The MeidasTouch Podcast
Episode: Trump Loses It as Shooting Fallout Is Catastrophic
Date: January 25, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Overview
This emotionally charged episode centers on the political and media fallout from the killing of Alex Preddy by Border Patrol in Minnesota, the Trump administration’s reaction, and the profound hypocrisy the hosts see in the handling of Second Amendment rights amidst authoritarian power grabs. The Meiselas brothers dissect Trump’s social media meltdown, the administration’s defensive media blitz, and the wider issue of right-wing media manipulation, all while advocating for transparent, pro-democracy news consumption.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Trump’s Social Media Meltdown and Ballroom Distraction
[01:00-06:30]
- Ben opens by noting Trump’s erratic Sunday morning social media outburst—focusing not on national crises but on defending his new White House ballroom project.
- Rather than addressing inflation, healthcare, or the killing of Alex Preddy, Trump rants about lawsuits halting renovations, blaming the "radical left" and historic preservation organizations.
- Ben connects Trump's obsession with infrastructure (like redoing the East Wing bunker) with authoritarian anxieties and compares it with other historical strongmen.
Ben: "Trump, like Hitler and lots of other authoritarians, are terrified of their regime's collapse. ...a lot of this was about the secret bunker.” [05:26]
2. Administration and Republican Hypocrisy on the Second Amendment
[06:30-11:25]
- The hosts play a series of clips from Trump cabinet officials and prominent Republicans shifting their tone on gun rights, now condemning concealed carry at protests (despite consistent pro-gun stances).
Clip 1: Scott Besant (Treasury Secretary) on Protest Guns
[07:19]
- Besant dismisses Preddy’s conceal carry as provocation, ignoring Preddy's legal permit and actions.
Besant: "I am sorry that this gentleman is dead, but he did bring a 9 millimeter semiautomatic weapon with two cartridges to what was supposed to be a peaceful protest... I didn't bring a gun. I brought a billboard.” [07:19-08:04]
Clip 2: Cash Patel on Concealed Carry at Protests
[08:09]
- Patel claims, contrary to prior right-wing rhetoric, that protestors cannot bring loaded firearms to protests: “You don’t have that right…”
Patel: “You cannot bring a firearm loaded with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. It’s that simple.” [08:31]
Clip 3: Kristi Noem Warns Against Interfering with Law Enforcement
[09:04]
- Explicitly tells concealed carry permit holders not to bring guns to protests and emphasizes legal consequences.
Noem: “It’s also breaking the law to conceal carry in Minnesota without an ID on you, and you shouldn’t be laying hands on law enforcement…” [09:38]
Clip 4: Steve Scalise Doubles Down on "Unlawful Assembly"
[10:15]
- Shifts focus to alleged protest violence, echoes administration claims about "unlawful" protests to justify the crackdown.
Scalise: “You are not allowed to carry a gun while you’re committing another crime. And interfering with law enforcement is a felony.” [10:29]
Ben’s Reaction:
- Ben underscores the administration’s hypocrisy: while previously supporting expansive Second Amendment interpretations for their base, they now villainize legal carry when inconvenient.
3. Media Coverage and the Manipulation of Narrative
[11:28-14:59]
- Ben discusses the “brainwashing” effect of right-wing media, contrasting coverage of Trump administration abuses, especially on family separation and child detentions, across media spectrums.
- He highlights the “media diet” problem and passionately advocates for cross-spectrum, factual news sources (like Ground News).
Ben: “That just goes to tell me we need to focus on the media diet people are receiving. ...I want to make sure I'm programming this for you so you leave here enriched with knowledge because knowledge is power.” [12:18]
4. Misinformation About the Preddy Shooting: Official Gaslighting
[15:03-18:11]
Clip: Greg Bevino (Border Patrol Leader)
- Bevino claims without evidence that Preddy intended to “massacre law enforcement,” despite video showing him filming and helping a fellow protester.
- When pressed for evidence, Bevino pivots to praising law enforcement “preventing” something worse.
Bevino: "The fantastic training that our law enforcement partners have... prevented any specific shootings of law enforcement." [15:41]
Clip: Todd Blanche (Administration Official)
- Dodges on whether Preddy was violent, then insists that shouting at officers disqualifies it as a “peaceful protest,” blaming Minnesota officials for failing to prevent “agitation.”
Blanche: "I did not say he was violent. I said he was not protesting peacefully. ...Is that protesting peacefully? I mean, we all see the same thing. I mean, you shouldn't try to gaslight the administration about what happened." [17:10]
5. Conditions at Detention Centers: On-the-Ground Evidence
[18:11-19:52]
- Ben shifts to the inhumane conditions at Texas detention centers, referencing attorney Eric Lee’s social media post from outside a facility, where detained migrants can be heard crying for help.
Eric Lee (via Ben): “You hear the screams of people who have been kidnapped by the Trump regime behind these big walls. Who knows if they're being tortured—they are being tortured.” [19:16]
- Lee describes being abruptly ejected during a legal visit as drones fly overhead, highlighting the opacity and brutality of the Trump-era detention system.
6. Accountability, Silence, and Final Thoughts
[19:52-20:34]
- Ben notes the conspicuous silence from House Speaker “MAGA Mike” Johnson on the Preddy killing—no comment after 24 hours—calling him a “complete and utter coward.”
- The hosts reaffirm their commitment to continued coverage and call for listener support.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
Ben (on Trump’s focus):
“Is Donald Trump addressing the murder of Alex Preddy? Is Donald Trump addressing the fact that Americans can't afford homes right now?... No, he’s rambling about his golden ballroom.” [02:20] -
Scott Besant:
"I didn't bring a gun. I brought a billboard." [07:54] -
Ben (on right-wing hypocrisy):
“Their assault on the Second Amendment is so pronounced... When now confronted with the regime's collapse, it turns out they actually hate the Second Amendment in terms of how it’s supposed to be used.” [06:00] -
Cash Patel:
“You don’t have that right to break the law and incite violence.” [08:31] -
Eric Lee:
“You hear the screams of people... Let us out, let us out.” [19:16]
Important Segment Timestamps
- [01:00] – Trump’s social media ballroom rant
- [06:30]–[11:25] – Trumpworld’s media tour and Second Amendment hypocrisy
- [12:00] – Ben on media bias and reliable news consumption
- [15:00] – Administration officials’ gaslighting around Preddy shooting footage
- [18:11] – Sound from detention centers; Eric Lee’s testimony
- [19:52] – Noting Speaker Johnson’s silence on the incident
Episode Tone
- The episode is urgent, direct, and unfiltered, mixing somber outrage with pointed sarcasm and moments of brotherly banter. The Meiselas brothers maintain a pro-democracy, anti-authoritarian tone throughout, aggressively calling out perceived hypocrisy, injustice, and media manipulation.
This summary covers all critical discussions from the episode, equipping newcomers with insights into the Trump administration's response to the Preddy killing, media manipulation strategies, and the Midas Touch Network’s focus on factual, cross-perspective reporting in defense of democracy.