Podcast Summary: The MeidasTouch Podcast
Episode: Trump’s Worst Fear Hits with Surprise Counter-Attack
Date: August 27, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Overview
This episode revolves around California Governor Gavin Newsom’s sharp, comedic, and relentless social media campaign against Donald Trump, in what the hosts describe as Trump’s “worst nightmare.” The Meiselas brothers break down Newsom's mockery of Trump, discuss the broader implications for the political landscape, and showcase how Newsom's bold tactics highlight the absurdity within current right-wing discourse. The show artfully mixes in their signature banter with a strong defense of democratic values and fact-based counter-narratives to MAGA talking points.
Main Themes and Discussion Points
1. Gavin Newsom’s Tactical Mockery of Trump and MAGA
Timestamps: 00:28–07:00
- Newsom’s Social Media Attacks: The brothers detail how Newsom has been mocking Trump with playful jabs and strategic reposts, often referring to Trump as “tiny hands” and “little hands.”
- Quote (Ben): “California Governor Gavin Newsom is leading the way with posts like this. Calling Donald Trump tiny hands, little hands…” (00:28)
- Cracker Barrel Logo Controversy:
- Newsom ironically claims credit for Cracker Barrel reversing a logo change after MAGA outcry, mocking the right’s fixation on culture war topics.
- Quote (Ben, reading Newsom): “The new [Cracker Barrel logo] looks like cheap Velveeta cheese from Walmart… Woke is dead. Thank you for your attention to this matter.” (02:41)
- MAGA Response: Far-right influencers react emotionally to Newsom’s trolling, but fail to realize he’s mocking them.
- Quote (Ben): “And the funny thing is that all of the MAGA influencers are like losing their minds that Governor Newsom is mocking Donald Trump like they still don’t get it.” (03:30)
- Fox News/Sean Hannity Satire:
- Newsom posts AI-generated content and fake testimonials (including a manipulated Hannity clip) to further ridicule Fox’s coverage and Trump’s leadership style.
- Quote (Ben, channeling Newsom): “Only I can change hearts, minds and Fox’s awful ratings and honor GCN.” (03:58)
2. Trump’s Policy Moves and Newsom’s Counterpunches
Timestamps: 04:13–11:38
- Authoritarian Echoes:
- The brothers discuss Trump orders to put his image on government buildings and the administration’s intent to take stakes in major companies, drawing sarcastic parallels with North Korean leaders.
- Quote (Ben): “Donald Trump’s been putting massive banners with his face on it over government buildings—Kim Jong Un style.” (04:13)
- Personal Attacks Exposed:
- Trump’s critique of Newsom’s appearance and “strange hand action” elicits a savage comeback from Newsom, who publicly speculates about Trump’s health (notably his hands and legs).
- Quote (Ben): “You really want to have the conversation about hands? Donald Trump’s hand is literally decomposing…” (05:30)
- Mike Pence Alignment:
- Newsom “hates to say it” but agrees with Pence on the economic harm caused by Trump’s tariffs, highlighting pragmatic bipartisanship for effect.
3. Dissecting Trump’s “Dementia-Laden” Statements and Policy Failures
Timestamps: 08:29–11:38
- Trump’s California Fire Narrative:
- Trump falsely claims to have fixed wildfires by manipulating water valves connected to Canada—Newsom satirizes this delusion with AI images and pointed commentary.
- Quote (Donald Trump, played by Ben): “They turn a valve and the valve heads out and we turn the valve back… Turned the rest of the water on.” (11:06)
- Newsom queries AI (Grok) to confirm that repetition of falsehoods is a sign of dementia, overtly casting doubt on Trump’s mental fitness.
- Quote (Ben): “So Governor Newsom posts do he asks Grok, which is like the AI software for X… do people with dementia repeat, repeat false things over and over again? Yes…” (10:34)
- Media’s Role:
- Newsom and the brothers critique Fox News for focusing on manufactured culture-war outrage rather than real issues like economic and health policy.
4. State Facts: Blue States vs. Red States
Timestamps: 11:38–16:01
- Economic Contributions and Crime Rates:
- Newsom posts data showing blue states, especially California, as federal funders, while red states rely on subsidies. He debunks right-wing myths about California’s dysfunction.
- Quote (Ben): “Blue states are giver states. Red states, by and large, are taker states. Red states are bankrupt and don’t exist without being subsidized by the blue.” (13:25)
- Los Angeles and California’s GDP and contributions highlighted as a counter to conservative media narratives on blue state decline.
- Red State Crime:
- Newsom posts statistics on higher murder rates in red states like Arkansas and Louisiana compared to California, exposing media double standards.
- Quote (Ben): “Arkansas’s murder rate is 2.6 times higher than San Francisco’s. Why won’t Fox report that?” (14:10)
- Broader Accomplishments:
- Newsom asserts California’s leadership in economy, education, tech, and agriculture, challenging Republican attacks.
- Quote (Ben, channeling Newsom): “California is the fourth largest economy in the world. Number one in manufacturing, number one in farming, number one in new business startups…” (15:30)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Newsom’s Ruthlessness:
- "That’s how you have to do it right now. Those are the rules. The rules are there are no rules. Attack. Attack. Attack." (Ben, 15:50)
- Satirical AI Use:
- “Governor Newsom then posts this AI image of Donald Trump in a Soviet uniform.” (04:13)
- Mocking the Manufactured Outrage:
- “They’re like Sydney Sweeney’s hotel, and she’s wearing jeans… And Democrats hate the fact that she’s in jeans because Democrats are woke.” (Ben, 03:00)
- Calling Out Trump’s Delusions:
- “Trump says he turned on a valve in Northern California which is connected to Canada… California doesn’t border Canada.” (Ben, 10:10)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:28 – Newsom’s trolling of Trump on “tiny hands” and Cracker Barrel
- 03:30 – MAGA influencer reactions and more Newsom satire
- 04:13 – Authoritarian imagery, AI memes, and Fox News parody
- 05:30 – Newsom fires back at Trump’s personal attacks
- 08:29 – Trump’s “dementia-laden” statements about California water
- 11:38 – Newsom’s facts on blue states being economic backbones
- 14:10 – Crime statistics and red/blue state comparisons
- 15:30 – California’s leadership in various sectors
- 15:50 – Closing rally for aggressive push-back against MAGA
Tone and Language
The episode is brisk, humorous, and unfiltered, mirroring the combative yet witty tone of the Meiselas brothers and the content they feature. They incorporate a mix of sarcasm, clear factual rebuttals, and direct quotes, emphasizing the absurdity of current far-right narratives while celebrating Newsom’s boldness.
Conclusion
In this episode, The MeidasTouch brothers present Gavin Newsom as both a defender of democracy and a master of roasting Trump and the MAGA movement. By combining real data with satirical and visual media, Newsom—and by extension, the podcast—turn the tables on conservative misinformation campaigns. The message: it’s time to drop the gloves and play offense, using facts, humor, and relentless exposure.