Trump Runs to Golf Like a Coward as USA Rises Up

Summary

The MeidasTouch Podcast: "Trump Runs to Golf Like a Coward as USA Rises Up" – Episode Summary

Release Date: March 22, 2025

In this compelling episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, hosts Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas delve into the tumultuous political landscape shaped by former President Donald Trump and the rising resistance among American citizens. The discussion intertwines sharp political critique with the brothers' signature humor, providing listeners with an engaging and insightful analysis of current events impacting democracy and everyday Americans.

---

1. Trump's Dismal Leadership and Policy Failures

The episode opens with a scathing critique of Donald Trump's ongoing influence and policy decisions, which the hosts argue have severely damaged the nation's social and economic structures.

Key Points:

• Golfing as a Symbol of Avoidance: The title references Trump's frequent retreats to golfing, symbolizing his evasion of national issues.
• Impact on Social Services: The hosts highlight Trump's administration's detrimental effects on Social Security, Medicaid, and veterans' services.

Notable Quote:

"Donald Trump goes golfing again, off for another vacation. [...] the American people are suffering."
(Timestamp: 04:12)

2. Social Security Administration Crisis

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the alleged mismanagement and near-collapse of the Social Security Administration under Trump's influence.

Key Points:

• Potential Shutdown: Citing a federal judge's order, the hosts discuss the Administration's inability to function without compromising privacy.
• Harsh Treatment of Beneficiaries: Trump's Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, is criticized for labeling those struggling with Social Security as "fraudsters."

Notable Quotes:

"Howard Lutnick telling seniors on Social Security that if you complain if your checks don't come, you're a fraudster."
(Timestamp: 07:00)

"If you're like Ben, there's no way. He said, no, no, no, no, no."
(Timestamp: 08:12)

3. Alien Enemies Act and Human Rights Violations

The episode delves into the controversial application of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, accusing Trump's regime of human rights abuses.

Key Points:

• Unlawful Detentions: Approximately 300 individuals were labeled as terrorists and deported to El Salvador without due process.
• Misuse of Executive Orders: Trump is accused of falsely claiming he never signed relevant executive orders, undermining accountability.

Notable Quote:

"He wants to know why the proclamation was signed in the dark, his words. And why people were rushed onto planes."
(Timestamp: 12:08)

4. Economic Struggles and International Relations

The podcast discusses Trump's erratic economic policies, including fluctuating tariffs that have alienated international partners.

Key Points:

• Tariff Instability: Trump's inconsiderate implementation and removal of tariffs have strained relationships with Europe and Canada.
• Economic Repercussions: The inconsistency has led to significant drops in tourism and a decline in American product sales abroad.

Notable Quote:

"He's the boy who cried tariffs. It's just, it's embarrassing. And countries are fed up."
(Timestamp: 12:35)

5. Campaign Finance and Oligarchical Influence

A critical analysis is provided on the consequences of the Citizens United ruling, highlighting how it has empowered oligarchs like Elon Musk to influence elections.

Key Points:

• Election Manipulation: Elon Musk's involvement in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race exemplifies the pervasive influence of wealthy individuals in politics.
• Need for Reform: The hosts advocate for robust campaign finance reform to restore democratic integrity.

Notable Quote:

"We need campaign finance reform and why the right-wing Supreme Court overturning campaign finance laws in the Citizens United case has been so destructive."
(Timestamp: 09:52)

6. Public Protests and Rising Resistance

The episode underscores the growing public backlash against Trump's policies, highlighting significant protests and rallies led by progressive figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC).

Key Points:

• Massive Attendance: Rallies in cities like Denver and Greeley demonstrate substantial public support for democratic reforms.
• Unified Movement: Sanders emphasizes the power of the majority standing together to counteract Trumpism.

Notable Quotes:

"34,000 people showed up to watch them. In Denver, another city in Colorado, close to 12,000."
(Timestamp: 16:08)

"If we stand together, we are the vast majority of people. We can defeat Trumpism."
(Timestamp: 16:55)

7. Media Manipulation and Misrepresentation

The conversation critiques how Trump's administration and allied media outlets distort facts and spread misinformation to maintain power.

Key Points:

• Falsified Narratives: Accusations against figures like Ivanka Trump are dismissed as irrelevant amidst more pressing national issues.
• Media Accountability: The hosts call for honest reporting and accountability from media personalities and platforms.

Notable Quote:

"They go along with that. And obviously, he's trying to distance himself from the Alien Enemies act right now."
(Timestamp: 12:35)

8. Comparisons with Progressive Movements

Contrasting Trump's divisive tactics, the hosts highlight the inclusive and unifying efforts of progressive leaders to foster a more equitable society.

Key Points:

• Unity vs. Division: While Trump seeks to fragment society, leaders like Sanders and AOC promote solidarity across diverse groups.
• Effective Leadership: The effectiveness of progressive leaders is demonstrated through their ability to galvanize large, enthusiastic crowds.

Notable Quote:

"If you stand together, we have a government, an economy that works for all of us, not just the 1%."
(Timestamp: 16:55)

Conclusion: A Nation at a Crossroads

The episode concludes with a rallying call for American citizens to rise against the entrenched oligarchic influences and reclaim democratic governance. The hosts emphasize the importance of collective action and vigilance in safeguarding democratic institutions and ensuring policies benefit the broader population rather than a select few.

Final Thoughts:

"Can we just be normal and fight for people, help people, show empathy, handle ourselves with dignity? Not with this Trump regime. The people are pissed. The people are rising up peacefully protesting."
(Timestamp: 18:01)

---

Overall, this episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast offers a robust critique of former President Trump's policies and leadership while celebrating the burgeoning resistance movement striving to restore democratic values. Through incisive analysis and engaging dialogue, the Meiselas brothers provide listeners with a nuanced understanding of the current political dynamics and the imperative for collective action in defending democracy.

Transcript

[Sponsor Announcer]

This episode is brought to you by Enterprise Mobility from fleet management to flexible truck rentals to technology solutions, Enterprise Mobility helps businesses find the right mobility solutions so they can find new opportunities. Because if your business is on the road, they want to make sure it's on the road to success. Enterprise Mobility Moving you moves the world. Find your [e-mail].

[William]

Googe a Vuoria collaborator and professional ultrarunner from the UK I love to tackle endurance runs around the world, including a 55 day 3064 mile run across the US. So I know a thing or two about performance wear. When it comes to relaxing, I look for something ultra versatile and comfy. The Ponto Performance Jogger from Vuri is perfect for all of those things. It's the comfiest jogger I've ever worn and the Dream Knit fabric is why I'll always reach for them over other joggers. Check them out in the Dream Knit collection by going to Vuori.com William that's V-U-O-R-I.com William where new customers can receive 20% off their first order plus enjoy free shipping in the US on orders over $75 and free returns. Exclusions apply. Visit the website for full terms and conditions.

[Sponsor Announcer]

Your data is like gold to hackers and they'll sell it to the highest bidder. Are you protected? McAfee helps shield you blocking suspicious texts, malicious emails and fraudulent websites. McAfee Secure VPN lets you browse safely and its AI powered tech scam detector spots threats instantly. You'll also get up to $2 million of award winning antivirus and identity theft protection, all for just $39.99 for your first year. Visit McAfee.com cancel anytime. Terms apply.

[Political Commentator]

The new KFC Dunk It Bucket with Juicy Original Recipe Tenders, new mashed potato poppers, crispy fries, plus three sauces that fit right on top of the lid so you can dunk anywhere. You can dunk at the game. Dunk while security points to the no outside food sign and dunk as 20,000 people watch you and your Dunkit bucket get removed from the stadium. Dunk almost anywhere with the new $7 KFC Dunkin Bucket or get the double Dunkin'Bucket for 25. Prices and participation vary while supplies last, taxes, tips and fees extra.

[Sponsor Announcer]

This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Upgrade your business with Shopify, home of the number one checkout on the planet. Shop pay boosts conversions up to 50%, meaning fewer carts going abandoned and more sales going cha ching so if you're into growing your business, get a commerce platform that's ready to sell wherever your customers are. Visit shopify.com to upgrade your selling.

[Political Commentator]

Today, I support Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency. That's how Americans feel right now. That was in Nebraska, by the way, at a town hall by MAGA Republican Mike Flood. Whether you're Democrat, independent, Republican, you're getting hit hard by Elon Musk and Donald Trump and the Trump regime and their oligarchs and families. They're just rubbing it in our faces. I mean, you see posts like this, Ivanka Trump shows off her impressive jujitsu moves with Gisele Bundchen's boyfriend's brother. I don't even know what the headline's talking about, but they're bragging about all of that. While we hear and we see headlines and stories about Social Security offices being closed and Elon Musk calling Social Security a Ponzi scheme. They're going after Medicaid, they're firing veterans, they're treating veterans like crap, and they're gutting the federal government. And there's Donald Trump goes golfing again, off for another vacation. Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security secretary who's responsible as well for the kidnapping of people who were here in America, sending them to concentration camps in El Salvador without due process, including women who were rejected from the El Salvador concentration camps because those camps only allow men and they were shipped back to Venezuela, it's believed, where they already fled from the Maduro regime. She's out there doing cosplay and she's dressed up in her different outfits. Once again, the American people are suffering. The American people feel the pain. And these magas just party it up in Mar a Lago. They couldn't be more removed from our reality and they couldn't care less about us. Headlines like this. A list of Social Security offices across the US expected to close this year. Over 47 Social Security offices closing. And I'll show you a clip in a little bit of Donald Trump's Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, saying that if you complain about not receiving a Social Security check one month, you're probably a fraudster and a criminal. And doge should come after you.

[Sponsor Announcer]

Up.

[Political Commentator]

I'll play for you the clip. Headlines like this. As Trump broadens crackdown, focus expands to legal immigrants and tourists. We've seen travel advisories issue from some politicians in Canada, but we've seen travel advisories from UK And Germany and all throughout the EU and other places they're like, look, if you travel to America, you could get thrown in an ICE detention center or worse, you can get sent to concentration camps in El Salvador right now and you may die and nobody hears from you ever again and you'll be denied due process. This happened on Friday. The acting Social Security had someone by the name of Leland Dudek says that he was consulting with the Justice Department about shutting down the entire Social Security Administration because. Because Leland claimed that they would be unable to administer Social Security based on a federal judge from Maryland's court order that said that Elon Musk and Doge should not get access to our Social Security information and our medical records and our private health records. The federal judge just said Doge shouldn't have access to it. But the Social Security Administration and administrator can still function, but on that basis, where do they go right away shut down Social Security. The judge had to post a public letter on the federal docket, which is unprecedented, saying, I never said that you can't continue to administer Social Security like it has been for decades on decades. I just said people should not be having their privacy breached by Elon Musk and Doge. No wonder Donald Trump's support is in the gutter. Just compare Trump's approval or disapproval to that of other presidents at this time. I mean, he is so far below Biden, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and his 2025 is starting to crash and it's getting to those 2017 levels right now. I told you about Trump's commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, telling seniors on Social Security that if you complain if your checks don't come, you're a fraudster. If you didn't believe me, you're like, there's no way he said that. He went on a podcast called all in, which is run by these like tech oligarch billionaire people and they brag about how much money they have in their fancy yachts and cars and mansions and all of that. That's what they do on it. And here's what Howard Lutnick says you can hear for yourself. Let's play it. Let's say Social Security didn't send out their checks this month. My mother in law, who's 94, she wouldn't call and complain. She just wouldn't. She thinks something got messed up and she'll get it next month.

[Sponsor Announcer]

Yeah, a fraudster always makes the loudest.

[Political Commentator]

Noise, screaming, yelling and complaining. And I'll play this clip for you as well. Here is Howard Lutnick being asked, do you think you should show though should do show a little more empathy to people and not be so cruel. And Howard Lutnick like, no, no, no, we should be cruel. And if you're like, Ben, there's no way. He said, no, no, no, no, no. And he said that they should be more cruel. I'll play it for you. Here's the clip right there.

[Sponsor Announcer]

Before we get there, I want to ask one last question on, on the cuts. Can we speak in. Do we need to speak in a more empathetic way? Because that trillion dollars of spending flows into someone's pocket. Some percentage of that pays people a salary and they live on that income. And I think a lot of the. Okay, I think this is important for you to highlight because a lot of people are reacting.

[Political Commentator]

This was a week where Donald Trump staged a fake classroom in the White House to announce an executive order that he was going to get rid of the Department of Education. Trump is picking on seniors, he's picking on veterans. He's picking on disabled and poor kids. This was him announcing the elimination of the Department of Education and that everybody supports it. He says here that is very popular. Let's play it.

[Sponsor Announcer]

They're going to be returning education very simply back to the states where it belongs. And this is a very popular thing to do. But much more importantly, it's a common sense thing to do. And it's going to work. Absolutely, it's going to work.

[Political Commentator]

And horrific stuff. Elon Musk, meanwhile, is trying to buy another election, this one in Wisconsin. There's the Wisconsin Supreme Court race. There's a vacant seat that will decide who's going to control the Wisconsin Supreme Court. And there's a pro democracy candidate, Judge Susan Crawford. There's a far right extremist MAGA candidate, Schimmel. Elon Musk is offering $100 to Wisconsin voters ahead of that Supreme Court election. Do you see what the oligarchs are doing? Do you see why we needed campaign finance reform and why the right wing Supreme Court overturning campaign finance laws in the Citizens United case has been so destructive and has opened up the floodgates for a lot of this oligarchy. We need checks and balances. And here's a prime example why. So on Friday, Donald Trump says that he never signed the executive order for the Alien enemies Act of 1798, which then led to the kidnapping of about 300 individuals who the Trump regime claimed were terrorists. Venezuela gang member, enemy combatant terrorists is who they were labeled, shipped them to El Salvador. The Trump regime made an ISIS style video where they basically tortured the individuals on video, saw their faces, and they were treated like dirt, never to be heard from again. We know some of the backstory of these individuals. There have been court hearings. A federal Judge in Washington, D.C. seems very close to holding Trump and his regime in contempt for what they did, violating a court order, saying, you can ship these people without due process until we figure out what the hell is going on here. You're declaring there's a war. What war are you declaring? And you have to give the people some rights. How can people have the ability to challenge if you're saying that they're a gang member, what are you basing your criteria on? Here's Donald Trump saying that he did not sign it. Play this clip.

[Sponsor Announcer]

It doesn't sound like this judge who the DOJ is arguing with today about the deportation place. He wants to know why the proclamation was signed in the dark, his words. And why people were rushed onto planes. Because we want to get criminals out of our country, number one. And I don't know when it was signed because I didn't sign it. Other people handled it. But Marco Rubio has done a great job and he wanted him out, and we go along with that.

[Political Commentator]

And obviously he's trying to distance himself from the Alien Enemies act right now, because I think they sent a lot of people to El Salvador concentration camps who were not gang members. I know they sent some women there because we've seen some of the declarations by the aclu. Women were sent there, and the concentration camp is only for men. Then those women were sent back, I believe to Venezuela where they fled in the first place, the Maduro regime. What do you think Maduro is going to do to those women who are shipped back to Venezuela who are asylum seekers? There was another story of the professional Venezuela soccer player came to the United States lawfully under our asylum laws, registered himself. That's how he was in the system. But he had a Real Madrid tattoo for the football club Real Madrid. And on that basis, the Trump regime said that he's a terrorist, gangster, enemy combatant, and shipped him to a concentration camp. By the way, here's Trump's signature on the Alien Enemies Act. Later, the Trump regime tried to say, oh, Donald Trump didn't say what you heard him say. He said he never signed the Alien enemies Act of 1798. He never said he was on a time machine and went back to 1798. So ridiculous. Donald Trump posts April 2 as Liberation Day in America. For decades, we had been ripped off, just more tariff threats and then the same old stories come out. He threatens Liberation Day where he's going to tariff everybody, but then he'll be flexible. And so he does the tariffs. He pulls off the tariffs. He does the tariffs. He takes off the tariffs. The boy who cried tariffs. It's just, it's embarrassing. And countries are fed up. Europe's not playing this game anymore. They're like, go f yourself. We're going to form our own alliances. Do what you want to do. We're going to act like adults and behave maturely. If you want to trade, trade. But we'll build up without you. Same thing. Canada. Shout out to our Canadian supporters. Boycotting all things American. 85, 90% drops in tourism in certain areas. Really hitting America where it's hurt, not buying American products. Let's take a look. Remember that video I showed you at the outset? You know how all the magas. By the way, credit to pbs, they ran a great piece on that. Remember how all the magas are saying, oh, all these people who show up, they're like George Soros, funded, they're paid for by the Democrats. These are all just activists. These are people who live in the district who want answers, who are suffering, who are living paycheck to paycheck, who are constituents, who want to be treated like citizens and constituents. These are some of the people outside of that rally or the town hall by maga. Republican Representative Flood. Play the clip.

[Sponsor Announcer]

There is no organized protest, but in this deep red congressional district, those here have deep seated concern about President Trump and Elon Musk.

[Political Commentator]

So are we going to sit at home on the couch and let these billionaires control the country? Hell, no.

[Sponsor Announcer]

I almost kind of want to cry. It's just I don't see any. Oh, where are you from?

[Political Commentator]

Columbus.

[Sponsor Announcer]

Columbus. Contrary to some Republican claims that outside groups come to disrupt. Who's from the congressional district? All of you are from the congressional district. Has anyone been paid to be here? No, no one. I'm actually taking work off to be here. You're taking work? I'm losing money. Same here.

[Bernie Sanders]

We are the boss, not the president. We are their constituents. You don't have to follow all of.

[Political Commentator]

Us, but we have to have a voice. Isn't that in such stark contrast to what's been going on with the Fight the Oligarchy tour with Bernie Sanders and AOC? 34,000 people showed up to watch them. In Denver, another city in Colorado, close to 12,000. Arizona, 15,000. These crowds are growing in size. People are pumped. Take a look at this. This was the speech in Greeley, Colorado. They went right to the district of a maga. Republican Congress member Gabe Evans. Watch this.

[Sponsor Announcer]

See you in November.

[Political Commentator]

People were pumped. People were pumped. Here was Senator Sanders at a speech in Denver. Let's take a watch.

[Bernie Sanders]

So the point that Alexandria made a few minutes ago is exactly the right point, and that is what the right wing wants us to do, is to turn on each other. They want to divide us up by the color of our skin or where we were born or what our religion is or what our sexual orientation is. That's how they win. They divide us up. Now, I'm not a mathematician, but I do know that 99% is a hell of a bigger number than 1%. And I do know that if we stand together, we are the vast majority of people. We can defeat Trumpism. We can create a political movement so that we have a government, an economy that works for all of us, not just the 1%.

[Political Commentator]

While all of this is taking place, Trump's defense secretary is doing Twitter or X polls. Better name. What should we call the Department of Defense? Department of Defense? Department of War? The People's Pentagon. As our editor in chief, Ron Philipkowski says, he's really into renaming stuff, deleting black people from military history and attacking our veterans. But he loves the rename. Rename this, rename that. Can you please just allow the federal government to function? Can you not attack veterans? Can you not steal people's Medicaid and not steal people's Social Security? Can you not continue to talk about annexing or taking over Canada or Panama Canal or Greenland? Can you stop with this tariff crap? Can you stop tanking the markets? Can we just be. Can we just be normal and fight for people, help people, show empathy, handle ourselves with dignity? Not with this Trump regime. The people are pissed. The people are rising up peacefully protesting. People are pissed. I'm pissed. This is your network. We're going to build this together. We're going to highlight the things that you want us to highlight here. Thanks for watching. Have a good one. Can't get enough Midas. Check out the Midas substack for ad. Free articles, reports, podcasts, daily recaps from Ron Filipkowski and more. Sign up for free [e-mail] Myeloma is one of the 100 different types of blood cancers the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society supports. While treatment advances offer hope, myeloma remains incurable, but it is treatable. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is here to help. If you or a loved one needs myeloma blood cancer information, free resources or support. Reach out to an LLS information specialist at 800-955-4572 or visit LLS.org you're not alone in this fight.