Whoa! Trump Gets Pummeled as Newsom Strikes Back

Summary

Podcast Summary: The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: “Whoa! Trump Gets Pummeled as Newsom Strikes Back”

Date: October 22, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

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Episode Overview

In this episode, the Meiselas brothers deliver a rapid-fire breakdown of the escalating feud between Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom. The discussion centers on Newsom’s sharp, media-savvy pushback against Trump’s recent actions and rhetoric, particularly regarding the alleged demolition of the White House, nationwide economic challenges, support for American farmers, and Trump's threats of deploying troops to American cities. The brothers blend factual analysis, passionate criticism, and trademark MeidasTouch humor to assess the political and cultural showdown, with Newsom positioned as a leading Democratic voice challenging authoritarian and MAGA-aligned policies.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Newsom’s Direct Confrontation of Trump

• [01:01]
  • Governor Newsom called out Trump for “desecration of the White House,” referencing reports (real and satirical) of "bulldozers" tearing into the East Wing and posted an AI image of Trump on a wrecking ball (alluding to Miley Cyrus’s “Wrecking Ball” music video).
  • Quote: “Governor Newsom calling out Donald Trump for his desecration of the White House…Bulldozing the White House, check.” [01:12]
  • Newsom linked Trump and MAGA Republicans to deprivation of food benefits for Californians due to a government shutdown.

2. Economic Concerns and Beef Prices

• [02:57 – 04:50]
  • The brothers highlight surging grocery and beef prices and Newsom’s critique of Trump’s economic promises versus the reality.
  • Newsom posted a video clip of the iconic “Where’s the beef?” commercial, mocking Trump’s photo-op at McDonald's and his policy stance.
  • Quote: “Beef prices hit record high…It’s a very big fluffy bun…Where’s the beef?” [03:13–03:21]

3. Trump’s Policy on Beef Imports & Impact on Ranchers

• [03:46 – 04:50]
  • Newsom accused Trump of a “scheme” to flood the U.S. market with Argentinian beef, devastating U.S. ranchers as herds reach historic lows, while referencing foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in Argentina.
  • Quote: “Trump’s plan to import Argentine beef…crash ranchers and depress local markets while doing nothing to actually lower the price of groceries.” [04:40]

4. Rapid-Fire Fact-Checking and Social Media Tactics

• [04:53 – 05:03]
  • The brothers note Newsom’s aggressive posting and fact-checking style, unusual in Democratic politics: “That’s how you have to do it…Trump is not used to somebody standing up to him the way Governor Newsom is.” [05:00–05:03]

5. Republican Culture & Response to Extremism

• [06:10 – 06:43]
  • Discussion of the Texas and New York Young Republicans’ support for offensive posts, with Newsom highlighting the party’s slide into extremism.
  • Quote: “It’s that easy. Like they think it’s funny…That’s just who the Republican Party has become today.” [06:43]

6. JD Vance and MAGA Identity Politics

• [08:46 – 09:11]
  • Ben criticizes JD Vance for “changing identities multiple times,” faulting him as a bad role model for young men, accusing the MAGA movement of promoting toxic masculinity and inauthenticity.
  • Quote: “These MAGA men are a bunch of frickin' weirdos saying the weirdest stuff to young men. I’m always going to call that out. Governor Newsom is calling that out too.” [09:01–09:13]

7. Defense of Democracy – “No Kings”

• [09:12 – 10:36]
  • Newsom’s posts emphasize democratic governance against alleged Trump autocracy (“No to kings. Yes to government by and for the people.” [09:49])
  • The brothers discuss the satirical image of Trump demolishing the White House to build a golden ballroom: “Ripping apart the White House just like he’s ripping apart the Constitution.” [10:33]

8. Media Pushback & Fox News Coverage

• [14:14 – 15:53]
  • The brothers play and respond to Fox News clips critiquing Newsom’s tactics. Fox’s Greg Gutfeld characterizes Newsom as an “elite overdog,” while Jessica Tarlov defends Newsom's record, listing California’s economic achievements under his leadership.
  • Quote (Tarlov): “The economy did go from in California…it was the sixth biggest in the world for Gavin Newsom and now it's the fourth biggest, which does seem like a change in the positive direction.” [14:45–15:10]

9. Show of Appreciation for Newsom’s Style

• [05:03, 16:02]
  • The brothers repeatedly celebrate Newsom’s “real-time” fact-checking and willingness to fight back against Trump and his allies, emphasizing a need for Democrats to adopt a more aggressive posture against MAGA misinformation.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On supermarket price shocks:
  “I’m watching the register and I’m like, oh my God, it costs that much…It starts sounding like the hospital. Beep, beep, beep, beep…can I not get that? The cashier says they get that all the time right now.” [05:30–06:06]

• On deploying troops in cities:
  “Deploying troops in our cities with no justification, grounded in reality, no oversight, no accountability, and no respect for state sovereignty is a direct assault [on] the rule of law.” [12:13–12:21]

• On defending democracy:
  “We don’t bow to kings. We defend the Constitution.” [12:27]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:01: Newsom blasts Trump for “desecration” of the White House and posts satirical AI image.
• 02:57: Discussion shifts to economic struggles, grocery and beef prices.
• 03:46: Newsom accuses Trump of policies that would devastate U.S. ranchers.
• 04:53: Highlighting Newsom’s fast-paced social media rebuttals.
• 06:10: Young Republicans’ embrace of extremism and racist rhetoric.
• 08:46: Ben rails against JD Vance’s identity flip-flopping and MAGA “weirdos.”
• 09:49: Newsom’s “No to kings; Yes to democracy” post.
• 10:33: Satirical coverage of Trump ‘demolishing’ the White House.
• 11:14: Newsom fact-checks FBI Deputy Director (and podcaster) Dan Bongino on San Francisco crime stats.
• 12:13: Discussion of Trump threatening troop deployments to San Francisco, Newsom’s pledge to sue.
• 14:14–15:53: Fox News reactions: Gutfeld critiques; Tarlov defends Newsom.

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Tone & Style

• The episode is fast-paced, humorous, and pointedly critical of Trump and MAGA-aligned Republicans.
• The interplay between the brothers adds comedic relief, but the core is a serious, fact-focused defense of democracy, with Newsom’s aggressive counter-messaging heralded as a necessary evolution for Democrats.

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Conclusion

This episode spotlights Governor Gavin Newsom’s front-line defense against what the MeidasTouch brothers frame as anti-democratic and anti-worker Trump policies. The hosts champion Newsom’s willingness to deploy humor, data, and rapid responses to challenge misinformation and political attacks, highlighting a new, bolder template for Democratic leadership.

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(Ads, promos, and non-content were skipped in this summary.)

Transcript

[A]

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[G]

Is getting schooled and smacked down by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who is asserting the moral authority and moral clarity that is so needed right now. Governor Newsom calling out Donald Trump for his desecration of the White House. Governor Newsom says Donald Trump's priorities Bulldozing the White House check reopening the government negative. That's in response to the Washington Post story about how the White House is being absolutely demolished by bulldozers right now. Governor Newsom posts the following thanks to Donald Trump and his MAGA lap dogs in Congress. The government shutdown is going to deprive millions of Californians in need of their November food benefits. It's long past time for the GOP to grow a spine, stand up to Trump and and stop endangering people's lives. Donald Trump and the Maggie Republicans control all branches of government. They refuse to extend the Affordable Care act subsidies and they refuse to protect people's Medicaid and they are shutting the government down to take away the health care of millions of people and also to hide the Epstein files and try not to swear in Adelita Grijalva, who by the way just filed a lawsuit against MAGA Mike Johnson. Governor Newsom then posts the following AI photo of Donald Trump on any literal wrecking ball going into the White House. Even though it's AI, it's not much different from what's actually taking place as Donald Trump literally bulldozes and destroys the entire East Wing of the White House, Governor Newsom writes it's been 12 years, one month and 11 days since Miley Cyrus dropped the music video video for Wrecking Ball. Also as groceries and particularly beef prices hit record highs right now in the United States, remember Donald Trump said on.

[E]

Day one, I'll make things more affordable.

[G]

Things right now are less affordable than they've ever been in history. American families are struggling Governor Newsom posts Beef prices hit record high and Governor Newsom made the following video Play this.

[B]

Clip It's a very big fluffy bun.

[D]

Where's the beef?

[E]

Some hamburger places give you a lot.

[A]

Less beef on a lot of bun.

[E]

Where's the beef?

[G]

In response to Donald Trump's rapid response account called Trump War Room, posting images of Donald Trump serving food at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania, Governor Newsom posted the real photo of what Donald Trump looked like. You see Donald Trump there clearly. You see for yourself the way Donald Trump looks.

[E]

I'll just leave it at that.

[G]

Governor Newsom then post the following Trump's.

[E]

Latest scheme for flood the US Market with Argentinian beef devastate American ranchers fighting.

[G]

For survival as herds hit 75 year lows. Also it should be noted 77American cattle producers a day are going out of business and Donald Trump's response is let's.

[E]

Bail out Argentina and give them $40.

[G]

Billion because they're run by a MAGA puppet, Javier Milei, who Donald Trump wants.

[E]

To push all this money out to to also bail out MAGA investors in.

[G]

Argentina and then also say that we'll.

[E]

Now get our beef from Argentina even.

[G]

Though they're suffering from a massive outbreak of foot and mouth disease there, potentially killing the American people.

[E]

Governor Newsom goes on to say Trump.

[G]

Is propping up foreign producers at the expense of American jobs, families and farms.

[E]

Trump's plan to import Argentine beef has one clear outcome, crash ranchers and depress local markets while doing nothing to actually.

[G]

Lower the price of groceries.

[E]

Governor Newsom then you see it's rapid fire. Post, post, post, post, post. Fact check, fact check, fact check. That's how you have to do it. And Trump is not used to this. He's not used to somebody standing up.

[G]

To him the way Governor Newsom is. Governor Newsom posts the Trump effect and then this Wall Street Journal article.

[E]

Grocery prices keep rising, frustrating consumers. Frustrated consumers are trying to adapt record beef prices and coffee that costs $1 more per pound since may have shoppers.

[G]

Cutting back on some foods and stockpiling others.

[E]

The way I described it. I don't know if you've had this.

[G]

Experience, but like when you go to.

[E]

The register after shopping at the supermarket and they, you know, scan all of.

[G]

The food and it goes beep, beep, beep.

[E]

I'm watching the register and I'm like, oh my God, it costs that much. Oh my God. And then the beep, beep, beep. It starts sounding like the hospital. Beep, beep, beep, beep. Like that's kind of the way it starts to look. And then I'll go and ask the cashier, but can I not get that? And can I not get that? And can I not get that? I'm not sure if you've had the same experience, but the cashier says they get that all the time right now and they'll like have to take back.

[G]

Food because it's just, it's, it's ridiculously expensive right now.

[E]

Governor Newsom posts the following so the young Republicans of Texas are all in in their support of the Young Republicans of New York with those horrifically heinous and racist and misogynistic and those disgusting posts that Politico unearthed. Those, those Texas, I can't even describe how vile it is. And the young Republicans of Texas were asked by someone, have you denounced the.

[G]

Young Republicans exposed by polit? And the Young Republicans of Texas respond, nope. And we're not going to.

[E]

It's that easy. Like they think it's funny to say the type of things that the Young Republicans in New York said. That's just who the Republican Party has become today. Governor Newsom responds. J.D. vance, the Vice president, showed them how it's done and they're taking notes.

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[E]

Of how these MAGA replies like JD Vance is a freaking weirdo. Like, he's a weird guy. He's changed his identities multiple times. He's changed his name three times. First, when he grew up, he said he was a gay man and then he said that he just thought he was gay and he's not gay and he's anti gay and then he said that he was anti Trump and then he's pro Trump and all throughout, then he's like, oh, I'm actually from Appalachia.

[G]

But you're not.

[E]

You were from the suburbs of Cincinnati. Multiple fake identities, like fake personalities. Everything about the guy is fake. And this is the message that they're sending to young men to behave this way. I mean, that's, that's freaking sick. I'm a professor for undergrad and law school when I'm not doing this Midas touch stuff. And I think I make it a point to be a positive role model just out there in general. But like freaking these MAGA men are a bunch of fricking weirdos saying the weirdest stuff to young men. I'm always going to call that out. I don't like that Governor Newsom is calling that. Calling that out too. Just that, that bizarre behavior. Governor Newsom also posts today Californians join millions nationwide. This was right after no Kings to say loud and clear. No to authoritarianism. No to assaulting our democracy. No to censorship and fear. No to hate and division. No to corruption and cruelty. No to kings. Yes to government by and for the people. Governor Newsom responded to our post showing Donald Trump bulldozing the east wing of the White House, demolishing portions of the White House to build a $250 million Golden Ballroom paid for by. We don't even know who right now because there's zero transparency Governor Newsom responds, ripping apart the White House just like.

[G]

He'S ripping apart the Constitution.

[E]

Governor Newsom then posts a photo of what the demolition of the White House looked like as of yesterday. And Newsom goes, donald Trump doesn't want you to see this picture. He's literally destroying the White House. I just want to show you because this is what I've always wanted to see in the Democratic Party in general, just in general fact checking these MAGA idiots in real time. So Governor Newsom posts the following stat after Dan Bongino, the podcaster turned deputy director of the FBI, started talking about, oh, we're going to invade San Francisco. It's the most violent it's ever been. So Governor Newsom post this article from.

[G]

The San Francisco Chronicle.

[E]

San Francisco's homicide rate is on track to be the lowest since the 1950s. So then MAGA Deputy FBI Director Bongino says, you're welcome, Governor. You should know that it's because the president instructed us as soon as we entered on duty to work with state and local law enforcement to crush violent crimes. So we did it. Newsom, that Governor Newsom bam. Instantly fact checks Bongino and says, fact check. Donald Trump wasn't even in office when the crime started hitting historic lows. Podcaster Dan has no idea what's going on. And then Governor Newsom links to the data. San Francisco sees historic drop in violent crime in 2024 in response to the Trump regime and Donald Trump's threats to invade San Francisco with the United States military. As Donald Trump has invaded Chicago and Portland, Governor Newsom says the following. Deploying troops in our cities with no justification, grounded in reality, no oversight, no accountability, and no respect for state sovereignty is a direct assault.

[H]

The rule of law.

[E]

If Donald Trump invades our state again.

[G]

California will sue immediately.

[E]

Governor Newsom further responds to Donald Trump talking about potentially invoking the Insurrection act as a grounds for invading San Francisco. Or Donald Trump just saying, we're going to invade San Francisco there next. Governor Newsom says, sending troops to San Francisco. Do it and we'll sue. We don't bow to kings. We defend the Constitution. Newsom then writes, donald Trump is sending soldiers into American cities. Federal agents are acting on Donald Trump and Stephen Miller's agenda, disappearing loved ones and taking away our due process. Trampling on the rights generations of Americans fought to secure. That's Trump's America. And then in response to Governor Newsom, likely saving people's lives in California by shutting down the i5. Or when it became clear that the Trump regime was lying and that they were actually going to shoot the live munitions over the highway and then into Camp Pendleton. And then we learned that one of those munitions blew up prematurely. Shrapnel went everywhere, all over the highway and fortunately the highway was shut down. Otherwise lots of people could have died. And our editor in chief, Ron Philipkowski goes, shouldn't J.D. vance say thank you to Gavin for saving lives during his TikTok filming session? And they did that in San Diego over the i5 shooting live missiles because JD Vance wanted a frickin TikTok. And then Governor Newsom goes, He's too busy with the couch. He's too busy with the couch. Then I just want to show you this as well because on state regime media, known as Fox, they were absolutely losing it over Governor Newsom pushing back. Here you have Greg Gutfeld attacking Governor Newsom.

[G]

Play this clip.

[H]

You know, I think the part of it is that he wants. He knows he's not getting props for his effectiveness for the things that he's done. So he has to kind of resort to the spotlight chasing. He's pretending that he's like this scrappy underdog, but he really is an elite overdog that hasn't done anything of any difference or value for California. So he has to pick fights and.

[E]

Shout out to Jessica Tarlov on Fox, here's what she had to say about Governor Newsom.

[G]

Here, play this clip.

[D]

Listen, they're just playing around. I think it's totally fine and kind of innocuous at this point. You know, Rogan has pulled a lot of comedians to the Austin area. Some of them don't like it as much as they expected to. Shane Gillis was very funny about it, how he had a blackout for three days and he's like, I left New York City for this. But you know, the economy did go from in California. It was the sixth biggest in the world for Gavin Newsom and now it's the fourth biggest, which does seem like a change in the positive direction. And I can't do the imitation of his voice like Rogan. But yeah, Fortune 500 companies are headquartered there. Is the weather part of it? Sure. Can you get top talent to want to come and live in a lot of these places? In a lot of places across California, Sure. Are there issues? Homelessness, Crime? Yes. Is it getting better? Trending in the right direction? For sure. So I think, you know, Gavin Newsom, you've had him on. He did that debate with Desantis on Sean show. He can defend himself pretty well. People I think underestimate how wonky he is. And he always has a number a stat for it. So you know, if Rogan wants to have the conversation, great.

[E]

There you have it folks. Let me know what you think hit subscribe.

[G]

I want to get to 6 million subscribers and thanks so much and great work to Governor Newsom.

[E]

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