The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode Title: Trump Secret Watchlist for American Citizens Exposed by Ken Klippenstein
Date: October 14, 2025
Special Guest: Ken Klippenstein (Investigative Journalist)
Main Focus: The exposure and implications of Trump’s NSPM 7—a National Security Presidential Memorandum establishing a secret government watchlist targeting Americans for their beliefs.

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into reporting by Ken Klippenstein revealing the existence and scope of National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 (NSPM 7) under Donald Trump’s administration. The conversation uncovers how this directive marks a drastic shift in domestic surveillance and counterterrorism priorities, placing millions of Americans—based on their views or activism—on secret government watchlists. The discussion unpacks how this policy has gone largely unnoticed in mainstream media, its chilling impact on free speech and civil liberties, and the concerning normalization of rhetoric labeling dissenters as threats.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to NSPM 7 and Klippenstein’s Reporting

• [00:00] Main Point: The episode opens with a focus on Ken Klippenstein’s reporting on NSPM 7, which was initially misreported as a standard Trump executive order but is actually a sweeping national security directive.

• NSPM 7 Key Facts:

  • Labels a vast array of beliefs (anti-American, anti-Christian, anti-capitalist, anti-traditional family, etc.) as potential indicators of domestic terrorism.
  • Involves an “all of government” approach to what Trump’s Homeland Security Adviser Stephen Miller described as dismantling left-wing terrorism.
  • Publicly issued, which is unusual for national security memoranda.

• Memorable Quote:

  “This is the first time in American history that there is an all of government effort to dismantle left wing terrorism.”
  — Stephen Miller, cited by Host [00:56]

2. Differences Between Executive Orders and National Security Memoranda

• [03:35] Main Point: Klippenstein and the hosts emphasize the distinction: executive orders impact daily government operations, while national security directives coordinate strategic, long-term priorities for defense, intelligence, and law enforcement—usually in secret.

• NSPM 7 is only the seventh such memorandum since Trump returned to office, underlining its importance.

• Notable Quote:

  “It’s hard to overstate how much different NSPM7 is from the over 200 executive orders that Trump frantically signed since coming back into office.”
  — Host referencing Klippenstein’s reporting [03:18]

3. Scope and Impact of the Watchlist

• [05:24] Ken Klippenstein’s Take:

  • NSPM 7 uses vague, sweeping language—covering millions of Americans.
  • It “tasks the entire federal government” with prioritizing these indicators for counterterrorism efforts.
  • Incentives are established for law enforcement to pursue these cases, affecting promotions and resource allocation.
  • The policy is about prioritizing investigations and expanding the notion of what constitutes a terror threat.

• Quote:

  “These are sweeping strategy statements…telling [federal law enforcement] this is what we’re going to be about for the next three years.”
  — Ken Klippenstein [06:12]

4. How the Secret Watchlist Works

• [07:07] Main Points:

  • A center in Northern Virginia screens and adds individuals to a watchlist based on social media, public speeches, protests, etc.—often without their knowledge.
  • Criteria and inclusion are secret; impact on people’s lives (e.g., banking, legal scrutiny, audits) is already happening.

• Quote:

  “Your presence on the list isn’t even known by the person. All of this is happening in secret so they can see what people are doing, but the public can’t see what it is that they’re doing.”
  — Ken Klippenstein [08:07]

5. Shift in the Use of Counterterrorism Infrastructure

• [08:07–10:00] Main Point:

  • Post-9/11 counterterrorism infrastructure originally aimed at foreign threats (Al Qaeda, ISIS) now redirected at domestic dissent—a historic and controversial expansion.
  • Administration officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, publicly equate Antifa (even absent evidence it’s an organized group) to foreign terror organizations.

• Quote:

  “They are bringing this huge counterterrorism apparatus… and dropping the hammer on this group, which it isn’t clear that exists.”
  — Ken Klippenstein [08:58]

6. Chilling Impact on Civil Society and Speech

• [10:41] Main Points:

  • Law firms are already advising mainstream organizations to self-censor to avoid being on the wrong side of NSPM 7.
  • Treasury and other agencies are scrutinizing organizations’ finances for support of “indicators” covered in the memo.
  • Not just left-wing groups—mainstream liberal and Democratic organizations now under threat.

• Quote:

  “That’s going to have a chilling effect on speech… These are, according to these legal advice…mainstream liberal and democratic organizations.”
  — Ken Klippenstein [11:41]

7. Joint Terrorism Task Forces—Expanded Reach

• [12:00] Main Points:
  • With limited restrictions compared to the military, Joint Terrorism Task Forces can investigate targets under NSPM 7 more aggressively, in every state.
  • Raises the specter of normal law enforcement and even military coordination against protest movements deemed suspicious under the memo's criteria.

8. Congressional Oversight and Secrecy

• [12:59] Main Points:

  • Senator Alyssa Slotkin (former CIA) and others have raised questions in Congress, but answers are minimal. Even the existence of certain task lists and the full scope remain secret.
  • Testimony indicates sharp increases in domestic terrorism cases but lacks transparency on criteria.

• Quote:

  “FBI Director Cash Patel…said that there is a 300% increase in domestic terrorism cases. That is a huge increase. And so what…constitutes that we don’t know because he hasn’t said.”
  — Ken Klippenstein [10:59]

9. Rhetoric from Trump Administration and Congressional GOP

• [14:57] Main Points:

  • Extremist language from GOP leadership—Speaker Mike Johnson, Steve Scalise—echoes Trump’s stance, labeling protests as “pro-Hamas” or “American-hating” and justifying further expansion of government watchlists.
  • Norms are being redefined as suspicion and surveillance towards ordinary dissent.

• Quote:

  “This is something that is solidly within the mainstream of the political leadership of the party…They’re all talking like that.”
  — Ken Klippenstein [15:37]

10. Direct Policy Actions and Operationalization

• [11:55, 16:32] Main Points:

  • Example: Attorney General Pam Bondi’s creation of an ICE protection task force directly cites NSPM 7 as its authority—a sign that the memorandum is being used to shape policy and direct law enforcement resources.
  • Not speculation—this is already affecting institutions and individuals.

• Quote:

  “You can go online and see that directive…she cites as its inspiration NSPM 7.”
  — Ken Klippenstein [16:07]

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On the Watchlist’s Secrecy:

  “Your presence on the list isn’t even known by the person. All of this is happening in secret…”
  — Ken Klippenstein [08:07]

• On Redefining Dissent:

  “The language that they’ve been using over and over again is that this is the pro Antifa, pro Hamas event…their view of antifa is anybody, it seems, who dissents…”
  — Host [12:37]

• On Chilling Effect:

  “Law firms…are instructing their clients to start comporting themselves to…not run afoul of this memorandum…”
  — Ken Klippenstein [11:20]

• On Normalizing Surveillance:

  “These Joint Terrorism Task Forces…do not have those limitations…they can do and go places that the military can’t.”
  — Ken Klippenstein [12:41]

Conclusion and Call to Action

• [17:06] The hosts thank Ken Klippenstein for his crucial investigative work and encourage listeners to follow his reporting on KenKlippenstein.com and his Substack.
• The hosts stress the importance of awareness, vigilance, and supporting independent journalism amid expanding government secrecy and threats to civil liberties.

This episode stands as a warning and a vital exposé on the expansion of domestic surveillance and the criminalization of dissent, urging listeners to stay informed and active in defense of democratic norms.