The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Trump Loses It as Senate Votes Against Him on War
Date: January 8, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Overview

In this charged episode, the Meiselas brothers deliver a passionate and pointed breakdown of two explosive news stories: the U.S. Senate rebuking President Donald Trump’s push for unchecked military action in Venezuela, and the heated aftermath of the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Macklin Good by ICE agents in Minneapolis. With their signature blend of sharp legal insight, activism, and brotherly banter, the hosts examine rising authoritarianism, democratic backsliding, and offer an unflinching look at state violence and accountability in 2026 America.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Senate Rebuke: War Powers Resolution Against Trump (00:01–03:40)

• Senate Vote: The Senate passes a War Powers Resolution (52–47), restricting President Trump from further military action in Venezuela without explicit Congressional authorization. Key Republicans crossing the aisle include Murkowski, Young, Paul, Collins, and Hawley.
• Host Take:
  • “[With] the Senate essentially rebuking Donald Trump… he is threatening to veto it and says he has absolute power to launch invasions wherever he wants in the Western Hemisphere.” (00:17, Host)
• Discussion:
  • Trump’s assertion of “absolute power” is characterized as alarming, even autocratic.
  • The significance of this rare bipartisan opposition is highlighted as a defense of constitutional checks and balances.

2. The Greenland Crisis: Bribery & Coercion Unfold (01:18–03:50)

• Reporting: The Trump administration is planning a hostile economic strategy, allegedly offering Greenlanders between $10,000 and $100,000 to support secession from Denmark and join the U.S.
• Escalation: Military options are reportedly on the table if the financial push fails.
• Quote:
  • “This is an unprecedented hostile, and I would even say an act of potential war at this point to engage in this type of economic coercion against the sovereignty of a country.” (01:37, Host)
• International Fallout:
  • France, Germany, and Denmark are reportedly preparing for possible military confrontation with the U.S. should an invasion occur.

3. The Killing of Renee Nicole Macklin Good by ICE in Minneapolis (03:51–12:00)

• Victim Profile: Renee Nicole Macklin Good, 37, a U.S. citizen, mother of three, and a poet, was shot in the face by an ICE officer after dropping her son off at school.
• Narrative and Visuals:
  • The hosts humanize Macklin Good, sharing her background and social media presence.
  • “Say her name: Renee Nicole Macklin Good. Here are some new photos of her… She was a mother, a poet, and new to the city.” (04:30, Host)
• Alleged Cover-Up:
  • Minneapolis is barred from participating in the investigation; only federal agencies are in charge.
  • Kristi Noem (Secretary of Homeland Security) appears repeatedly, defending the ICE officer and dismissing local/state oversight.
• Kristi Noem Defends ICE Actions:
  • Claims the vehicle was used as a weapon and that the officer’s life was in danger.
  • “When you take an action and use a weapon… to incite violence… then it needs to be labeled exactly what it was.” (06:20, Kristi Noem)
• Exclusion of State Investigators:
  • Minnesota’s state investigative agency is explicitly denied jurisdiction.
  • “They have not been cut out. They don’t have any jurisdiction…” (05:39 & 10:47, Kristi Noem)
  • Kristi Noem pivots blame on Minneapolis and state officials for broader corruption and crime.
• Escalating Authoritarian Rhetoric:
  • MAGA Republican Randy Fine:
    • Threatens similar outcomes for others who “get in the way of the government repelling a foreign invasion.”
    • “If you get in the way of the government repelling a foreign invasion, you’re gonna end up just like that lady did yesterday. America, we kill people.” (12:41, paraphrased via Host quoting)
• Host Reaction:
  • The hosts call the rhetoric and actions “exactly like the Reich,” sounding alarms about historical authoritarian echoes.

4. Trump’s Plans in Venezuela & Ties to Autocracy (13:07–14:18)

• Trump’s Interview:
  • When pressed about support for democratic elections in Venezuela, Trump offers noncommittal answers, appearing to prioritize backing his autocratic ally, Del C. Rodriguez, and U.S. oil interests.
  • Host: “He has absolutely no plans whatsoever other than to have his authoritarian puppet, Del C, lead Venezuela — and then steal the oil for himself and his oligarch friends.” (13:12, Host)

5. Minneapolis Protests: Outrage, Mourning, and Conscience (14:22–15:52)

• On-the-Ground Footage: Protesters confront ICE, expressing grief for Macklin Good and moral outrage at law enforcement actions.
• Memorable Quote:
  • “Every one of us has to look at what choices we make in this world… No amount of money is worth what happens… Emerson does not have a mother today because one of you murdered a woman in cold blood yesterday.” (14:22–15:52, Protester)
• The episode closes with calls to moral conscience and appeals to the humanity of everyone involved—including law enforcement.

Notable Quotes & Moments by Timestamp

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote / Context | |-----------|-------------|-----------------| | 00:17 | Host | “The Senate has essentially rebuked Donald Trump… [who] is threatening to veto it and says he has absolute power…” | | 01:37 | Host | “Unprecedented hostile… an act of potential war… economic coercion against the sovereignty of a country.” | | 04:30 | Host | “Say her name: Renee Nicole Macklin Good… mother, poet, and new to the city.” | | 06:20 | Kristi Noem | “When you take an action and use a weapon… that it needs to be labeled exactly what it was.” | | 10:47 | Kristi Noem | “They have not been cut out. They don’t have any jurisdiction in this investigation.” | | 12:41 | Host (quoting Randy Fine) | “If you get in the way of the government repelling a foreign invasion, you’re gonna end up just like that lady did yesterday. America, we kill people.” | | 13:12 | Host | “He has absolutely no plans whatsoever… other than to have his authoritarian puppet, Del C, lead Venezuela.” | | 14:22–15:52 | Protester | “Every one of us has to look at what choices we make in this world… Emerson does not have a mother today because one of you murdered a woman…” |

Flow & Tone

• Tone: Impassioned, urgent, blending legal rigor with activist outrage and familial banter.
• Language: Direct, unfiltered, references to “Gestapo,” “Reich,” and “regime” to accuse the Trump administration of authoritarian, even fascist behavior.
• Structure: Segmented by breaking news—with the hosts shifting between legal analysis, personal storytelling, and political critique.

Summary Takeaway

This episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast is a searing critique of democracy in crisis: a Senate check on executive war powers, the specter of bribery and invasion in Greenland, the harrowing ICE shooting of Renee Nicole Macklin Good, and an increasingly autocratic U.S. government. Through first-hand reporting, exclusive interviews, and moving community responses, the Meiselas brothers lay out a call to conscience—warning listeners about the erosion of rights and the normalization of state violence, while offering solidarity with victims and protesters standing for democracy.