The MeidasTouch Podcast | "Trump Loses it as Leaders Predict Doom in War"
Date: March 30, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas (with coverage led by Ron Filipkowski)
Focus: Fallout from Trump’s War with Iran, Global Fears, and U.S. Leadership in Crisis

Episode Overview

In this episode, the MeidasTouch crew dives deep into the global chaos unleashed by Donald Trump's ongoing war with Iran. The hosts dissect dire warnings from world leaders, real-time Iranian denials of U.S. claims, mounting economic instability, and a Trump administration scrambling for credibility and justification. Through a blend of sharp analysis, original source clips, and characteristic banter, the brothers expose how misinformation, escalating violence, and market manipulation have put both America and the world on edge.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Global Leaders Sound the Alarm

[02:26–05:32]

• Italy’s Defense Minister:
  Openly shares sleepless nights over what the war will mean for Europe’s economy and daily life.
  • Quote: “I’m forced to know things about what could happen... that no longer allow me to sleep.” [02:55]
• South Korea’s President:
  Expresses similar fears about the energy crisis, calling the situation “grave” and “worse than expected.”
  • Quote: “The world is in turmoil over the energy crisis... even kept me up at night.” [03:24]

2. Iran Flatly Rejects Trump’s Claims

[05:32–06:23]

• Iran’s Foreign Ministry:
  Asserts “no direct or indirect negotiations” are occurring with the U.S.
  Criticizes U.S. demands as “excessive, unrealistic and irrational.”
  • Iran FM Spokesperson: “We have had no direct negotiations with America so far... The US Demands have been very excessive, unrealistic and illogical.” [05:32]
• Denial of U.S. Narrative:
  Iranian officials refute Trump’s claims, highlighting the rift between U.S. domestic messaging and on-the-ground realities in the region.

3. Market Manipulation and Economic Fallout

[06:23–08:39]

• MB Golubov, Iranian Parliament Head:
  Labels Trump’s actions as market manipulation; gives trading advice mocking Western media cycles.
  • Quote: “Free market, so called news or truth is often just a setup for profit taking... If they pump it, short it. If they dump it, go long.” [07:19]
• Market Reactions:
  Markets initially rise on Trump’s threats, but subsequently crash, oil prices soar, and economic pain deepens—fuel for global resentment.

4. U.S. Press Conferences: Contradiction and Evasion

[08:39–15:12]

• Caroline Levitt, White House Spokesperson:
  Struggles to reconcile discrepancies between U.S. and Iranian statements, evades questions on targeting civilian infrastructure, and suggests Arab nations should “pay for the war.”
  • Quote: “I think the American people are smart enough not to take the word of a terrorist regime...” [09:01]
  • On cost-sharing: “It’s something the president would be quite interested in calling them [Arab allies] to do.” [10:03]
• Threats to Civilian Targets:
  Trump openly threatens Iranian infrastructure, which is challenged as potential war crimes by reporters.
  • Reporter: “Under international law, striking civilian infrastructure... is generally prohibited. Why is the president threatening what would amount to potentially a war crime?” [11:14]
  • Levitt responds: “…the United States armed forces will always act within the confines of the law. But…Trump is going to move forward unabated.” [11:41]
• Landmine Allegations:
  Levitt refuses to confirm or deny reports of American-made landmines in Iran. [12:40]
• Selective Sanctions Enforcement:
  Administration rationalizes Russian oil deliveries to Cuba as “case by case,” exposing inconsistencies in sanction policies and a perceived double standard favoring Putin. [13:47–14:53]

5. Energy Crisis and American Hardship

[15:00–16:18]

• Reporter asks about diesel prices for truckers:
  Levitt assures these are “short term fluctuations for the long term benefit,” touting market intervention tactics and U.S. resolve to wrest control over Middle Eastern oil routes.

6. Admittance of Assassinations as Policy

[16:18–16:50]

• Levitt acknowledges killing prior Iranian leaders for drawn-out negotiations:
  • Quote: “…some of the previous leaders who are now no longer on planet Earth because they lied to the United States and they strung us along in negotiations. And that was unacceptable to the president, which is why many of the previous leaders were killed.” [16:29]

7. Humiliation & Iranian Counterattacks

[16:50–End]

• Trump's claim to negotiate with Iranian leaders is publicly rebutted by Iranian officials.
• Regional impact:
  U.S. bases and allies (UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Israel) are all being targeted as a result of escalation.
• Haifa, Israel struck by Iranian missiles, underlining how conflict has spilled across borders.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Italy’s Defense Minister:
  “I’m forced to know things about what could happen... that no longer allow me to sleep.” [02:55]
• South Korea’s President:
  “The situation is worse than... expected.” [03:24]
• Iran FM Spokesperson:
  “We have had no direct negotiations with America so far...The US Demands have been very excessive, unrealistic and illogical.” [05:32]
• MB Golubov (Iran):
  “Free market, so called news or truth is often just a setup for profit taking... If they pump it, short it. If they dump it, go long.” [07:19]
• Caroline Levitt:
  “I think the American people are smart enough not to take the word of a terrorist regime...” [09:01] “It’s something the president would be quite interested in calling them [Arab allies] to do.” [10:03] “...United States armed forces will always act within the confines of the law. But…Trump is going to move forward unabated.” [11:41] “...some of the previous leaders who are now no longer on planet Earth because they... strung us along in negotiations. And that was unacceptable to the president, which is why many... were killed.” [16:29]
• Iranian Embassy (mocking Trump):
  “The brave soldiers of Iran are hitting seriously the idiot, unreasonable regime of the usa...” [10:34]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:26] - Start of in-depth discussion
• [02:55] - Italy’s Defense Minister sleepless over war
• [03:24] - South Korea’s President: “Worse than expected”
• [05:32] - Iran’s official denial of U.S. negotiations
• [07:19] - Iranian parliament's mocking of U.S. market manipulation
• [09:01] - Caroline Levitt: “Don’t trust Iran’s word”
• [10:03] - U.S. suggests Arab countries should pay for war
• [11:14] - Reporter asks about threats to civilian infrastructure as war crimes
• [12:40] - U.S. spokesman dodges landmine allegations
• [14:06] - Case-by-case sanction enforcement; Russia gets a pass
• [15:00] - U.S. addresses high fuel costs for truckers
• [16:29] - U.S. admits assassinating Iranian leaders for stalling
• [17:30+] - Regional fallout, Iranian missile strikes in Israel

Episode Tone & Takeaways

Maintaining their pointed, passionate, and occasionally irreverent style, the MeidasTouch team exposes chaos at the top of U.S. leadership, strategic failures, and the global cascade of crisis from Trump's war decisions. The episode is rich in direct source analysis, critical of both administration spin and media failures, and frames the moment as a dire test for democracy, international law, and America's role in the world. Through notable quotes, they highlight the surreal and dangerous gap between White House claims and reality on the ground—and the high stakes for both Americans and the global community.