Podcast Summary: Trump Loses it and Sends Fake List as Admin Collapses

The MeidasTouch Podcast – February 15, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Overview

In this fiery episode, the Meiselas brothers break down the Trump administration’s chaotic response to the ongoing Epstein files scandal. They analyze the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) release of a bizarre and misleading list of "politically exposed persons" allegedly tied to Epstein, discuss the political fallout, and provide sharp commentary on America's standing abroad, MAGA’s future, and the international Epstein investigation. The hosts blend legal insight with comedic banter, while spotlighting key moments from recent political and diplomatic events.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Epstein Files: DOJ’s Fake List and Trump’s Role

• [01:34] Ben explains the DOJ, under Trump, released a “bogus” list of individuals supposedly connected to Epstein in an apparent effort to bury Trump’s own involvement.

• The list included deceased celebrities (e.g., Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Janis Joplin) and unlikely figures (e.g., Pope John Paul II), mixed with actual, potentially implicated political figures.

• Quote – Ben:

  "They try to like bury Donald Trump's name, which of course is on the list, with a bunch of other people. And they're doing it in a way to kind of just give the middle finger to the entire investigation into the child sex trafficking and give the middle finger to the entire survivor community." [01:43]

• Even Marjorie Taylor Greene was included, leading her to object publicly.

2. Department of Justice Tactics and the Redactions Letter

• The DOJ sent a six-page letter to Congress justifying their redactions, containing the peculiar list.

• Ben, a lawyer, breaks down the proper transparency protocol: a detailed "privilege log" (listing every document, what’s withheld, and why).

• DOJ is resisting judicial oversight, claiming only they can enforce the Epstein Transparency Act.

• Quote – Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna (as cited by Ben):

  "To have Janis Joplin, who died when Epstein was 17, in the same list as Larry Nassar ... is absurd. Release the whole files, stop protecting predators, redact only the survivor's name and produce what's called a privilege log." [03:34]

3. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Unfiltered Take

• Greene, typically a Trump ally, surprised many by publicly blaming Trump for blocking the files' release.

• Clip [06:03] – Marjorie Taylor Greene:

  "The fight to release the Epstein files came directly from President Trump ... He fought the hardest to stop these files from being released. And the only reason that he signed our bill ... was because he had to."

• She characterized Trump calling the investigation a “hoax” as his “biggest political miscalculation.”

  "Biggest political miscalculation in Donald Trump's career was calling this a hoax, fighting the release of it..." [06:47]

4. Pattern of “Hoax” Defense and Trump’s Legal Behavior

• Ben draws a line through Trump’s repeated use of “hoax” to describe all accusations, from Russia interference to sexual assault cases.

• Roberta Kaplan’s cross-examination during the E. Jean Carroll trial is referenced to demonstrate how Trump consistently dismisses allegations as hoaxes.

• Quote – Ben:

  "All of the things that Donald Trump claims are hoaxes are not hoaxes. Okay? They're the reality." [07:12]

5. Pam Bondi, Trump’s DOJ, and The Culture of the Cover-Up

• The brothers play a Tim Dillon clip highlighting Pam Bondi’s lack of preparedness in the DOJ and how others are caught up in the cover-up.
• Speculation about key aides and former officials (Cash Patel, Dan Bongino) being involved or controlled, intentionally muddying waters and shielding Trump.

6. Global Perspective: Munich Security Conference & America’s Reputation

• While the US grapples with internal scandal, American representatives at the Munich Security Conference received laughter and incredulity from European officials while touting Trump-era “peace” accomplishments ([11:57]).

• International leaders, including Pedro Sanchez (Spain), Jens Frederik Nielsen (Greenland), and Kaja Kallas (EU), criticized US defense tensions, the nuclear arms budget, and questioned America's global influence.

• Pedro Sanchez [14:34]:

  "The US alone will invest $946 billion in nukes over the next decade, enough to eradicate extreme global poverty."

7. Hillary Clinton and Gavin Newsom: Critiques of Trump and MAGA

• Hillary Clinton [15:58]:

  "...He has betrayed the West. He's betrayed human values. He's betrayed the NATO Charter, the Atlantic Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ... Except that's who Trump is modeling himself."

• Gavin Newsom [16:39] argues that MAGA is a “temporary invasive species” that will not survive beyond Trump, noting figures such as Marco Rubio used to be staunch Trump critics.

8. The International Investigation and the French Response

• France is launching its own Epstein investigation, unlike the US, with magistrates analyzing evidence implicating French nationals. Even the 2022 death in prison of Jean-Luc Brunel (Epstein associate) is under renewed scrutiny.

• The brothers link multiple influential Trump allies (Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Dr. Oz, RFK Jr., Tom Barrack) to Epstein’s web.

• Ben [18:24]:

  "They're all in it. It's right there in black and white. ... The Sultan who sent the torture videos to Epstein. They said they liked the torture videos of the girls. The hell is going on?"

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ben exposing the absurdity of the list:

  "They have Elvis Presley on there. They have Janis Joplin who died in 1970. Marilyn Monroe is on there. And they're saying these are the politically exposed people who were involved in the Epsom list." [01:56]

• On Trump's “hoax” rhetoric:

  "Everything he says is a hoax. He's really the one who's behind all of this criminality." [07:12]

• International mockery of Trump officials:

  "The world leaders are actually laughing in the face of the American representatives in Munich." [11:48]

• France moving forward independently:

  "French prosecutors announced ... a special team of magistrates to analyze evidence that could implicate French nationals." [17:34]

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [01:34–05:30] – Breakdown of the DOJ’s fake Epstein list
• [06:03] – Marjorie Taylor Greene’s criticism of Trump and the cover-up, direct audio clip
• [06:47] – Greene on Trump’s miscalculation over calling the scandal a “hoax”
• [07:12] – Ben on Trump’s pattern of calling allegations “hoaxes”
• [08:15–10:33] – Tim Dillon commentary and DOJ cover-up culture
• [11:34–15:34] – International conference audio, foreign leaders ridicule American talking points; focus on the defense budget and global nuclear spending
• [15:58] – Hillary Clinton: Trump’s betrayal of the West
• [16:39] – Gavin Newsom: The future of MAGA
• [17:34] – French prosecutors pursue Epstein investigation, American allies implicated

Conclusion

This episode encapsulates the Meiselas brothers’ signature style: incisive legal analysis, biting humor, and passionate advocacy for accountability. With the Trump administration’s credibility crumbling from both internal scandal and international embarrassment, the brothers spotlight the urgent need for transparency, justice for Epstein survivors, and a post-MAGA American future. The show ends by emphasizing ongoing investigations abroad as torchbearers for justice, even as the U.S. government appears to stall and obfuscate.