Trump Panics as Iran Sends Message Back in War

Summary

The MeidasTouch Podcast — Episode Summary

Episode Title: Trump Panics as Iran Sends Message Back in War
Date: April 6, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett & Jordy Meiselas
Podcast: The MeidasTouch Podcast (MeidasTouch Network)

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on escalating tensions between the Trump administration and Iran, particularly after Iran responds to U.S. claims of a possible ceasefire by issuing a tough counter-proposal. The Meiselas brothers dissect Trump’s public statements—including bizarre remarks delivered at an Easter egg hunt—and examine the cycle of misinformation, propaganda, and the gravity of the ongoing conflict. Amid their signature blend of outrage and humor, the brothers highlight the dangerous consequences of the administration’s foreign policy, media manipulation, and the ramifications for democracy and global stability.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Iran’s Counter-Response to Trump’s Ceasefire Claims

• [01:31] Ben explains that despite Trump’s assertions about an imminent ceasefire, Iran issued a 10-point plan with firm demands:
  • End to all regional fighting and long-term security guarantees for Iran and its proxies (Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Shiite groups in Iraq).
  • Full reparations and sanctions relief.
  • Permanent control over the Strait of Hormuz (with a toll system).
  • No surrender of ballistic missiles, drones, or major weapon systems.

"Iran has made this abundantly clear...For weeks now we’ve been reporting it: Iran does not want a ceasefire, it wants a permanent solution with all of those guarantees that I mentioned."
— Ben Meiselas [02:30]

2. Media Manipulation & Market Moves

• [02:30-03:40] The hosts allege that Trump’s team (through favored journalists like Barak Ravid at Axios) is engaged in “market manipulation” by floating stories about ceasefire negotiations ahead of market openings, only for Iran to issue a direct rebuke.
• Trump reportedly stages PR moments—right before news cycles or market openings—contributing to economic volatility.

3. Trump’s Easter Egg Hunt Press Conference

• Trump, instead of focusing on family or tradition, turns an Easter egg hunt at the White House into a personal press conference about the war:

  • Claims the Iranian people “love it” when the U.S. bombs them.
  • Suggests Iranian protestors only refrain from action due to fear of execution.

"The Iranian people, when they don’t hear bombs go off, they’re upset. They want to hear bombs because they want to be free."
— Donald Trump [05:01]

"The time the Iranian people are the most unhappy in their life is when the bombs stop... They love when we bomb their elementary schools, their universities, their bridges. They love it."
— Donald Trump [05:39]

• Ben reacts: “It’s so demented. You have like the Easter music in the background for the festivities. And this is what he’s talking about.” [05:58]

4. Escalating the War: Continuation & Contradictions

• Reporter Query: If Iran rejects U.S. demands, will the war continue?

  "You’ll have to watch. It’s an easy part. The answer is yes."
  — Donald Trump [06:36]

• Trump claims Iran has been “obliterated,” yet admits fighting continues:

  "They can’t fight back. They have no capability...They had a lucky shot with an airplane, but we got them back out...I’m very honored to have rebuilt our military. We rebuilt our military in my first term. I’m using it in our second term."
  — Donald Trump [07:48]

• The brothers lambast Trump’s “unlawful and catastrophic war,” comparing his COVID-19 rhetoric (“miracle by Easter”) to the never-ending promise of quick endings for longstanding crises.

5. Proxy Militias & Arming Foreign Groups

• Trump claims to have sent guns to groups expected to fight Iran, only for those weapons to be “kept,” hinting at betrayal.

  "They were supposed to go to the people so they could fight back against these thugs. You know what happened? The people that they sent them to kept them because they said, what a beautiful gun. I think I’ll keep it."
  — Donald Trump [10:35]

• The brothers speculate whether he's referencing the Kurds or another group, noting the implications of such remarks.

6. Supply Shock and Civilian Suffering

• The ongoing war has spurred a massive supply shock, affecting economics and global supply chains.

• Trump offers a chilling summary of U.S. options:

  "There are lots of different alternatives. We have many alternatives. We could leave right now, and it would take them 15 years to rebuild what they have. We could leave right now, but I want to finish it up."
  — Donald Trump [11:57–12:18]

7. Trump’s Digressions and Erratic Behavior

• Moments of bizarre levity (Melania being described as a “movie star” at the egg hunt; speculation about Marco Rubio in a bunny suit [13:29]).
• The hosts mock Trump’s cognitive state and note the recent video discussing the 25th Amendment.

8. Escalation: Major Strikes in Iran

• [14:42] Coverage of the war’s escalation:
  • South Pars petrochemical facility (key to Iran’s exports) attacked, likely by Israeli/U.S. forces.
  • Sharif University of Technology (“MIT of Iran”) struck, destroying labs, data centers, and mosques.
  • Killing of IRGC intelligence head, escalating tit-for-tat violence.
  • U.S. and Israel reportedly preparing to target all of Iran’s energy infrastructure.
• Commentary on global risks: the hosts underscore how the Trump administration (and Israel) aim to cripple Iran’s civilian and economic infrastructure to force negotiations.

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Iranian people “love” being bombed:
  "The Iranian people, when they don’t hear bombs go off, they’re upset. They want to hear bombs because they want to be free."
  — Donald Trump [05:01]

• Continuation of war as 'entertainment':
  "You’ll have to watch. It’s an easy part. The answer is yes."
  — Donald Trump [06:36]

• Cognitive drift at Easter event:
  "Big thing...Let’s see. I think this is our first lady. What do you think of our first lady? She’s a movie star."
  — Donald Trump [12:49]

• War as an asset:
  "If it were up to me, I’d like to keep the oil. I just don’t think the people of the United States would really understand."
  — Donald Trump [13:17]

• Military chest-thumping:
  "I built it in my first term, and I didn’t know I was going to be using it this much in my second term, but it’s my honor, and they’re the greatest people on Earth."
  — Donald Trump [14:12]

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Final Thoughts & Ongoing Coverage

The Meiselas brothers close with updates on the rapidly evolving Iran conflict, urging ongoing vigilance and engagement from their audience. They emphasize the horrors of the war, the manipulation of public narrative, and the dangers posed by the administration’s reckless choices.

"Iran does not want to make any deal or even have a negotiation with Donald Trump. We’ll keep you posted every step of the way."
— Ben Meiselas [16:40]

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For ongoing updates, subscribe to The MeidasTouch Podcast and their substack for ad-free episodes and daily recaps.

Transcript

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[Podcast Host]

panicking as Iran has instantly sent back a message to Donald Trump and his regime in the war after Donald Trump claimed that they were very close yet again to reaching a ceasefire. Iran says we are not close to reaching a ceasefire. We don't want a ceasefire. And Iran sent back its own 10 point plan consistent with the non negotiables that we've been talking about here for a long time on the Midas Touch network. Iran sent a 10 point plan. If you indeed want peace, Donald Trump, you have to agree to an end of all regional fighting, meaning security guarantees for Iran long term. For the Houthis of Yemen, for Hezbollah in Lebanon, for the Iranian backed Shiite groups in Iraq. We want full reparations, full sanctions relief. We want to control the Strait of Hormuz forever with a toll system and we will never give up ballistic missiles, Shahid drones or any of our major weapons systems. Those are our initial non negotiables. There's some other points there as well, but otherwise we're not even negotiating within your 15 point framework. Donald Trump Wit Coffin. Jared Kushner. Iran has made this abundantly clear. For weeks now we've been reporting it on the Midas Touch network. But every Sunday, even right before the markets are about to open, Donald Trump and his regime go to the same reporter, Barack Ravid over at Axios, who manipulates the market or they work together to have the consequence of manipulating the markets. We'll just say that. And I'm giving you, in my opinion, you're entitled to your opinions as well. Because late last night, right before the markets open, Barack Ravid of Axios goes. In a last ditch push, the US Iran and a group of regional mediators are discussing the terms of a potential 45 cease fire that could lead to a permanent end of the war, according to four US, Israeli and regional sources. That was last night. And I said this is absolute bs. This is market manipulation, in my opinion. So here's what Barack Ravid posted this morning. Right before the real news came out, or right around the same time the real news came out that Iran was not agreeing to a cease fire. It doesn't want a ceasefire. It wants a permanent solution with, with all of those guarantees that I mentioned. Barack Ravid goes a White House. This was this morning a White House official told me the plan for a 45 day ceasefire between the US and Iran is one of many ideas being discussed at the moment. The President has not signed off on it. Operation Epic Fury continues. Donald Trump will speak at 1pm from the White House. I mean, so utterly embarrassing. Now, before Donald Trump is delivering that speech at 1:00pm Eastern, 10:00pm Pacific, Donald Trump was outside for the kind of annual Easter egg hunt over at the White House. But Donald Trump turned this into a press conference about himself and about the war in Iran. And as he continues to panic in public, Donald Trump is saying that the Iranian people love it when the United States bombs them. They go, this is what the Iranian people love. He says they want to be free. And so when we bomb them, that makes them happy. They get upset when we don't bomb them. Here, play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

The Iranian people, when they don't hear bombs go off, they're upset. They want to hear bombs because they want to be free. And the only reason they're not out protesting, you know, that is because they were informed that if they protest, like the wrestler and his friends, if they protest, they will be shot immediately. And that's an edict that's in writing.

[Podcast Host]

Then he says it again. The time the Iranian people are the most unhappy in their life is when the bombs stop. They love when we bomb their elementary schools, their universities, their bridges. They love it. They love it. That's what they want. Donald Trump basically says, here, play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

It was given to me loud and clear. The time the Iranian people are the most unhappy when you hear bombs all over is when those bombs stop. That's the problem, when they stop, because that means that are they coming back? We want to have them back. And you know, everybody knows that. Everybody sees it, so.

[Podcast Host]

And again, it's so demented. You have like the Easter music in the background for the festivities. And this is what he's talking about. Then he's asked, so if Iran does not meet your demands, are you going to continue the war? And Trump's like, you'll have to watch. It's an easy question. The answer is yes. But you'll have to watch. Like, this is some horrific Hollywood movie. You're just going to stay tuned for the next season of what war crimes will Donald Trump commit tomorrow? Here, play this clip.

[Commercial Narrator]

Final deadline is Tuesday at 8pm Your final deadline. If Iran does not meet your demands,

[LifeLock Representative]

Mr. President, are you willing to continue the war?

[Donald Trump]

You'll have to watch. It's an easy part. The answer is yes.

[Podcast Host]

Then a reporter asks him, so you said Iran has been obliterated, but why are we still at war with them then if Iran has been obliterated? And Trump's like, they can't fight back. They got lucky with that one shot with that airplane. But our helicopters have a lot of bullet holes in them right now. A lot of bullet holes for our helicopters right now. But they got lucky. They have no missiles left, no nothing. Okay. I mean, do we realize how demented this is? We can literally see the Iranians firing the ballistic missiles on a daily basis into the Arab nation, neighbors where America has military bases and assets. We see the Iranian FPV drones, we see the Shahi drones. Like, do we truly understand the extent and depth of how demented this is? And by the way, I'm not going to forget that it was just yesterday that Donald Trump said, open the effing straight, you crazy bastards. Praise be to Allah. Nor am I gonna for that. While all of this is taking place, the Trump regime is still covering up a child sex trafficking ring with the Epstein files. Anyway, here, play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

Mr. President, you said Iran has been obliterated. Why are we still out for that? It's a big country. They can't fight back. They have no capability. I mean, they have some missiles left, they have some drones. Left, but essentially they have no capability. They had a lucky shot with an airplane, but we got them back out. The rescue was incredible. And it wasn't a one person, it was a two person. There are those that say that's never happened before because usually when you're shot down in strong enemy and deep enemy territory, you can't go after them because you'll end up losing 250 people to get one. So it's a terrible thing. But we had to make a decision, do we do it or do we not? And we did. And you know, we have some helicopters with a lot of bullet holes in them right now, probably, you know that now. I'm very honored by, I'm very honored to have rebuilt our military. We rebuilt our military in my first term. I'm using it in our second term. And we are the most respected country anywhere in the world with the greatest military anywhere in the world. Thank you. So we have a.

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[Podcast Host]

like, we gave a group of people who are going to help us stop Iran. We gave him some guns, but they stole our guns. And I'm going to, I'm going to get back at this group of people. I'm going to get. Lots of people suspect that he may Be talking about when he armed, if he armed the Kurds in order to invade Iran, and then the Kurds did not invade Iran when the war began. Not sure if that's who he's talking about or a group within Iran, because. But Donald Trump now threatens another group right here. Play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

They don't have guns. You know, we sent some guns, but the group that was supposed to give, which I said would happen to my people, I said it, I called it. Exactly. We sent guns, a lot of guns. They were supposed to go to the people so they could fight back against these thugs. You know what happened? The people that they sent them to kept them because they said, what a beautiful gun. I think I'll keep it. So I'm very upset with a certain group of people, and they're going to pay a big price for that. But the Iranian people will fight back as soon as they know they're not going to be shot and as soon as they can get weapons, if they had weapons.

[Podcast Host]

And Donald Trump's like, we have many alternatives of what we want to do right here. We can leave right now. It would take around 15 years to build. But I want to finish it up. I want to stay. I said, folks, this is exactly the time path or the time frame for Covid right now, right? Like a miracle. It was all gonna go away before Easter. Bend the curve before Easter. And then that didn't happen. And then afterwards, it was like, whoa, this is just going to go on and on and on and on and on. Except now it's not Covid. It's Donald Trump's unlawful and catastrophic war in Iran that has created a massive supply shock to all different types of supplies and is causing catastrophic economic consequences and military consequences and all sorts of consequences across the country in the world. Play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

That's the problem when they stop, because that means that are they coming back? We want to have them back. And, you know, everybody knows that. Everybody sees it. So hopefully it could be over with quickly again. There are lots of different alternatives. We have many alternatives. We could leave right now, and it would take them 15 years to rebuild what they have. We could leave right now.

[Podcast Host]

So.

[Donald Trump]

But I want to finish it up. Iran ready, cannot have a nuclear weapon. They are lunatics. And you can't put nuclear weapons in the hands of a lunatic. Thanks.

[Podcast Host]

Then Donald Trump is part of this Easter egg hunt, you know, wrecking. Finally realizes that Melania is next to him, and he's like, where's the first lady?

[Donald Trump]

Ha ha.

[Podcast Host]

She's a Movie star, everybody. I mean, this guy is so addled. He's so physically and mentally rotted. That's why I did the video on the 25th Amendment this morning. Here, play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

Big thing. And it was a big thing to our great first lady, who's here someplace. Let's see. I think this is our first lady. What do you think of our first lady? She's a movie star. I don't know. Do we call a first lady or a movie star? She has the biggest movie. Can you believe this? And she deserves it. Would you like to say a couple of words to your friends?

[Podcast Host]

Donald Trump's like, if it were up to me, I would keep the oil. I want to keep all of Iran's oil. Play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

And we've obliterated a very powerful country in 34 days. Yeah, if we're up to me, I'd like to keep the oil. I just don't think the people of the United States would really understand

[Podcast Host]

then, going back as he has, like, the Easter Bunny next to him while he's talking about the military. I mean, just. I just wonder, like, who's in this military? Who's in this Easter Bunny costume? Like, as Donald Trump is spewing this, you think he makes Marco Rubio go in the Easter Bunny? I mean, I think that there is a high. I'm being sarcastic, just so you know. I'm not going to lo. There's a high probability under my sarcastic scenario that Marco Rubio was there wearing those size 15 clown shoes that Donald Trump makes him wear. But anyway, Donald Trump's like, I just wanna say that we have the greatest military. Look what we did in Venezuela, and look how much I'm using it in my second term. While Marco Rubio's there, hypothetically in the bunny suit here at. Play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

We look forward to it. But I just wanna say we have a great military. We're the greatest military, the most powerful military any place in the world. You saw what happened with Venezuela, and it's an honor. I built it in my first term, and I didn't know I was going to be using it this much in my second term, but it's my honor, and they're the greatest people on Earth. Our warriors are the greatest fighters on Earth, and they very much appreciate you and love you, and that's why they do it.

[Podcast Host]

Now, one of the things we're also learning about is while this was taking place, massive escalation taking place in the war in Iran right now. Iran's South Pars petrochemical facility was attacked once again with multiple explosions being reported. The Israeli and US Air Force attacking Iran's largest petrochemical facility, which accounts for about 85% of Iran's petrochemical exports. Remember the last time the South Pars facility was attacked? Iran then immediately hit the Qatari facility in the northern oil fields because the South Pars and Qatar, they share that same South Pars northern facility right there. So we're going to be focused on if there's going to be retaliation there. I think there will be and there will be retaliation, I think in the other petrochemical facilities that are in the region. In addition, Sharif University of Technology, Iran's top engineering university, was hit by a US Israeli strike today. Labs, buildings, mosques, a data center, nearby gas facilities seem to be destroyed. Sharif is often called Iran's mit, a core hub for science, engineering and elite talent. It trains many of Iran's top engineers, tech entrepreneurs, scientists, including in the fields of aerospace, nuclear and advanced research. Iran's Foreign Minister, Iraqi responding Israeli US aggressors have bombed the MIT of Iran. This follows attacks on other universities. 1400 years ago, Prophet Muhammad said that even if knowledge was situated in the distant plaid, Iranians would be capable of attaining it. Aggressors will see our might. Also, Israel killed Iran's head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps intelligence, Brigadier General Majid Kademi, in an overnight targeting strike. Israel also says it is awaiting authorization from the US to begin striking all of Iran's energy facilities, so we'll be focused on that as well. And apparently the United States and Israel have set all their targets to cripple all of this civilian infrastructure in Iran to make it long and painful for Iran even more so if Iran does not agree to negotiate with Donald Trump or make a deal. And as you can see, Iran does not want to make any deal or even have a negotiation with Donald Trump. We'll keep you posted every step of the way. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 7 million subscribers. You may think you're subscribed, but you may not actually be subscribed. So double check. Hit subscribe right now. We appreciate you, we're grateful for you and we'll keep reporting today.

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