The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Trump’s Health Deteriorates as Urgent Warning Surfaces
Date: December 29, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Meiselas brothers dive into urgent concerns about Donald Trump’s apparent health decline, with special focus on recent public appearances, cognitive and physical symptoms, and mounting speculation about potential neurological issues. The brothers dissect media coverage, medical opinions, and family commentary, drawing connections between Trump’s family history, current behavior, and wider political risks. The conversation is rich with their signature banter, deep news analysis, and passionate advocacy for transparency in leadership.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Visible Decline in Trump's Health

Timestamps: 00:18–04:47

• The hosts observe Trump’s recent press appearance with Ukrainian President Zelensky, highlighting his apparent cognitive confusion and physical changes.
• Both of Trump’s hands were visibly discolored—with apparent attempts to cover with makeup—raising questions about IV infusion sites and possible underlying treatments.
• Speculation from online observers and experts points to repeated needle marks and “small holes” at the discolored sites, supporting theories about ongoing health infusions.

Quote:

• “It's really not looking good for Donald. He's deteriorating before our eyes... Both of his hands looked like they were discolored and he was trying to hide both of them, but he couldn't hide both of his hands.” — (Host, 00:18)

2. Speculation About Alzheimer’s Treatments

Timestamps: 01:38–05:47

• The brothers discuss Representative Kalmigerdove’s opinion that Trump may be receiving Leqembi—an Alzheimer’s drug delivered via infusion in the hand—due to its side effects and the pattern of his visible injuries.
• Debate over Trump’s claim of undergoing a “preventative abdominal MRI,” which the hosts and medical professionals refute as not standard medical practice—suggesting possible concealment of neurological testing.
• Trump’s father, Fred, suffered from rapid-onset Alzheimer’s, with the family building controlled environments to cope, highlighting genetic and familial risks.

Quote:

• “The Alzheimer's drug Leqembi is administered through an infusion, for example, through the hand. It can cause swelling, bleeding or fluid leakage in the brain requiring regular MRIs... Donald Trump's excuse about getting an abdominal preventative MRI is BS.” — (Host quoting Rep. Kalmigerdove, 01:50)

3. Expert and Family Perspectives on Trump's Cognitive State

Timestamps: 05:47–08:54

• Audio clips feature Trump’s nephew Fred Trump and psychologist Dr. Mary Trump discussing the family’s history of dementia and cognitive decline.
• Mary Trump underscores growing concerns within the GOP about Donald’s mental and physical health, referencing reports of increased feebleness, public blunders, and bizarre reposts on social media.

Quote:

• “Donald is 79 years old and a deeply unhealthy person. His father had a very serious case of Alzheimer's... Every day, Donald seems increasingly feeble and unable to focus. Even the New York Times is starting to catch on to this.” — Mary Trump (07:21)

4. Evidence of Cognitive Confusion in Live Appearances

Timestamps: 08:54–11:20

• Clips from the Trump–Zelensky press event reveal Trump’s erratic speech patterns, fixations on past issues (e.g., 2020 election, “Russia hoax”), and confusing asides about bribing the press with food.
• The brothers express alarm and ridicule, pointing out the incoherence and the break from normal presidential conduct.

Quote:

• “Would you like to have food? Or do you consider that a bribe and therefore you cannot write honestly or therefore you have to write a bad story?” — Donald Trump (10:33)

5. Analysis of Cognitive Testing and MRI Explanations

Timestamps: 13:15–16:45

• Dr. John Gartner explains the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) and its repetition as indicative of ongoing attempts to monitor, rather than initially diagnose, dementia.
• Dr. Vin Gupta discredits Trump’s claims of “random” abdominal MRIs, explaining that frequent cognitive tests imply a known, monitored neurological problem, not routine health screenings.

Quotes:

• “If you're giving it to him three times, that means you're not assessing dementia. That means you're monitoring dementia... I think they're giving him cognitive tests and MRIs every six months to monitor the progress.” — Dr. John Gartner (13:48)
• “There’s no reason whatsoever... just to limit it to the MRI of the chest and the abdomen. Nonsensical... You’re not repeating the Montreal Cognitive assessment as often as he's claiming to do it, as though that's some sort of flex here.” — Dr. Vin Gupta (14:53)

6. Patterns of Disinhibition and Erratic Behavior

Timestamps: 16:45–19:33

• Trump biographer Michael Wolff and Dr. Gartner highlight Trump’s increasingly disinhibited conduct and social inappropriateness, likening it to dementia patients or uncontrolled alcoholic behavior.
• Susie Wiles, a former White House aide, is quoted as saying Trump was like “dealing with an alcoholic”—though he famously does not drink.

Quote:

• “Susie Wiles might have just as well said it's like dealing with a dementia patient... The aspects of his uninhibited, the uninhibited aspects of his personality... it's like anger or self pity or his other... it is probably closer to that.” — Michael Wolff (18:25)

7. White House Concerns and the "25th Amendment" Code

Timestamps: 19:33–20:20

• Dr. Gartner describes internal White House communication where aides would text “25” as code for invoking the 25th Amendment—removal due to incapacity.
• The brothers emphasize that those closest to Trump appear most aware of his cognitive instability.

Quote:

• “There used to be in his last administration... people would just text to each other, 25. You know that was code for he's at it again, right?... So it was code for he's off the leash again. So the sad thing is the people who are closest to him know better than anybody how disturbed he is.” — Dr. John Gartner (19:41)

8. Escalating Global Risks Due to Trump’s Cognitive State

Timestamps: 20:20–End

• The hosts link Trump’s “deranged” reactions on social media and impulsive decisions—including ordering a military strike in rural Nigeria, apparently based on shaky or confused intelligence—to dangerous escalations with China and heightened world tensions.
• The brothers warn that Trump's health is not only a political concern, but potentially a global security threat, given the ramifications of his recent foreign policy moves.

Quote:

• “You have this deranged, cognitively addled guy, in my opinion, who is creating a situation where all of the preconditions for a world war are, like, right there before our eyes, like, right now. And we need to continue to cover this cognitive meltdown because it's serious, serious stuff.” — (Host, 22:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It's really not looking good for Donald. He's deteriorating before our eyes.” (00:18)
• “Would you like to have food? Or do you consider that a bribe and therefore you cannot write honestly or therefore you have to write a bad story?” — Donald Trump (10:33)
• “If you're giving [the MOCA] to him three times, that means you're not assessing dementia. That means you're monitoring dementia.” – Dr. John Gartner (13:48)
• “There used to be... people would just text to each other, 25. You know that was code for he's at it again, right?” — Dr. John Gartner (19:41)
• “You have this deranged, cognitively addled guy... who is creating a situation where all of the preconditions for a world war are, like, right there before our eyes.” — Host (22:45)

Major Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|------------------------------------------------| | 00:18 | Trump's visible decline, speculation about IVs | | 01:50 | Rep. Kalmigerdove on Leqembi and MRIs | | 05:47 | Trump family on hereditary Alzheimer’s | | 07:21 | Mary Trump on Donald’s cognitive state | | 08:54 | Trump's incoherence at Zelensky press event | | 13:48 | Dr. Gartner on repeated MOCA testing | | 14:53 | Dr. Vin Gupta critiques MRI explanations | | 16:45 | Michael Wolff on disinhibited behavior | | 19:41 | Dr. Gartner describes "25th Amendment" code | | 20:20 | Global security risks due to Trump’s state | | 22:45 | Urgent warning about world war risks |

Tone and Takeaways

Throughout, the Meiselas brothers employ a blend of urgency, concern, and irreverent humor, amplifying the stakes of Trump’s health issues by weaving in familial context, expert opinion, news clips, and punchy banter. Their unapologetic pro-democracy stance frames Trump’s decline as both a medical mystery and an immediate threat to global stability, urging listeners to pay close attention and demand transparency.

For listeners new to the episode, this summary provides a vivid window into a deeply consequential, fast-paced, and darkly comic discussion about Donald Trump's visible health deterioration and the potential dangers it poses for American democracy and world security.