The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: "Trump Loses it as Protests Explode All Over"

Date: January 24, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Brief Overview

The January 24, 2026, episode centers on the explosive surge of protests and a general strike sweeping across the United States, with special focus on Minnesota as ground zero. The Meiselas brothers dissect these demonstrations—triggered by controversial ICE detentions, worsening living conditions under the Trump administration, and the regime’s increasingly bizarre and offensive propaganda. In contrast to grassroots activism, the hosts sharply critique Trump’s tone-deaf responses, egregious social media posts, and draconian policy moves, all while injecting trademark wit and righteous indignation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Scope and Scale of the Protests

• Massive Turnout Despite Harsh Conditions

  • Minneapolis saw up to 100,000 protestors in temperatures as low as –20°F.
    • “When I’ve been speaking to some of these organizers, they tell me that it could have been as many as 80,000 to 100,000 people peacefully protesting while this general strike was taking place.” (Ron Placone, 01:35)
  • General strike leads to city shutdowns: “Businesses were shut down in Minnesota from Minneapolis to St. Paul.” (Ron Placone, 01:48)

• Spread to Other Cities

  • New York City had 15,000 striking nurses supported by the mayor, and the movement is spreading nationally. (02:16)

2. ICE Abuses and Government Crackdown

• Blistering Accounts

  • ICE accused of abductions and use of toxic weapons against children.
    • “We’re learning more stories about ICE abducting five-year-olds… deploying toxic carcinogenic gas weapons at this 2-year-old and her family.” (Ron Placone, 02:42)
  • Peaceful protesters being threatened and added to federal databases as “domestic terrorists.” (Ron Placone, 03:08; 14:59)

• Propaganda and Information Suppression

  • Media and governmental attempts to reframe discourse:
    • DHS asked FEMA to stop using the word “ice” in relation to storms to prevent anti-ICE memes.

      “Homeland Security officials have come to FEMA staff and told them to limit the use of the word ice in their public messaging.” (Jessica Tarlov, 07:38)

    • “Meanwhile, lives are on the line.” (Jessica Tarlov, 08:55)

3. Trump Administration’s Disconnected Response

• Tone-Deaf Social Media Activity

  • Trump posted AI-generated images of golden arches, Indy car races around the Capitol, and bizarre AI penguins in Greenland (where penguins don’t live).
    • “Donald Trump was posting images all day of golden arches that he wants to build in Washington, D.C.— ‘Arche de Trump’ memorials to himself, golden arches, golden ballrooms and Indy car racetracks.” (Ron Placone, 03:36)
    • “Perhaps you shouldn’t have dismantled the Department of Education so quickly...there’s no penguins there.” (Ron Placone, 09:58)

• Cabinet and Staff Join the Circus

  • Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy:

    “What’s more American than a race around our nation’s capital. Freedom Democrats, start your engines and let’s get this over the finish line.” (paraphrased, 04:36)

  • Trump’s Communications Director posts lewd remarks about a young Democratic influencer. (04:56)

• Regime Media Coverage

  • Even Fox (referred to as “state regime media”) is forced to acknowledge protest size. “But that is not stopping Minneapolis from turning out in huge numbers in the thousands, we’re told, into the streets where it is 10 below this hour.” (Clip played, 06:47)

4. Public Backlash, Political Fallout, and Media Analysis

• Polling Disaster

  • Trump’s approval ratings are tanking across all metrics, per New York Times/Siena poll:
    • “Lowest approval rating –17…Immigration –18…on the economy, –19…on foreign relations, –29…on cost of living. And for those of you that care about the Epstein files… –44.” (Rod Stewart quoting poll, 09:19)
  • Young, Black, and Latino voters have returned to historical levels of Democratic support.
  • Savage J.D. Vance speechwriter burn:

    “You don’t turn the Titanic around overnight—but we all know what happened to the Titanic.” (Rod Stewart, 09:50)

• International and Military Tensions

  • Trump disparages allied troops, falsely claiming US allies “pretended to be on the front lines” in Afghanistan.
    • “Trump calls them almost like cowards. It’s unbearable. So I’m calling on you, Prime Minister Starmer and Farage. Please make the draft dodger Trump apologize, please.” (Rod Stewart, 11:20)

• Propaganda at Davos

  • Stephen Miller spins the disastrous Davos visit as a “masterclass in diplomacy.”
    • “You saw a masterclass, a true, amazing masterclass in diplomacy, statesmanship, leadership in Davos this week with President Trump… one of the most important statements any American president has made…” (Stephen Miller, 12:35)

5. Protest Leaders Targeted

• Nekima Armstrong’s Ordeal
  • Armstrong arrested; photos manipulated using AI to ridicule and racially demean her.
    • “They treated this as if I was a fugitive on the run, that I had committed murder…” (Nekima Armstrong, 13:27)

6. ICE Agents Intimidate Protestors

• Protester Data Collection
  • ICE filmed and catalogued protestors’ faces/names in Maine, labeling them as “domestic terrorists.”
    • “Why are you taking my information down?...Because we have a nice little database…Now you’re considered a domestic terrorist.” (Rod Stewart and others, 15:13–15:17)
  • Commentary: “That’s what ICE is. That’s what the Border Patrol Gestapo is.” (Ron Placone, 15:27)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On protest size and resolve:

  “Americans are fed up. We were fed up before, but it’s reached a fever pitch in the chilly negative 20-degree Fahrenheit weather in Minnesota.” (Ron Placone, 02:09)

• On Trump’s priorities:

  “As the American people are fed up…Donald Trump was posting images all day of golden arches that he wants to build in Washington, D.C....Indy car racetracks.” (Ron Placone, 03:36)

• On the government’s attempted wordplay:

  “So they’re asking FEMA staff, if you can, don’t use the word ice, try to use the term freezing rain.” (Jessica Tarlov, 07:38)

• Commenting on Trump’s attempts to cover for allies:

  “Prime Minister Starmer and Farage. Please make the draft dodger Trump apologize, please.” (Rod Stewart, 11:57)

• On ICE intimidation tactics:

  “And now you’re considering the domestic terrorists.” (Ron Placone, 15:17)

Important Segment Timestamps

• [01:11-03:00] — Overview of Minnesota and national protests, ICE abuses detailed.
• [03:36-05:00] — Trump’s bizarre social media and regime’s off-topic priorities.
• [07:32-08:55] — FEMA word ban on “ice” and risk to public safety.
• [09:19-09:56] — Discussion of polling and Trump’s declining approval, political fallout.
• [11:20-11:57] — Rod Stewart's emotional call-out of Trump’s disrespect to troops.
• [13:27-13:51] — Nekima Armstrong details her arrest and government targeting.
• [14:59-15:27] — ICE photographing/identifying protestors as “domestic terrorists.”

Tone & Language

The episode maintains the MeidasTouch signature blend of sharp political critique, passionate defense of democracy, sardonic humor, and direct moral outrage—never pulling punches as they intersperse analysis with earnest calls for resistance.

This summary provides a comprehensive yet engaging walkthrough of the episode, capturing its urgency, facts, and memorable moments for listeners and non-listeners alike.