Trump Loses it on Air Force One as all Plans Collapse

Summary

Podcast Summary: The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: "Trump Loses it on Air Force One as all Plans Collapse"

Date: January 12, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Episode Overview

This episode centers around a series of erratic actions and inflammatory statements made by Donald Trump during a flight aboard Air Force One. The Meiselas brothers break down Trump’s social media outbursts, attacks on political and legal figures, threats to the independence of major institutions, and bizarre foreign policy claims, all while contextualizing the chaos within the broader deterioration of his political standing. The brothers use their signature mix of sharp analysis, humor, and blunt political commentary to dissect the day’s news and underscore the episode’s main theme: Trump’s plans are collapsing, and his responses are increasingly unhinged.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump's Social Media Meltdown and Attacks on Letitia James

• [00:59] Trump posts fake Wikipedia photos claiming to be “acting president of Venezuela” and issues attacks against NY Attorney General Letitia James.
  • He spreads conspiracy theories about James, even alleging she’s being investigated for campaign payments to her hairdresser, an accusation the hosts call “bogus.”
  • Quote – Ben: “Donald Trump says he wants to go after New York Attorney General Letitia James for something having to do with her hairdresser.” (01:37)

2. Escalating Authoritarian Moves: Targeting Jerome Powell

• [02:45] Trump orders a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who was appointed by Trump himself.
  • DOJ in D.C., run by Jeanine Pirro, launches the investigation.
  • Powell responds via video, reaffirming Fed independence.
  • Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) pledges to block any Trump nominee to the Fed until this matter is resolved.
  • Quote – Thom Tillis: “If there were any remaining doubt whether advisors within the Trump administration are actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve, there should now be none.” (05:07)
  • Context: Tillis is not seeking re-election and is openly critical of Trump’s cult-like GOP.

3. Disturbing Comments on ICE Killing and 'Absolute Immunity'

• [05:58, 06:05] Trump unapologetically defends the killing of Renee Good by ICE, crediting it to her “disrespect” to law enforcement.
  • Quote – Donald Trump: “At a very minimum, that woman was very, very disrespectful to law enforcement… You can’t do that with law enforcement, whether it’s police or ICE or Border Patrol or anybody else…” (06:05)
• [11:22] Trump doubles down on “absolute immunity” for ICE and Border Patrol, offering a vague definition that suggests impunity for officers.
  • Quote – Donald Trump: “Immunity, you know what immunity… You can’t be treating law enforcement that way, whether it’s ICE or Border Patrol or a police and men and women. You can’t do that.” (11:46)
  • Ben notes: Legally, such immunity does not and cannot exist.

4. Foreign Policy Insanity: Greenland and NATO

• [06:25] Trump claims the US will “acquire” Greenland, not just lease it, implying military action if necessary.
  • Quote – Donald Trump: "We're talking about acquiring, not leasing, not having it short term. We're talking about acquiring. And if we don't do it, Russia or China will." (06:55)
  • French General warns that this rhetoric is a “red line;” France threatens military conflict if the US tries to seize Greenland.
• [09:17] Trump bashes NATO, boasts he “saved” it by pushing for increased payments, and implies he might pull the US out.
  • Quote – Donald Trump: “2% and they didn’t pay. Now they’re paying 5%. I’m the one that saved NATO. You wouldn’t have Naito if I weren’t.” (09:17)

5. Domestic Policy: ACA Subsidy Extension

• [07:39–09:13] Amid bipartisan House support, Trump vows to veto the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax subsidy extension.
  • Quote – Donald Trump: “Yeah, I’d probably veto it.” (09:10)

6. Bizarre, Inappropriate Moments

• [09:44–10:31] Trump makes an inappropriate, suggestive comment about Caroline Levitt while on the plane.
  • Quote – Donald Trump: “You put me in a position where there’s absolutely nothing to grab. So I’m looking for something to grab. And it’s not going to be Carol.” (10:07)

7. Senator Thom Tillis Stands Up for Institutional Integrity

• [12:02–14:10] Tillis blocks funding and appointments to Homeland Security until its Secretary testifies, and robustly defends NATO alliances, highlighting that allies have literally bled for the US cause.
  • Quote – Senator Tillis: “It’s very important for the NATO alliance to know that we have their back because they’ve had ours…We owe them respect. And we need to make it very clear that our strength and our ability to project power… all rests on this exquisite capability that we have under NATO.” (14:10)

8. Epstein Files and Transparency

• [14:40–15:03] Both Trump and Tillis claim support for releasing Epstein-related videos and files.
  • Quote – Senator Tillis: “Just get the stuff out there.” (14:52)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Trump on ICE killing Renee Good:
  “At a very minimum, that woman was very, very disrespectful to law enforcement… you can’t do that with law enforcement…” (06:05)

• Trump on Greenland:
  “We’re talking about acquiring, not leasing… If we don’t do it, Russia or China will.” (06:55)

• Trump on NATO:
  “I’m the one that saved NATO… I like NATO. I just wonder whether or not if we needed NATO, would they be there for us?” (09:17)

• Trump’s inappropriate comment:
  “You put me in a position where there’s absolutely nothing to grab. So I’m looking for something to grab. And it’s not going to be Carol.” (10:07)

• Sen. Tillis on the Fed and NATO:
  “If there were any remaining doubt whether advisors within the Trump administration are actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve, there should now be none.” (05:07)
  “We owe [NATO] respect. And we need to make it very clear that our strength… rests on this exquisite capability that we have under NATO.” (14:10)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:59: Trump’s meltdown and bizarre social media posts begin
• 05:07: Tillis' statement about Fed independence and DOJ credibility
• 06:05: Trump’s explicit remarks justifying ICE killing Renee Good
• 06:55–07:25: Trump on acquiring Greenland
• 09:10: Trump declares intention to veto ACA tax credits extension
• 09:17: Trump rants on NATO
• 10:07: Trump’s inappropriate comment about Caroline Levitt
• 11:22: Trump’s explanation (or lack thereof) of “absolute immunity”
• 14:10: Sen. Tillis’s defense of NATO on CNN
• 14:52: Tillis and Trump on releasing the Epstein files

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Tone, Language & Final Thoughts

The Meiselas brothers maintain a tone of exasperation mixed with wry, cutting humor and deep alarm at the extraordinary breakdown of political norms. They openly deride Trump’s antics as not just “unhinged” but “dangerous, deranged, demented, and outright sick,” and underscore the existential dangers of undermining the independence of American institutions, trashing alliances, and normalizing political violence.

Through clipped audio, direct quotes, and contextual legal and political explanations, the brothers make clear the seriousness of Trump’s words and actions while riffing with the kind of brotherly banter and fearless pro-democracy advocacy their audience expects.

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For listeners: This episode delivers a comprehensive, sometimes chilling update on Trump’s erratic grip on power, legal threats, and the resilience among some GOP figures to stand for democratic norms. It's a must-listen for anyone tracking the intersection of law, democracy, and Trump-era chaos—sure to be full of moments that both outrage and (thanks to the hosts) entertain.

Transcript

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[Podcast Host]

Having a psychotic meltdown aboard Air Force One as he was flying back from Mar a Lago to Washington, D.C. on the taxpayer dime. He was making post after post, each one more deranged than the next. He posted fake Wikipedia photos of himself saying that he's currently the acting president of Venezuela because nothing says America first. Then saying you're the acting president of Venezuela. He's making deranged post attacking New York Attorney General Letitia James after two additional grand juries refused to issue indictments against New York Attorney General Letitia James after the initial case against her on some bogus trumped up pun intended charges about mortgages were dismissed by a federal judge. Now Donald Trump says he wants to go after New York Attorney General Letitia James for something having to do with her hairdresser. Donald Trump Post Federal prosecutors launch new probe into New York Attorney General Letitia James involving campaign payments to longtime hairdresser Donald Trump is going to keep on making bogus investigations against New York Attorney General Letitia James. Then earlier in the day, Donald Trump was posting weird photos of himself looking like he was Bigfoot on top of the White House. And then it just had the word soon. Then Donald Trump also ordered a criminal investigation into Jerome Powell, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, who Donald Trump appointed during his first term, who Donald Trump has threatened to criminally investigate over and over again. Donald Trump has threatened to fire Jerome Powell. And now Donald Trump has launched a criminal investigation. He's ordered the DOJ in Washington, D.C. jeanine Pirro, the old Fox host who went by Judge Janine on Fox, who's now the United States attorney for Washington, D.C. has launched a criminal investigation into Jerome Powell. Jerome Powell late last night issued a video response saying that the threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preference of the president. And then, and even Republican Senator from North Carolina Thom Tillis responded to Donald Trump launching this criminal investigation into Jerome Powell, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, by putting a message that says that Tillis, who's on the Senate Banking Committee, which would be responsible for the future appointment of the next chairman of the Federal Reserve. Many believe it's going to be Kevin Hassett, Donald Trump's national economic advisor, who would be a total disaster. But Tillis, a Republic Republican from North Carolina, says that he will put a permanent hold on anybody Donald Trump picks to replace Jerome Powell while this phony criminal investigation into Jerome Powell is taking place. Thom Tillis writes the following. If there were any remaining doubt whether advisors within the Trump administration are actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve, there should now be none. It is now the independence and credibility of the Department of Justice that are in question. I will oppose the confirmation of any nominee for the Fed, including the upcoming Fed Chair vacancy, until this legal matter is fully resolved. Now, senators have the ability to put a hold on a nominee and essentially block that nominee. It should also be noted that Thom Tillis is not seeking reelection in the 2026 Senate race. He previously did not support part of Donald Trump's agenda. Then Donald Trump threatened him, and Tom Tillis is like, there's really no need for me to even be in this position anymore, because being a Republican requires that you be in a cult. Untillist says, I'm not going to do that. Now, as part of Donald Trump's psychotic meltdown aboard Air Force One, he made numerous statements that were dangerous, deranged, demented, and outright sick. For example, on Renee Good, who was murdered by Trump's ICE Gestapo, Donald Trump said, you know why? Why they had to kill her? Trump says, is because at a minimum, she was very disrespectful to the ICE officer. And so if you're very disrespectful to an ICE officer who are there to terrorize the communities, if you're disrespectful, they will kill you, is what Donald Trump says. Listen to what Donald Trump says. I'm not being hyperbolic. Listen to what Trump says in his own words, play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

At a very minimum, that woman was very, very disrespectful to law enforcement. And you heard the same noises, you saw the same crunch that I saw. You can't do that with law enforcement, whether it's police or ICE or border patrol or anybody else when it comes to isolation.

[Podcast Host]

Then aboard Air Force One as Donald Trump has this psychotic meltdown. Donald Trump says that as it relates to Greenland, we're not talking about leasing. We will acquire it. One way or another, America will take it over. Here, play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

That's a war that should have never happened with Ukraine.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

The UK And Germany are discussing plans for, for a joint NATO mission to protect Arctic security in Greenland. Does that change your calculus at all?

[Podcast Host]

No.

[Donald Trump]

Look, we're talking about acquiring, not leasing, not having it short term. We're talking about acquiring. And if we don't do it, Russia or China will. And that's not going to happen when I'm president.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Are you going to increase the amount of military bases on Greenland in the meantime?

[Donald Trump]

We have bases on Greenland.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Are you to going to be do.

[Donald Trump]

More a lot of soldiers there right now, if I want. But you need more than that. You need ownership. You really have. You really need title, as they say in the RO statement.

[Podcast Host]

Now, you probably have heard from, you know, we've done some video on it before, but I'll just remind you of it that the French army General Nicholas Richu has cautioned America that by declaring Greenland as being part of the United States, it's a red line. If the US Invades, they stop being systemic adversaries. They become enemies. If the US Attacks Greenland, we must fight the Americans. So to be very clear, France views the United States right now not as an ally, but as a systemic adversary. And the French general says you will go from systemic adversary to outright enemy. And we will fight you if you keep this rhetoric up about Greenland. Going back to Donald Trump's psychotic meltdown aboard Air Force One on the Affordable Care act tax subsidy extension. As you now know, the House of Representatives voted to extend the Affordable Care act tax subsidies. MAGA Mike Johnson tried to block it. Democrats, through its leader, Hakeem Jeffries, put forward a discharge petition that got a vote on the floor to extend the ACA tax credits. And 17 Republicans joined the Democrats. Now it goes to the Senate. Will the Senate feel the pressure to pass a extension of the ACA tax credits? And Trump has asked, though, would you veto the Affordable Care act tax credit subsidies extension one way or another? And Trump says, yeah, I'd probably veto it. Here, play this clip.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

The Senate. If it passed the Senate, I might.

[Donald Trump]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Then Donald Trump bashes NATO aboard Air Force One. Play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

2% and they didn't pay. Now they're paying 5%. I'm the one that saved NATO. You wouldn't have Naito if I weren't.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

President, Would you pull the U.S. out of NATO? Would you consider doing that?

[Donald Trump]

Well, maybe NATO would be upset if I did it. Maybe NATO would save a lot of money. I like NATO. I just wonder whether or not if we needed data, would they be there for us? I'm not sure they would. You know, we spent a lot of money on NATO and I'm not sure they would.

[Podcast Host]

And then Donald Trump gets super creepy with Caroline Levitt, who's standing behind him. And Donald Trump says, you set me up. I'm on this plane and I can't grab anything. I'm not going to grab Caroline. Should I grab Caroline? Here, play this clip right here.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

When will you meet with. With Machado?

[Podcast Host]

This week.

[Donald Trump]

Something to grab here. It's getting, it's going to get rough and I don't seem to be in a great. I think you did this to me. You put me in a position where there's absolutely nothing to grab. So I'm looking for something to grab. And it's not going to be Carol.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

To the United States.

[Podcast Host]

Then Donald Trump is asked what he and his regime mean when they say that ICE officers have absolute immunity and Border Patrol has absolute immunity. Let me be very clear. I litigated cases like this. They don't have absolute immunity. They can be criminally prosecuted for engaging in murder. They don't have absolute immunity. They have qualified immunity in a civil case. But as the term is qualified, it is a limited form of immunity that if they behave as a reasonable officer would in that circumstance, there may be a limited. But it's not an absolute immunity and there's no criminal immunity. Let me be clear. But here's what Donald Trump says about his view of absolute immunity. Play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

You really need title, as they say in the ros amus.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Your administration has advocated for absolute, absolute immunity for the ICE officer who shot Renee Good. How do you define absolute immunity? What does that mean?

[Donald Trump]

Everyone's seen it. The woman was very violent. She's a very radical person. Very sad what happened. Her friend was very radical. You know, go or drive.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Immunity. How would you define that?

[Donald Trump]

Well, I'm going to let the people define it, but immunity, you know, what immunity? No means as well as I do. You can't be treating law enforcement that way, whether it's ICE or Border Patrol or a police and men and women. You can't do that.

[Podcast Host]

You know, as we head into this week, I think it's worth noting as well as the Wall Street Journal did this weekend, America's job market has entered the slow lane. This is what Wall Street Journal writes, hiring sputter. The unemployment rate rose 2025 put a decisive end to the hottest job market in a generation. That's from the Wall Street Journal saying that right there. Right, right there. I want to point this out as well that Senator Tillis, who I mentioned before from North Carolina, he also wrote the following last week. I'd simply like the Homeland Security Secretary, Christine Ohm, to respond to what are now two requests by the chairman to come before our committee. And that's the reason why I placed the blanket hold before the shooting yesterday on anything related to Homeland security until such time as she does that. In other words, Thom Tillis is putting a hold on funding on appointments to the Department of Homeland Security until and good for him for doing this. Until she testifies before the Senate, until she testifies before Congress, she's refusing to testify. And when she came before the House, remember, she left super early and she like lied and said she had to go to a FEMA hearing that she never actually showed up for. She lies about absolutely everything. Oh, earlier in the day, Donald Trump posted the photo of the Mar A Lago golden entrance. I mean, this guy is so tone deaf, so out of touch. But think about what he was saying there, what he was saying there in Air Force One. It's absolutely heinous stuff. Let me just point out one more quote from Thom Tillis who was recently on CNN and here's what he said. NATO's Article 5 commitments and how our NATO allies. The only time article 5 has ever been invoked. America invoked it after 911 and NATO had our back. Denmark had more deaths per capita in Afghanistan than any country outside of the U.S. here's what he says. Play this clip.

[Senator Thom Tillis]

It's very important for the NATO alliance to know that we have their back because they've had ours. We're the only country that has benefited from the Article 5 commitment in Afghanistan where treasurer and lives have been lost by our allies. We owe them respect. And we need to make it very clear that our strength and our ability to project power to stand off against Putin, to stand off Russia, stand off China, Iran, it all rests on this exquisite capability that we have under NATO.

[Podcast Host]

And here's what Tillis said about releasing the Epstein files. Let's play it.

[Donald Trump]

Do you think it would make sense.

[Podcast Host]

For the administration to release this video?

[Donald Trump]

I'm okay with it being released and I'm okay with what happened.

[Senator Thom Tillis]

We got to release the video. Look, we got to get the Epstein files released. We got to get any videos that do not in any way compromise mission integrity down there. Just get the stuff out there.

[Donald Trump]

Would you rather see a different Secretary of defense?

[Senator Thom Tillis]

I. I just want to say the facts so I can make an informed decision.

[Podcast Host]

There you have it, folks. Let me know what you think. Hit subscribe. Help us get to 6 million subscribers. We appreciate you so much and have a good one new Midas merch. Head to store.midas touch.com today and get yourself the best pro democracy code gear and show your support. That's Store Midas touch. Com.