The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Trump Suffers Utter Humiliation during War with Fatal Polling!!!
Air Date: March 9, 2026
Host(s): Ben, Brett & Jordy Meiselas
Guest: Derrick Johnson (NAACP President)

Overview of the Episode

In this explosive episode, the Meiselas brothers dissect the mounting political crises facing Donald Trump during his second term, particularly focusing on his disastrous polling, the negative fallout from his “unlawful war” with Iran, and the backlash erupting within his own supporter base. The episode further delves into how Trump's policies—especially on immigration, race, and voting rights—have alienated key constituencies and provoked scathing criticism from both everyday Americans and civil rights leaders. A centerpiece of the episode is a wide-ranging interview with NAACP President Derrick Johnson, who offers a historical and contemporary analysis of Trump’s impact on democracy, class warfare, and corporate America’s wavering allegiance to anti-racist values.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Trump’s Polling Collapse and Political Backlash

• Plummeting Support Among Key Voter Groups:
  • Hispanic Voters: Democrats lead Republicans by a staggering 60% to 29% (Morning Consult).
    (“The latest generic ballot of Hispanic voters from morning consult has Democrats up 60% to Republicans 29%.” — Ben, 03:57)
  • Gen Z: Only 24% approve of Trump’s Iran war (NPR/Marist).
  • Men: Democrats edge Republicans 48% to 42% (Emerson).
  • National Generic Ballot: Democrats lead 47% to 42%.
  • *"If that holds, it's going to be a massive blue tsunami that will effectively end Donald Trump's presidency right there." — Ben, 04:42

2. Broken Promises to MAGA Base and Human Impact of Trump Policies

• Stories of Betrayed Trump Supporters:
  • Wayne Demario’s Story (Miami):
    • A staunch Trump supporter’s fiancée detained by ICE and facing deportation despite their loyalty.
    • “She does not deserve this. She’s the sweetest person and she prayed for you.” — Wayne Demario, clip played at 05:46
    • “I didn't vote for this, but I definitely voted Republican.” — Wayne Demario (06:29)
• Tragedy Involving ICE Enforcement:
  • Ruben Ray Martinez:
    • 23-year-old American citizen, son of a Trump voter, killed by ICE.
    • Family left devastated and disillusioned:
    • “It’s abuse and impunity that’s being exercised by these Trump and Border Patrol Gestapo.” — Ben quoting family, 07:04
    • “He was not a violent person. He was not aggressive.” — Rachel Martinez (08:10–08:16)

3. The "Unlawful" Iran War: Public Opinion and Republican Spin

• Public Disapproval:
  • Approval of Trump’s war against Iran is only 36% (NPR/Marist Poll), dramatically worse than the lowest point of Iraq War approval (41%).
  • Economic pain: Fuel prices surging, inflation rising.
    • “You're feeling it at the pump, you're feeling it with inflation. Right now, the US average diesel price has risen to $4.56 a gallon…” — Ben, 09:25
• Republican Messaging:
  • House Speaker “MAGA Mike” Johnson claims “We are not at war ... This is a limited operation” (09:50), an apparent attempt to downplay the conflict.

4. In-Depth Interview: Derrick Johnson, NAACP President (10:58–25:49)

a. The Smart, Authoritarian Trump Regime

• Johnson argues Trump’s second-term administration is “much smarter” and more effective at manipulating government pressure points to the detriment of American citizens, especially marginalized groups.
  • “They spend the last four years prior to coming to office studying government in a way in which they knew many of the pressure points to hit. And it’s having a very negative impact on American citizens.” — Derrick Johnson, 11:45

b. “Stop the Woke” — Coded Attacks on Truth and History

• The Trump regime’s rhetoric about DEI and “woke” is framed as a cover for whitewashing history and undermining education about marginalized groups.
  • “The museums are too woke, which is all coded language for ... get rid of it and quite literally whitewash it.” — Ben, 12:27
• Johnson reframes these attacks as “class warfare” where race is used as a distraction.
  • “Race is only a tool for the most wealthiest individuals on the globe to divert our tax dollars for their profit.” — Derrick Johnson, 13:03

c. The “Epstein Class,” Sex Trafficking, and Blackmail

• The revelations from the Epstein files show a “well-coordinated act of treason,” where blackmail and exploitation are used by oligarchs for control.
  • “The Epstein files ... was a well-coordinated act of treason ... January 6th was an act of treason ... the sustained effort of individuals being leveraged to undermine our democracy ... is something that unfortunately we won't get a chance to hold people accountable under this administration.” — Derrick Johnson, 14:39

d. The Real Purpose Behind Voting Laws (“SAVE Act”)

• Johnson dismantles the rhetoric behind the SAVE Act’s purported aim to secure elections, calling it “a solution in search of a problem” that will mainly suppress votes, especially for communities of color.
  • “If you say you gotta have a photo ID or need proof of citizenship, why do you need proof of citizenship? ... It is vote suppression, pure and simple.” — Derrick Johnson, 19:49
  • “What we are witnessing now are policymakers realizing that ... their public policy objectives ... are so unpopular that they cannot win in a fair election. That’s a full stop.” — Derrick Johnson, 20:38

e. The Corporate Pendulum: Companies’ Betrayal and Future

• Johnson critiques the fickle commitments of corporations—eager to support racial justice post-George Floyd but now complicit or silent under Trump’s regime.
  • “All of these companies and law firms ... were like, what can we do to help? ... And then Trump comes in, and all of a sudden seeing those exact same people basically say ... we retract any of it.” — Ben, 22:04
• Johnson notes that companies who stand for DEI (e.g. Costco) thrive, while those that don't (e.g. Target) face financial consequences.
  • “Brand awareness is deep in our community ... There was no reason for Target to be wishy-washy ... and you see the opposite with Costco’s who profits have gone through the roof as a result of their position.” — Derrick Johnson, 23:25
  • “For some of them, I don't think there isn’t any coming back.” — Derrick Johnson, 24:49

f. Closing Message on Coalition-Building

• Johnson urges listeners to support the NAACP, stressing its historical and ongoing role in sustaining democracy for all.
  • “Part of what we do is to make democracy work for everyone in our founding, it wasn’t just about the African American community ... if we didn't have true representative democracy for everyone, this country would never become the country that was guaranteed under the Constitution.” — Derrick Johnson, 25:09

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Donald Trump is absolutely destroying the Republican Party ... This is the karma they’ve earned for having Donald Trump be their cult leader.” — Ben (03:57)
• “You're the greatest president, Donald ... and they almost use that image to be like, you see, I have support amongst the black community because there was a black lady wearing a MAGA hat.” — Ben (15:53)
• “Donald Trump presented to the oligarch class something they could have never done themselves. He has an appeal to the lowest common denomination ... using the right buzzwords at the right moment to appeal to the least educated.” — Derrick Johnson (16:52)
• “Diversity is their business model because their market growth are in all of our communities.” — Derrick Johnson (24:25)
• “For these very same individuals, when you say you gotta have a photo ID to vote, well, they will push back hard against having a national ID requirement to buy firearms. So this is not about saving or securing.” — Derrick Johnson (20:44)

Important Timestamps

• 03:57 — Analysis of disastrous polling for Trump and Republicans
• 05:46–07:19 — Personal stories of MAGA voters betrayed by Trump’s immigration and law enforcement policies
• 09:25 — Economic impact of Iran war and fuel price surge
• 09:50 — House Speaker Johnson’s public statements downplaying US war with Iran
• 10:58–25:49 — Interview with Derrick Johnson, NAACP President
  • 11:41–13:46 — Trump regime’s smarter authoritarianism & attacks on Black communities
  • 14:39 — Epstein class, blackmail, and democracy undermined
  • 19:20–21:15 — Discussion of the SAVE Act and voter suppression
  • 22:04–24:49 — Corporate America’s shifting response on DEI & anti-racism
  • 25:01 — Johnson’s call to support the NAACP

Final Thoughts

This episode offers a stinging critique of Trump’s second-term administration, emphasizing its increasingly authoritarian, anti-democratic trajectory and profound unpopularity. Through vivid real-life testimonials and incisive analysis—especially in Derrick Johnson’s segment—the Meiselas brothers illustrate how Trump’s policies have become a political disaster for the GOP, even as his regime doubles down on divisive and harmful strategies. The episode also spotlights the urgent need for coalition-building, sustained activism, and unflinching support for democracy as the nation faces unprecedented political and social challenges.