anything in return.
- “When you click it, you pay Trump. Trump, he doesn’t give you the money, you pay him. So he lies to you…” [17:51]
- Begging followers for “personal sacrifice” donations to meet fundraising goals.
- The analysis calls out the pattern of Trump’s fraud, referencing previous non-existent “doge dividend checks” and similar scams.
9. Manipulation of Military Imagery and Ongoing Cruelty
Segment Start: [18:44]
- Republican social media accounts attempt to mislead the public by recycling old photos of Trump with troops, pretending they’re current.
- The administration moves to declassify nursing from professional occupations, negatively impacting nurses.
- “The Trump regime says it’s not a professional degree anymore...What an F you to some of the most courageous people in this country.” [19:33]
- The Trump administration bans federal recognition of World AIDS Day; activists and hosts denounce the move as petty, hostile, and “just evil.”
- Peter Staley (AIDS activist): “It just seems petty and hostile, frankly.” [20:17]
- Host: "Sometimes for me, it just comes to evil, evil. And this Trump regime people are just bad people, evil people who hate America." [20:38]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Trump’s behavior:
"He looks absolutely awful... as his regime is collapsing before his sickly, rotting face, before his sickly, rotting eyes." [07:30] -
Economic data reality check:
Justin Wolfers: “It's where we get not just our income, but many of us, our dignity and our worth. And that's a lot more suffering. And we haven't been talking about it enough.” [08:54] -
On business distancing from Trump:
Jamie Dimon: “We're quite conscious of the risk we bear by doing anything that looks like, you know, buying favors...” [10:38] -
On Trump’s fundraising scams:
"When you click the damn thing, you pay him. It's the biggest fraud in the freaking world right now. That's what it is." [17:54] -
On healthcare and priorities:
"I want to be focused on the fact that there are 20 to 30 million Americans who are about to lose their health care..." [15:23] -
On the regime’s cruelty:
"The Trump regime will no longer commemorate World AIDS Day. The State Department warned its employees not to use government funds for the occasion..." [19:49] Peter Staley: “It just seems petty and hostile, frankly.” [20:17]
Important Timestamps
- 03:01 – Trump’s frail public appearance and self-promotion at Mar-a-Lago
- 04:42 – Trump’s business deals with Saudis, Russians, undermining U.S. security
- 05:13 – Fact-checking Trump’s economic claims; Nazi-style propaganda in government
- 06:28 – Foreclosure and economic distress; job growth at 15-year low
- 08:15 – Justin Wolfers’ economic analysis
- 10:38 – Jamie Dimon explains big business’ reluctance to back Trump
- 11:10 – Bipartisan response to Trump-era war crimes
- 13:19 – Rhetoric on Venezuela, ulterior motives revealed
- 16:04 – Trump’s new fundraising cons
- 18:44 – Manipulation of military imagery; deprofessionalization of nursing
- 19:49 – Ban on federal observance of World AIDS Day
Tone & Style
The episode is sharp, energetic, and consistently critical of Trump, blending informed outrage with darkly comic asides and snappy banter. The hosts maintain a pro-democracy, fact-centric stance—calling out lies, highlighting overlooked stories, and encouraging political engagement.
Useful For:
Those seeking a detailed, critical recap of Trump’s latest controversies, the data behind today’s tough economic climate, the bipartisan response to governmental overreach and abuse, and the ongoing erosion of democratic norms—all leavened with irreverence and humor.