In short
The MeidasTouch Podcast - Episode Summary: All Hell Breaks Loose as Trump Gets Checkmated in War
Episode Overview In this episode of the MeidasTouch Podcast, Ben Meiselas discusses the ongoing challenges and chaotic developments in Donald Trump's foreign policy, particularly concerning the U.S. military involvement in Iran. The episode is marked by a critical analysis of Trump's leadership and the implications of his actions on global politics, especially in relation to China, Russia, and Middle Eastern nations.
Key Themes and Discussions
1. Trump’s Weakness in Foreign Policy
- Ongoing War with Iran: Trump is depicted as being outmatched in the war against Iran, with no clear plan and exhibiting weakness in his responses.
- Perception of Weakness: Ben highlights how Trump's recent actions have led world leaders, particularly Xi Jinping of China, to see the U.S. as vulnerable. China is reportedly studying the conflict to identify U.S. weaknesses.
2. Escalation of Conflict
- Iran’s Retaliatory Actions: Discussion of Iran's aggressive response following U.S. military actions, including strikes on Saudi Arabia and Qatar's energy facilities.
- Implications for Allies: Ben argues that Trump's decisions have not only jeopardized U.S. interests but have also made allies feel vulnerable, as noted by Japan's response to rising gas prices and shortages.
3. Global Repercussions
- Russia's Influence: The episode discusses Russia's increasing presence in Cuba, suggesting a revival of Cold War dynamics, and how Trump's policies have inadvertently benefited Russia.
- Economic Consequences: Ben draws parallels between the current geopolitical situation and past crises, stressing that Trump's actions risk creating economic turmoil similar to earlier oil crises.
4. Critique of Military Strategy
- Ground Invasions Considered: Ben notes that Trump is contemplating a ground invasion of Iran, which raises concerns about the potential for escalating military conflict.
- Questioning Motives: The podcast questions whether it is appropriate for the U.S. to pursue regime change in countries with problematic governments while domestic issues remain unresolved.
5. The Role of International Diplomacy
- Failed Negotiations: Discussion of the breakdown of potential diplomatic agreements with Iran due to Trump's influence, and the resultant strengthening of hardliners within the Iranian government.
- Calls for Peaceful Solutions: The Oman foreign minister's perspective is presented, advocating for dialogue rather than military action, emphasizing that war only exacerbates tensions.
Key Takeaways
- Trump’s Incompetence: The episode presents a strong critique of Trump's foreign policies, highlighting his lack of strategic foresight and the negative consequences of his decisions.
- Global Instability: The current geopolitical landscape is described as increasingly precarious, with Trump's actions leading to instability not only in the Middle East but also affecting global alliances.
- Need for Diplomatic Engagement: The discussion emphasizes the importance of returning to diplomatic negotiations to resolve conflicts rather than engaging in military action.
Conclusion In this episode, the Meiselas brothers deliver a potent critique of Donald Trump's handling of foreign affairs, particularly in relation to the ongoing war with Iran. Through a mix of humor and serious analysis, they highlight the broader implications of Trump's foreign policy decisions for the United States and the world. The podcast serves as a call to action for a reevaluation of U.S. military involvement abroad and a push towards meaningful diplomatic efforts.
For more insights and updates, listeners are encouraged to subscribe to the MeidasTouch Podcast and explore related shows within the MeidasTouch Network.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOTrump's Weakness in Global Politics
1:49 to 2:50
Discussing Trump's perceived weaknesses in foreign affairs, especially with China and Iran.
“The entire world is seeing Donald Trump for how weak he is in China.”
Oil Crisis and International Relations
2:50 to 4:41
Exploring the impact of rising oil prices and its connection to geopolitical tensions.
“And then Donald Trump blinks and Trump's like, oh, I didn't mean that.”
Global Responses to Oil Shortages
4:41 to 7:49
Examining how various countries are reacting to oil shortages and price hikes.
“Cuban Missile Crisis, wasn't that a big deal?”
Diplomatic Failures and Military Aggression
10:32 to 14:00
Discussing the implications of Trump's foreign policy decisions and their impact on global diplomacy.
“Oman's foreign minister, Badr al-Busaydi, he was the guy who was the main mediator between the United States and Iran in late February on that day where there was a major breakthrough in mediated discussions, right?”
The Complex Landscape of Iran and America's Role
14:00 to 20:05
Explore the challenges and implications of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, particularly regarding Iran.
“They're going to lash out for survival against the other Arab nations.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00FanDuel is dropping bonus bets into everyone's account for the tournament. All you have to do is opt in to claim your bonus. But don't wait. These bonus bets are only available for a limited time. FanDuel. Play your game. 21 plus and present in select states. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. Max bonus$500 unless otherwise specified. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Whether you're solving murders during breakfast, cracking cold cases on your commute, or playing amateur detective at bedtime, Amazon Music's got millions of podcast episodes waiting.
0:41Just download the Amazon Music app and start listening to your favorite true crime podcasts ad-free, included with Prime. My name is Mackenzie, and I started a GoFundMe for the adoptive mother of a nonverbal autistic child. the mother had lost her job because she wasn't able to find adequate care for this autistic child. So she really needed some help with living expenses, paying some back bills. So I launched a GoFundMe to help support them during this crisis. And we raised about$10 ,000 within just a couple of months. I think that the surprising thing was by telling a clear story and just like really being very clear about what we needed.
1:28We had some really generous donations from people who were really moved by the situation that this family was struggling with. GoFundMe is the world's number one fundraising platform trusted by over 200 million people. Start your GoFundMe today at GoFundMe.com. That's GoFundMe.com. GoFundMe.com. This podcast is supported by GoFundMe.
1:48Ben Meiselas:All hell is breaking loose as Donald Trump cracks under pressure during his disastrous war. The entire world is seeing Donald Trump for how weak he is in China. It's being reported by Bloomberg that Xi Jinping has closely studied Donald Trump and the U.S. war with Iran to learn about the United States' weaknesses, especially as China eyes Taiwan. Officials are saying that China sees a huge advantage right now as the United States shifts its attention and military away from Asia into the Middle East, where Donald Trump has started this never-ending war with Iran, where Iran has showed escalation dominance over Donald Trump.
2:40Ben Meiselas:Trump and Netanyahu attacked the South Par's energy facility in Iran. Iran retaliates against Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Iran retaliates against the Ras Lofin Northern liquefied natural gas facilities in Qatar. And then Donald Trump blinks and Trump's like, oh, I didn't mean that. It was actually Netanyahu who did it. I didn't do anything. Please stop around, be nice to Qatar. And if you're not nice, I'm going to do some really mean things to you. Let's talk about what's going on in Japan right now. If you go to a gas station in Japan, you'll probably see something like this. Look at this gas station.
3:21Ben Meiselas:It says, sorry, out of gasoline because of Donald Trump. This is not photoshopped. That is a real photo. And meanwhile, Prime Minister Takaisi of Japan says that starting today, that they will be providing subsidies to keep the retail price of gasoline at around 170 yen per liter on the national average. Doesn't this remind you of when COVID started out in Asia and then started spreading to the rest of the world, these gas shortages. And I know it's very bad in the United States. I mean, we know how expensive right now gasoline is like the biggest sudden rise in history. But this is going to start to spread from Asia and it's going to head to the United States where soon there's either not going to be enough gasoline, there's going to be shortages, or people are just going to literally not be able to.
4:15Ben Meiselas:I know right now it's unaffordable, but soon it's just going to be non-existent. Prime Minister Takeishi talks about emergency measures that they are taking there. Meanwhile, as Donald Trump shows utter weakness, Russia is heading into Cuba. Let me repeat that. Russia is heading into Cuba. And if you're saying, hey, you mean like Cuban Missile Crisis, wasn't that a big deal? Well, once upon a time, the United States stood up to Russia. Now Donald Trump removes oil sanctions from Russia, allows Russia to make huge profits. While Donald Trump is, what, the latest number? Donald Trump's going to want about$200 billion more in a military supplemental.
5:07Ben Meiselas:So as the American people are suffering, Russia is the main beneficiary of this war in Iran, and Russia is heading to Cuba. Two Russian ships carrying oil and gas are on their way to Cuba, despite U.S. pressure and sanctions under Donald Trump. I guess the pressure don't apply to Donald Trump's buddy Putin. The shipments come as Cuba faces a severe energy crisis highlighted by a recent nationwide blackout and months without fuel deliveries. Clash report explains the from Financial Times. The extra supply could help ease shortages that have disrupted hospital hospitals, transport and daily life.
5:50Ben Meiselas:Two shipments of Russian oil and gas head to Cuba in defiance of the U.S. They see you as weak, Donald. They see that you blink. You went in with Netanyahu, blew up the South Pars facility in Iran. Iran blew up the facilities in Riyadh and in Qatar. And then you said, oopsie, we're not going to do this again. They see you blink. China right now, they're bringing their ships up the Strait of Hormuz. You do realize that, idiot Donald, right? That they're bringing up their ships to the Strait of Hormuz. They're traveling right around the coast. Iran's letting them go through, um, while China and Russia are helping out Iran with weapons.
6:33Ben Meiselas:Like you do realize that like Iran is now getting parts for more Shahid drones from Russia after Iran was providing Russia with Shahid drones. And you are allowing Russia to make more money to help Iran kill Americans and target Americans. But you know, Donald, that's just, you do you, you take a look. But by the way, so that was your plan in Cuba. Your plan in Cuba was to allow Putin to have more influence there. And by the way, if you think that your buddy Delcy Rodriguez and the Chavistas who are still running Venezuela, if you think that behind your back, you weak, pathetic loser, that they're not talking to Putin, of course, Delcy's talking to Putin.
7:15Of course, she's talking to Xi Jinping and they're all laughing in your face, Donald. By the way, you have Japan and South Korea tapping into their stockpiles.
7:28Ben Meiselas:Southeast Asian countries, as Dropside explains, very much exposed right now. Thailand has banned most oil exports, imposing price controls. It's urging remote work and reduced travel. It's like in Asia right now, remote work, reduced travel. That's why I said this is very reminiscent. I mean, it's its own crisis, obviously. It's not a pandemic with the actual virus, but it's a Trump virus right now that's spreading. As you know, the price per barrel of oil over$110 right now. Take a look at what's going on in Germany. Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Iran. Washington did not consult us and did not declare European aid to be necessary.
8:14Ben Meiselas:The Chancellor of Germany said quite the contrary. Donald Trump said, we don't want your help. We don't need you. Go away. Okay. We would have, and then Germany Chancellor, we would have advised against following this path in the way it is currently being followed. Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, had Zelensky over and he said, I want to be clear, while Donald Trump is out there betraying you, we will not forget. Spain, Europe, we will not forget what Ukraine is doing. We won't let this distract us. I thought that was a powerful message right there from Pedro Sanchez. When it comes to dog food, sometimes it feels like you have to choose.
8:56You either get something fresh and healthy or something that's easy to store and serve, but not both. That's exactly why I want to tell you about Sundays. Sundaes was founded by a veterinarian and mom, Dr. Tori Waxman, who got tired of seeing so-called premium dog food packed with fillers and synthetic ingredients. So she created Sundaes, air-dried, real food made in a human-grade kitchen with the same care that you would use for your own meals. Every bite is made from real meat, fruits, and vegetables. No kibble, no weird ingredients you can't pronounce, and absolutely no fillers. In fact, Sundaes invests 50 times more in its ingredients compared to typical dog food brands, because your dog deserves real quality, not cost-cutting.
9:41And here's what I love most. It's incredibly easy. You just scoop and serve. No freezer, no thawing, no prep, no mess. For me, I think about how I feed myself and the people I love. I want real, clean, high-quality food. Why wouldn't I want the same for my dog? And since switching, I've noticed better energy, a healthier coat, and just an overall happier pup. You can really see the difference. Make the switch to Sundays. Go right now to sundaysfordogs.com slash Midas50 and get 50 % off your first order. Or you could use code Midas50 at checkout. That's 50 % off your first order at sundaysfordogs.com slash Midas50.
10:22sundaysfordogs.com slash Midas50 or use code Midas50 at checkout. That's M-E-I-D-A-S-5-0.
10:32Ben Meiselas:I want to share this with you as well. Oman's foreign minister, Badr al-Busaydi, he was the guy who was the main mediator between the United States and Iran in late February on that day where there was a major breakthrough in mediated discussions, right? You had the national security advisor from the UK was in the room as well. Everybody believed that there was basically a deal that was reached between the United States and Iran, basically pretty close to a deal in principle where Iran would agree no enrichment of their, of any future ability to build a nuclear weapon, very strong protocols. Iran basically agreed to everything.
11:21Ben Meiselas:And look, Whitcoff and Kushner, who were the main negotiators for the United States, as Oman's foreign minister explained, and as UK's national security advisor explained, they were basically proxies of Netanyahu. They didn't know what they were doing. They were there. They were joking about the Florence Schein, whatever they call those shoes that Donald Trump buys his staff members. Like Trump guesses your shoe size and he buys you these like weird shoes and he makes you wear them even if they don't fit you. So like apparently Whitcoff and Kushner were showing off their shoes to the Iranian negotiators while the Oman foreign minister, the UK national security advisor and others were doing the hard work.
12:06Ben Meiselas:But whatever, they got a deal in principle that would have been very good for the United States and the world. And then that night, Netanyahu said, OK, we got to invade Donald. You join me because if you don't, they're going to attack you. And Trump's like, bet I'm going to do it. So here's what the foreign minister of Oman told The Economist yesterday. Iran's retaliation against what it claims are American targets on the territory of its neighbors was an inevitable, if deeply regrettable and completely unacceptable result. Faced with what both Israel and America described as a war designed to terminate the Islamic Republic, this was probably the only rational option available to the Iranian leadership.
12:50Ben Meiselas:The effects of this retaliation are felt most acutely on the southern side of the Gulf, where Arab countries that had placed their trust and American security cooperation now experience that cooperation as an acute vulnerability, threatening their present security and future prosperity. For Gulf states, an economic model in which global sport, tourism, aviation, and technology were to play an important role is now in danger. Plans to become a global hub for data centers may need to be revised. In other words, Donald Trump just turned your Arab nations into his Atlantic City casinos. Literally, he did what he did with the Atlantic City casinos to your nations.
13:38By the way, look what he's doing to Vegas as well as Trump is crippling the tourism industry in the United States. By the way, the guy who I just read, Oman's foreign minister, he was the mediator. He was who the United States picked. And Oman has been hit by Iranian drones. And he's saying, I get it. What do you think? What do you think they're going to do if you threaten to decapitate the regime? They're going to lash out for survival against the other Arab nations. That's why we tried to do a peace deal.
14:10Ben Meiselas:He writes, and this is what the Oman foreign minister wrote in The Economist, this is an uncomfortable truth to tell because it involves indicating the extent to which America has lost control of its own foreign policy, but it must be told. And he says, while it will be difficult for Iran to return to dialogue, he goes, that's the only way this resolves. It's not going to be resolved through war, but he goes, how can Iran return to dialogue with an administration that twice switched abruptly from talks to bombing and assassination? So even if you wanted to negotiate with the Trump regime. How do you do it when the Trump regime will use the negotiation to literally try to kill you in a negotiation?
15:00He says that America's friends have a responsibility
15:03Ben Meiselas:to tell the truth. There are two parties to this war who have nothing to gain from it, he says. In his view, this is what the Oman foreign minister says. This was the doing of Israel's leadership who persuaded America that Iran had been so weakened by sanctions, internal divisions, and the American-Israeli bombings of its nuclear sites last June that an unconditional surrender would swiftly follow the initial assault and the assassination of the supreme leader. But that's not what happened. And every day the US and Israel make this thing worse. I just want to be very clear. Look, Iran, the Islamic Republic led by the Ayatollah is a terroristic regime and they are very bad, very bad actors.
15:53I'm not like saying that they're not, they're very bad actors. But the question is, should we be involved in regime change?
16:02Ben Meiselas:Should we be involved in endless wars just because there are regimes that are bad? Is it our job in the United States while we have Americans suffering, while Americans are of healthcare while Americans can't afford things. Is that what you're going to do? And by doing that, you're making it worse because you're not doing it with any level of understanding of the region. Let's give you an example. Ali Larajani, their national security advisor, was killed two days ago by Israel, right? And Israel's like, we got him. We got Larajani. He's the bad guy. Okay. He's a bad guy, but guess who takes his place?
16:37Saeed Jalil. You want Ali Larajani or Saeed Jalil. Okay. Saeed Jalil, 10 times more extreme than Larajani. The same way you get rid of Ayatollah Khomeini, you get Mojaba Khomeini. You get his son, a more extreme version of him. Iran's leadership is such that they have three to seven people ready to fill any one position. One person gets killed, another person moves in, and usually someone more extreme than And the next, so you've killed Lara Johnny, who was probably one of your last hopes at negotiating. And you bring in possibly Salil Saeed Jalili. Now it's going to be up to Pazeshki and the president of Iran to make that selection.
17:22But lots of people say it's people like Saeed Jalili who are going to be picked. And that is bad. That's bad news for the United States right now.
17:34Ben Meiselas:What else we got while we're on the topic? you have the United States talking about bringing in thousands of more troops, thousands, they're saying. They already brought in 5 ,000 troops, this Marine Expeditionary Unit that's on their way, heading from Japan, again, leaving Asia very vulnerable, right? And then thousands of more troops because Donald Trump is seriously contemplating a ground invasion now of Iran, not just the Strait of Hormuz, but the coastline of Iran. And here's the thing, here's the thing. Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth, this whole crew, they're a bunch of idiots. And I'm saying this, I'm not saying this to be like immature, like they're not intelligent people.
18:24Like these are actual losers who can be easily outmaneuvered. They don't plan, they don't think, they don't know facts and the whole, and I'm showing you that the whole world sees it. Look at the mushroom clouds in Saudi Arabia.
18:37Ben Meiselas:Look at the mushroom clouds in Qatar. Look at what's happening. And Donald Trump's response is to act like, oh, we didn't do, we didn't have anything to do with the Iranian South Park strike. Yes, you did. Of course you did. It was, it was you. We know what happened. And then Donald Trump posting US allies need to get a grip, step up and help us in the straight different ways. Who wants to help you? While you also say you're not afraid of a Vietnam style ground combat in Iran, you dodged the draft in Vietnam. All hell is breaking loose across the world right now. Donald Trump's so utterly pathetic.
19:20Ben Meiselas:Tell me what you think. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 7 million subscribers. Thanks everybody for watching. Want to stay plugged in? Become a subscriber to our sub stack at MidasPlus.com. You'll get daily recaps from Ron Filipkowski, ad-free episodes of our podcast, and more exclusive content only available at MidasPlus.com.
19:41It's tax season and at LifeLock, we know you're tired of numbers, but here's a big one you need to hear. Billions. That's the amount of money and refunds the IRS has flagged for possible identity fraud. Now here's another big number, 100 million. That's how many data points LifeLock monitors every second. If your identity is stolen, we'll fix it guaranteed. One last big number, save up to 40 % your first year. Visit LifeLock.com slash podcast for the threats you can't control. Terms apply. Jackson Hewitt will do your taxes for$149 or less, no matter how complicated. So if you're a delivery driver, slash handyman, slash wedding DJ.
20:22You pay only$149 or less. We're talking to you, waitress. Check, please. Slash pet sitter. Slash influencer. Just$149 or less. Want your refund to work as hard as you? Hurry. Don't wait. File with Jackson Hewitt today. Limited time offer for new clients on federal returns. Participating locations only. Terms at jacksonhewitt.com slash 149.
From the publisher
MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on all hell breaking loose as Trump’s terrible war against Iran rages on and Trump has no plan and is getting completely outmatched in the war.
Get 50% OFF your first order of Sundays. Go to https://sundaysfordogs.com/MEIDAS50 or use code: MEIDAS50 at checkout.
Visit https://meidasplus.com for more!
Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts:
MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast
Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af
MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial
The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast
Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum with Dr. Steve Hassan: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan
The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show
The Ken Harbaugh Show: https://meidasnews.com/tag/the-ken-harbaugh-show
Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54
On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman
Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
