Podcast Summary: The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode Title: Trump Spirals Out of Control on Sunday as Condition Is Worse
Date: November 30, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Episode Overview

This episode zeroes in on the tumultuous and erratic behavior of former President Donald Trump over the weekend. The Meiselas brothers dissect Trump's public outbursts, questionable fundraising tactics, policy contradictions, and his administration’s response to recent controversies. They also contrast Trump's actions and rhetoric with those of his cabinet, surrogates, and critics, highlighting the implications for American democracy and the public discourse.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Erratic Sunday Meltdown

• Physical and Mental State: The brothers open the episode by comparing recent photos of Trump and Biden, poking at Trump’s physical appearance and mocking the right-wing focus on Biden’s health.

• Fox News ‘Therapy’: Trump resorts to TV therapy, praising coverage and commentators like Deborah Lee—even when their commentary is not outright supportive of him.

  • "Donald Trump then gives himself Fox TV therapy. Had to turn on Fox... He was really happy about the way she presented that information." (00:31)

2. Administration Grift and Fundraising Scams

• Tariff Rebate Email Scheme: Trump sends out emails promising "tariff rebates" if supporters click to donate—ultimately scamming them out of money for his campaign.
  • "You want a tariff rebate, say, for $2,000. You click $2,000, and guess what? You end up paying Donald Trump $2,000 to his campaign." (02:42)
  • Trump asks Americans to make sacrifices for his fundraising goals.
  • "As Americans are suffering right now, Donald Trump is asking the American people to make sacrifices for him. A billionaire who's made that money lying, cheating, stealing, committing fraud." (03:36)

3. Shifting Blame & Immigration Controversies

• Kristi Noem’s Deflection: Trump's cabinet—including border czar and Kristi Noem—deflect responsibility for a shooter given asylum under Trump, instead blaming Biden.

  • "Former President Biden...was responsible for the vetting that Trump did in April of 2025. Yes, Trump was in office...But Biden did the vetting." (04:52)

• Clip Breakdown: Repeatedly, anchors and journalists try to clarify that Trump was in office when the event occurred, highlighting the administration's contradictions.

  • Clip: "But again, he was granted asylum in April. So President Trump had already been in office..." (06:25)

4. Foreign Policy Hypocrisy

• Pardoning Narco-Terrorists: The brothers condemn Trump’s announcement to pardon Juan Orlando Hernandez, Honduras’ ex-president convicted for narco-terrorism, while claiming to fight drug traffickers.

  • "Justify that. MAGA Republicans..." (07:47)

• MAGA Senator Markwayne Mullin’s Loyalty: Mullin dodges direct questions on this contradiction, offering generalized praise for Trump’s "calculated" foreign affairs.

  • "I do trust his...approach to foreign affairs because we can see it’s being very, very effective." (08:31)

5. Conspiracies and the Auto Pen Nonsense

• Alina Haba’s Claims: Trump’s legal team supporter Alina Haba spins conspiracy theories about Biden using an auto pen for executive orders—a non-issue used to distract from substantive debate.
  • "We do not use the auto pen for executive orders. The President knows what he’s doing. Now go back to President Biden, who knows..." (09:57)

6. Tax Policy and Economic Spin

• Eliminating Income Tax Promise: Trump suggests tariffs could replace federal income taxes, a wildly unrealistic claim dissected by the brothers.

  • "Trump says he's going to offset $3 trillion by $200 billion, which doesn't make sense at all." (10:47)

• Media Blind Spots: Ben points out that right-wing media runs with Trump’s claims, while mainstream and left-leaning media either ignore or critically analyze these stories, underscoring partisan media blind spots.

7. Trump’s Hardline Immigration Rhetoric

• Tom Homan’s Comments: Trump’s border czar declares intent to mass deport asylum seekers, further heating the anti-immigrant rhetoric.

  • "Most of them are going to end up being deported because we're not going to be able to properly vet them." (14:29)

• Hypocrisy: Alina Haba, herself the child of immigrants, rails against America being a safe harbor for asylum seekers.

  • "Alina Haba's parents immigrated to the United States from Iraq, citing persecution..." (14:51)

8. War Crimes Allegations & Deflection

• Kristi Noem Dismisses War Crimes: Noem lowers the credibility of reports on alleged war crimes by dismissing them as "anonymous sources" and reiterates faith in Trump’s administration.
  • "I have full faith and trust in this president and in this government to do the right thing..." (16:58)

9. Governor Tim Walz Responds to Trump Slur

• Trump’s Use of the R-slur: The brothers call out Trump for using the "R-word" in reference to Governor Walz, highlighting the cruelty and irresponsibility of such language.

  • "Here we got a guy on Thanksgiving... ranting about everything else. This is not normal behavior. It is not healthy..." (18:16)

• Defending Decency: Governor Walz powerfully responds, connecting Trump's language to broader issues of inclusion and normalization of hateful rhetoric.

  • "Using that term is just so damaging, it's hurtful. We have fought three decades to get this out of our schools. Kids know better than to use it." (19:43)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ben, on the Trump “tariff rebate” email scam:
  "You want a tariff rebate, say, for $2,000. So you click $2,000, and guess what? You end up paying Donald Trump $2,000 to his campaign. Yes, his campaign. He's still campaigning and has a campaign fund right now where you pay Donald Trump. Who the hell knows where that money is even going?" (02:42)

• Governor Tim Walz on Trump’s midnight rants:
  "Here we got a guy on Thanksgiving where we spent time with our families... This guy is apparently in a room ranting about everything else. This is not normal behavior. It is not healthy.” (18:16)

• On normalizing slurs:
  "As both as a educator for a couple decades and as a parent, using that term is just so damaging, it's hurtful. We have fought three decades to get this out of our schools. Kids know better than to use it. But look, this is what Donald Trump has done. He's normalized this type of, of hateful behavior..." — Gov. Walz (19:43)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Trump’s Sunday Meltdown & Fox News Therapy: 00:31–02:00
• Tariff Rebate Scam Email & Grifting: 02:42–03:36
• Kristi Noem Deflects on Asylum Shooter: 04:52–06:44
• Pardoning Convicted Narco-President; Senator Markwayne Mullin's Excuses: 07:47–09:23
• Alina Haba and the “Auto Pen” Conspiracy: 09:57–10:47
• Tariff Replacement for Income Taxes Debunked, Right-wing Media Echo Chamber: 10:47–12:39
• Tom Homan, Anti-Asylum Comments; Alina Haba's Hypocrisy: 14:29–15:47
• Kristi Noem Dismisses War Crimes Allegation: 16:20–17:31
• Governor Tim Walz Responds to Trump’s Slur: 17:54–21:32

Tone & Style

Throughout, the Meiselas brothers maintain their signature blend of humor, pointed criticism, and heartfelt advocacy for democracy. They do not mince words, calling out what they see as hypocrisy and corruption, but intersperse their analysis with personal banter and an emphasis on civic responsibility and decency.

For listeners who missed the episode, expect a whirlwind tour of the weekend’s Trump-related controversies, pulled apart with sharp wit, legal acumen, and impassioned defense of American democratic norms.