Trump Voters Get KARMA they DESERVE before INAUGURATION

Summary

The MeidasTouch Podcast Summary

Episode: Trump Voters Get KARMA they DESERVE before INAUGuration
Release Date: January 19, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Podcast: The MeidasTouch Podcast

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Introduction

In this compelling episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, the Meiselas brothers delve into the intricate dynamics of Trump voters, particularly focusing on those in red states whose support for Donald Trump is now being tested by his forthcoming policies. Combining sharp political analysis with their signature brotherly banter, Ben, Brett, and Jordy explore the repercussions Trump supporters may face as new executive orders loom on the horizon.

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Trump Voters' Support and Emerging Consequences

The episode opens with a political commentator addressing the paradox among Trump voters across various red states, from Florida to Nebraska. These individuals, often entrenched in industries like agriculture and construction, find themselves in a precarious position. Despite voicing concerns over Trump’s policies that threaten their livelihoods, many remain steadfast in their support for him, largely due to past promises that initially aligned with their interests.

Quote:
“Trump voters are in the find out stage. Many who are farmers or involved in agriculture...they're all saying, Donald, you are going to screw us.”
— Political Commentator [09:48]

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Case Study: Tony Demari from Florida

A focal point of the discussion is Tony Demari, a tomato grower from Florida, whose voting behavior epitomizes the conflicted stance of many Trump supporters. Initially supportive of Trump’s tariffs on Mexican farmers and his stringent immigration policies, Demari’s current predicament highlights the unintended consequences of such measures on his business.

Quote:
“I voted for Trump. I love Trump's idea of slapping tariffs on Mexican farmers who undercut me by paying workers a fraction of what I do.”
— Tony Demari [05:15]

However, Demari expresses growing anxiety over Trump’s broader immigration agenda, which threatens to dismantle the very workforce that sustains his farming operations.

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Impact on Agriculture and Labor

The podcast delves into the critical role of undocumented labor in U.S. agriculture, emphasizing that over 850,000 crop workers are undocumented. This workforce is essential for maintaining the country’s affordable food supply, and Trump’s proposed deportations could cripple the agricultural sector by driving up labor costs and exacerbating existing shortages.

Quote:
“U.S. farms run on an army of more than 850,000 crop workers, almost half of whom...are undocumented.”
— Political Commentator [06:02]

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Tariffs and Economic Implications

The discussion transitions to the economic ramifications of Trump’s tariff policies. While Demari supports targeted tariffs on Mexican imports to protect his tomato business, the podcast critiques the broader application of such tariffs. The brothers argue that retaliatory measures from other countries could harm various sectors, including automobiles and plastics, ultimately hurting American farmers and exporters.

Quote:
“If you impose retaliatory tariffs, wouldn’t it make them suffer?”
— Political Commentator [06:45]

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Nebraska’s Labor Crisis and Dependence on Immigrants

Expanding the narrative to Nebraska, the podcast highlights the state’s severe labor shortages in the meat production industry. Despite Nebraska’s significant contribution to meat processing, only 39 out of every 100 jobs are filled, predominantly relying on immigrant workers. The looming threat of mass deportations under Trump’s administration poses a dire threat to this sector.

Quote:
“Nebraska is one of the top meat producers in the U.S. it also has one of the worst labor shortages in the country.”
— Political Commentator [09:48]

Al Junkie, the executive director of the Nebraska Pork Producers, underscores the necessity of immigrant workers, debunking the notion that increasing wages would attract U.S. citizens to these roles.

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Contradictions in Voter Support

The episode critically examines the contradictions within Trump’s voter base. While these voters support policies that initially promise economic protection, they simultaneously oppose measures that sustain their businesses and industries. This conflicting stance leads to a precarious situation where their support for Trump may ultimately undermine their own economic interests.

Quote:
“Damari, who's family has 4,000 acres of tomato farms...votes for Trump. And then afterwards they're like, well, we actually...Trump wants to do this right here.”
— Political Commentator [12:10]

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Additional Case: Springfield, Ohio

Further illustrating the consequences of polarized support, the podcast references Springfield, Ohio. Here, the Haitian community revitalizes the local economy by filling jobs that Americans refuse to take. Despite their crucial role, these workers are vulnerable to Trump’s deportation threats, highlighting the broader impact of immigration policies on community stability and economic health.

Quote:
“The Haitian community there revitalized the town of Springfield because they took the jobs that the Americans refused to take.”
— Political Commentator [10:58]

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Insights and Analysis

The Meiselas brothers provide a nuanced analysis of how Trump's policies, while appealing to a specific voter base, may inadvertently harm the very individuals and communities that supported him. They point out that policies aiming to restrict immigration and impose broad tariffs could lead to economic downturns in key industries, increased labor costs, and potential inflation spikes reminiscent of previous administrations.

Quote:
“If you tariff Mexico...they’re probably friends with as well?...automobile industries and plastics...they impose retaliatory tariffs, wouldn’t it make them suffer?”
— Political Commentator [06:50]

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Conclusion

Wrapping up, the podcast underscores the dire need for a balanced approach to immigration and economic policies that do not alienate essential workers or destabilize industries. The Meiselas brothers advocate for comprehensive immigration reform that recognizes the contributions of immigrants while ensuring border security, aiming to support both economic growth and democratic values.

Quote:
“I don't want American suffering. I don't want these businesses to get hit hard. I want people to prosper.”
— Political Commentator [13:35]

The episode serves as a poignant reminder of the complex interplay between political allegiance and economic survival, urging listeners to reconsider the broader implications of their political choices.

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Final Thoughts

This episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast offers a thought-provoking exploration of the consequences faced by Trump voters who once championed his policies. Through in-depth case studies and incisive commentary, the Meiselas brothers shed light on the intricate challenges that lie ahead as Trump’s policies come into effect, ultimately questioning whether his supporters will receive the karma they deserve before the next inauguration.

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Key Takeaways:

• Economic Impact: Trump’s immigration and tariff policies may adversely affect key industries reliant on immigrant labor.
• Voter Contradictions: Many Trump voters support policies that initially benefit them but oppose measures that ultimately harm their economic interests.
• Case Studies: Real-life examples from Florida and Nebraska illustrate the tangible consequences of these policies.
• Call for Reform: The episode advocates for comprehensive immigration reform that balances security with economic needs.

By addressing these critical issues, The MeidasTouch Podcast continues to provide insightful and engaging political discourse, encouraging listeners to think deeply about the ramifications of political support and policy implementation.

Transcript

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[Political Commentator]

Pay off devices early From Florida to Nebraska, from Idaho to Montana and other red states in between, Trump voters are in the find out stage. Many who are farmers or involved in agriculture or construct other industries that depend on undocumented labor or others who rely on government related benefits, they're all saying, Donald, you are going to screw us. And for some of these individuals, I was able to dig up some footage on them from Trump administration number one where they were complaining about Trump policies, yet they voted for him again in 2024 and now that he's on the Eve of putting in place these executive orders that can totally screw over their business, they're like, can you not do that, but maybe do this one? Let me explain. There's this article first I'll share with you from Bloomberg. Here's a guy, his name is Tony demari. He's from Florida. He's a tomato grower over there. And he said he voted for Trump. He says he loves Trump's idea of slapping tariffs on Mexican farmers who undercut him by paying workers a fraction of what he does. And he wants to stop illegal border crossings and likes the idea of deporting migrants convicted of serious crimes. But when it comes to Trump's broader promise to expel all 11 million undocumented people living in the country, Demari thinks it would be a disaster for American farmers. We pause there for a second. Demari, listen, nobody wants convicted felons and criminals and terrorists here. How do you fall for that red herring? Not like President Biden and Democrats. Democrats are like, let's get the terrorists here. That's just total and utter bs. President Biden put in place exactly what you are asking for, Damari. A comprehensive immigration bill that would have had the strongest borders, invest millions in border patrol officers, but would have also recognized exactly what you want here, which is some form of recognition and pathway towards citizenship for the hardworking migrants who are here who are contributing to the economy, not the criminals. But you know who killed that bill, Damari? It was Donald Trump who killed it. Here's what Damari says. He goes, quote, we have to secure our borders south and north. Duh, we're all good. We're all good with that. But you have to have a workforce in this country. Duh. It sounds like you're talking about what, comprehensive immigration reform. But I thought that socialism or, or too woke. Isn't that what y'all were saying during the campaign? Damari, who's family has 4,000 acres of tomato farms in Florida and California, goes on to say, quote, there's no doubt that this is going to restrict and put pressure on farming and many other industries that rely on this workforce. But tomorrow I have to say this. So you're okay with certain tariffs on Mexico, targeted tariffs there, but you realize what Trump's asking for is across the board tariffs. And so if you tariff Mexico on that, don't you realize that Mexico is just going to retaliate against people who you're probably friends with as well? Automobile industries and plastics and, you know, just other things? If you tariff Canada, don't you think they're going to retaliate. What about your fellow farmer brothers and sisters who export stuff to China and other countries or Europe that Donald Trump's threatening as well? If they impose retaliatory tariffs, wouldn't it make them suffer? I mean, can't we think comprehensively right here? The article goes on to talk about how U.S. farms run on an army of more than 850,000 crop workers, almost half of whom the Department of Agriculture estimates are undocumented. Some 160,000 of them move with the seasons, harvesting vegetables during Florida's winter before moving north to pick crops such as snap beans in North Carolina or blueberries in New Jersey. This complex system that sustains America's relatively cheap food supply is now at risk as Trump promises the biggest deportations in US history, surpassing the notorious 1954 operation that forced 1.1 million people to return to Mexico. A nationwide crackdown could drive labor costs higher for farmers already struggling to compete against cheap imports and reignite the kind of inflation that tanked Joe Biden's presidency. You know where the inflation came from that President Biden reduced through the Inflation Reduction Act, Donald Trump, the fact that Trump added $8 trillion of debt. And by the way, you don't have to say, well, Ben, that's what you're just saying. Go and look at the Republican debates. What did Nikki Haley say? What did Ron DeSantis say? DeMari, your governor in Florida, said Trump adding $8 trillion to our debt is what precipitated is what caused the inflation. Nikki Haley agreed with that as well. And the reckless printing of money. What do you think happens when Biden takes over in 2021? Don't you realize that's the fallout from Donald Trump? Then Biden's got to fix it. So he fixes it, it goes lower. And now Trump wants to do this right here.

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[Political Commentator]

And by the way, as I said, you go from Florida, how about we go to Nebraska and see what's going on there? Where in Nebraska you have people who are terrified as well and they're saying, look, you're going to cause us a huge, huge problem here. Um, here's what they're saying over there in Nebraska. Um, here's the article.

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[Political Commentator]

Um, Immigrants drive Nebraska's economy Trump's mass deportation pledge is a threat. It goes every so often. Al Junkie, executive director of the Nebraska Pork Producers, says he'll get a phone call from one of his farmers about how to solve Nebraska's severe labor shortage. It's got it goes something like this, Al. I got a giant idea. I got a great idea. Why don't we invite any immigrants? Legal, illegal, I don't care. Invite them to Nebraska because we have lots of openings out on our farms and we need help. Junkie smiles warily as he tells the story. Nebraska is one of the top meat producers in the U.S. it also has one of the worst labor shortages in the country. For every 100 jobs, there were only 39 workers, according to the US Chamber of Congress. Last January, the state's economic chamber released a report saying Nebraska had no choice but to welcome immigrants. To address the workforce gap. Nebraska might need immigrants, but it also voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump, who's threatened to carry out mass deportations of people.

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[Political Commentator]

Junkie says attracting workers to Nebraska is not about wages. The average pay for a meat trimmer is close to $18 an hour, well above the state minimum of $13.50. These are good paying jobs and plants. People say, well, just double or triple the pay and you'll get United States citizens to work. No, you won't. United States citizens are not working on those jobs. They're not picking the crops. They're not working some of those jobs in construction that you see. They're not working in the landscaping jobs. Even if you open it up, the Americans are not taking those jobs. That is a major problem here. And you know, when you think about what was going on in Springfield, Ohio for as well that Donald Trump and J.D. vance demonize, the Haitians are eating your dogs and cats. The Haitian community there revitalized the town of Springfield because they took the jobs that the Americans refused to take. They were working super hard in the factories. And even in Springfield, Ohio, as we go to this various red states that are in the find out stage now, you have the Haitian community there, like, should we go in hiding? Clearly they're going to target Springfield, Ohio. And then the factory bosses, the Americans who were there, who employed the Haitians, who were there on legal status, they voted for Trump. Damari voted for Trump. These Nebraska people voted for Trump. And then afterwards they're like, well, we actually, you know, let's be real here. We need this labor and you're going to, you know, deport it. You're going to go after our jobs. We support some of your rhetoric, but when it comes to our businesses, you're going to kill and destroy our businesses. I, I wanted to show you this too, because this baffles me. I just went back through the archives. I looked up about, you know, Damari, and I saw there was this. He, he was interviewed CBS back in 2020, in April 2020, where he was talking about how there was so much supply of tomatoes that he had and he couldn't find a market for it. That was during the kind of the heart of COVID And so it's like, you know, Damari, what are you doing? You realize this guy's gonna do this? It's. It just, it doesn't make any sense to me at all. Just watch this clip from CBS and you can see it for yourself. Let's play it.

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[Political Commentator]

A month early, leaving, leaving nearly 10.

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Million pounds of tomatoes to go unharvested.

[Political Commentator]

The clock is ticking and every day that goes by is another box of tomatoes left in the field to rot. Yeah, and while, and while all of that is happening as well, you then also have all of these red states where people over way more people in the red states are on food stamps, government assistance, their health insurance is entirely tied to the Affordable Care act and they're voting against their own interests. Right at the same time President Biden on Friday, as his kind of parting gift, talked about lowering more prescription drug prices for Medicare. You've got Donald Trump doing, doing all of this. So look, I don't, I hate the I don't take pleasure in the find out stage. I don't like American suffering. I don't want these businesses to get hit hard. I want people to prosper. I want Damari to do, I want these people to do well even if they voted for someone who I don't want them to vote for. I don't wish ill will on Americans at all. It's just we're in the find out stage. Anyway. Hit subscribe Help us get to 4 million subscribers.

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