Trump Gets Rude Awakening as Protests Strike Home

24 Aug 2025 · 20 min

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In short

The MeidasTouch Podcast Episode Summary: Trump Gets Rude Awakening as Protests Strike Home

Episode Overview In this episode of *The MeidasTouch Podcast*, hosts Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas discuss significant protests erupting in Washington, D.C. and other locations, spurred by Donald Trump's increasingly desperate actions and militaristic strategies. The podcast blends humor, brotherly banter, and serious political discourse, emphasizing the importance of democracy and civic engagement.

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Key Themes and Discussions

Massive Protests Against Trump

  • Growing Protests:
  • Protests are intensifying in Washington, D.C., particularly against the planned deployment of the National Guard, which locals oppose.
  • 79% of D.C. residents do not wish to have the National Guard in the city.
  • Context of Protests:
  • Ben Meiselas highlights that the protests reflect a broader discontent with Trump's authoritarian tactics.
  • D.C. residents are encouraged to rise up peacefully against Trump's militaristic rule.

Trump's Militarization of the States

  • Plans for Military Deployment:
  • Trump is considering deploying the National Guard to Illinois without any request or justification from state officials.
  • Governor J.B. Pritzker of Illinois emphasizes the absence of any emergency justifying federal military intervention.
  • Fascism Allegations:
  • The podcast frames Trump’s actions as embodying fascist tendencies, with comparisons to military occupations in blue states.
  • The hosts argue that such tactics are politically motivated, aiming to distract from the socioeconomic pain affecting American families.

Health Concerns Surrounding Trump

  • Trump's Health Issues:
  • There are speculations about Trump's health, including concerns about possible heart conditions.
  • Observations about Trump's physical appearance during public appearances raise questions about his well-being.

Cover-Ups and Political Maneuvering

  • Epstein Files and Political Cover-Ups:
  • Discussion of the DOJ's release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, with claims that 97% of the documents were previously disclosed.
  • Congressman Robert Garcia expresses frustration at the perceived lack of transparency and the ongoing cover-up regarding Trump's connections to Epstein.
  • Critique of GOP Responses:
  • The episode critiques the Republican Party's handling of allegations against Trump, including a defense of Trump by GOP members despite serious accusations.

Gavin Newsom vs. Trump

  • Political Banter:
  • California Governor Gavin Newsom is portrayed as a strong critic of Trump, delivering witty retorts and challenges to Trump’s authority.
  • Newsom's comments on Trump reflect a broader political strategy to counter Trump’s narrative and actions.

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Key Takeaways

  • The protests signify a larger movement against perceived authoritarianism in the Trump administration.
  • Trump's potential misuse of military forces raises serious ethical and legal questions.
  • Concerns about Trump's health and transparency reflect deeper issues regarding leadership accountability.
  • The interplay between state and federal powers remains a contentious topic, especially in Democrat-led states facing Trump's interventions.
  • Gavin Newsom’s rising prominence as a vocal opponent of Trump indicates shifting dynamics in political opposition.

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Conclusion This episode of *The MeidasTouch Podcast* encapsulates the urgent social and political climate in America, highlighting ongoing protests, government actions perceived as authoritarian, and the critical need for accountability and civic engagement. The brothers’ unique blend of humor and serious political critique resonates with their audience, fostering a community of engaged citizens ready to advocate for democracy.

For more updates and to catch the live episodes, visit [MeidasTouch](https://www.meidastouch.com).

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Transcript

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0:00Hey, hey, ho, ho, these racist cops have got to go.

0:16The protests in Washington, D.C. continue to grow. They get louder. They get bigger. What I just showed you there is footage from the U Street Corridor in Washington, D.C. as protesters gathered yesterday early evening in order to protest Donald Trump, having the National Guard become an occupying military force in Washington, D.C. Restaurants in D.C. are empty. 79 % of people living in Washington, D.C. do not want the National Guard there. Donald Trump is now planning on sending the National Guard as well as active duty military to the great state of Illinois. He wants to provoke a crisis and an emergency there using an occupying military force and occupying military deployment in Illinois to have kind of permanent military rule over that state.

1:11So we're hearing now from the governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker, who issued the following statement about Donald Trump's potential military deployment in Illinois. I just want to pause there for just a second. We're talking about Donald Trump doing military deployments in states, in the United States of America. I don't want that to be lost on us, what level of fascism we have right now in the United States. Here's what Governor Pritzker just stated. Quote, the state of Illinois at this time has received no requests or outreach from the federal government asking if we need assistance and we have made no requests for federal intervention.

1:54The safety of the people of Illinois is always my top priority. There is no emergency that warrants the president of the United States federalizing the Illinois National Guard, deploying the National Guard from other states, or sending active duty military within our own borders. Donald Trump is attempting to manufacture a crisis, politicize Americans who serve in uniform, and continue abusing his power to distract from the pain he is causing working class families. We will continue to follow the law, stand up for the sovereignty of our state, and protect the people of Illinois. Here's the Washington Post headline, Pentagon Plans Military Deployment in Chicago as Trump Eyes Crackdown.

2:44Even that headline right there kind of embraces the fascism. Crackdown on what? Illinois is fine right now. They have law enforcement in the various cities. It's run by a very competent and popular governor, J.B. Pritzker. a crackdown of what you mean is a fascist occupation of a blue state by Donald Trump as he eyes military style invasions throughout the United States, as he did in Los Angeles, as he's doing in Washington, D.C., as he's doing in Chicago. As our editor-in-chief, Ron Filipkowski, writes about what's taking place in D.C., as we learned during COVID, But, you know, crime tends to go down when nobody leaves their houses and nobody's leaving their houses really when it comes to D.C.

3:33residents going out to restaurants. As Amanda Moore writes, stop to grab dinner in Columbia Heights at Tequila and Mezcal, a place I've been to 100 times. I'm the only person in the bar I've never seen at this empty, even on weekdays near close. Staff confirmed this is not normal. Reporter Eric Michael Garcia writes, just had lunch with a friend here in D.C. and it's hard to state how absolutely nobody is dining outdoors and how empty the restaurant is. Very few people walking on the streets on a gorgeous end of summer day. That's what's happening in the Trump regime in D.C. That's what Donald Trump wants to bring to Illinois.

4:17That's what Donald Trump wants to bring and had brought to Los Angeles. He is literally invading states in the United States of America. We the people will rise up against that. I will say that for sure. If you thought the no kings protest was something, wait till you see what we the people will do peacefully, of course. Peaceful protests, the biggest ever in the history of the United States is coming. Now, Donald Trump at the same time continues to hide his serious health issues. we've been showing you what Donald Trump's hands look like as he tries to cover it up with makeup. As our editor-in-chief Ron Filipkowski writes, Trump played up a nick on his ear like it was a serious combat wound for months, but we're all supposed to just ignore everything going on with his hands and ankles like there's no issue.

5:11From lots of medical people I've talked to, they say it looks like a very serious heart condition. Again, they're just speculating. They're just giving an opinion. They don't know for sure, but it looks like Donald Trump continues to have to go and have blood drawn on his hand as well. And that can explain the discoloration. Now, as Aaron Rupert writes, it's very conspicuous rewatching this bizarre press conference that Donald Trump had the end of last week, trying to hide the back of his right hand from the camera based on everything we now know about his hand condition. Watch as this was the press conference where Donald Trump was bragging that he got a photograph sent to him by Vladimir Putin of the two of them together, where Donald Trump seemed to like almost be like a guy who's in the honeymoon phase of a relationship and saying like, look at me and my girlfriend, look at us together.

6:06But here's Donald Trump trying to hide his hand at that presser. Let's show you this. Let's play this clip. Your project to make it, it'll be great. It'll be fantastic. You see the way this is looking? Look, nice. I can't tell you how much that gold costs. A lot of money. There's nothing like gold and there's nothing like solid gold. But this beautiful office needed it. It had to be representative when we took it over. It was dirty, not clean. I immediately changed the chair and had the this beautiful desk renovated brought out by the White House. People that do this, they did a great job to send it out.

6:42We have a craftsman who's great. But this was not appropriate for the Oval Office, what I took over. And now you look at all those paintings you're allowed to turn back. All of these are great presidents and they were all in the vaults. Now, it's not only his hand that he's trying to hide. Donald Trump continues to try to hide the Epstein files. We've learned that of the 33 ,000 documents the DOJ sent to the House Oversight Committee in response to their subpoena for documents, 97 % of the documents were documents already produced previously in other cases regarding Epstein. In other words, or to quote Democratic Congress member Garcia, now the ranking member of the committee, they produce total and utter bullshit to us as they continue to try to cover up Donald Trump's involvement with Jeffrey Epstein and friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, whatever that may be.

7:37And we know that Donald Trump was all over the Epstein files that have already been released thus far. Congress member Jim Jordan had the following to say on the Ghislaine Maxwell transcripts that were released on Friday as part of the Trump regime's overall cover up plan. This cover-up plan was go after John Bolton, Donald Trump's former national security advisor, on that Friday as a smokescreen, attack him and say that he stole classified information based on a book he wrote in 2020. You try to go after him already in 2020 on that. Then release the Ghislaine Maxwell transcripts, a convicted sex trafficker, and try to normalize her and say that she vindicates you.

8:20Then drop 33 ,000 documents on that Friday or 33 ,000 pages of recycled pages that had already been produced. But according to Jim Jordan, who's made a career out of covering up for people who sexually abuse others, like he did when he was an assistant gym coach, here he is saying, Ghislaine Maxwell, very credible lady, let's believe her. And she says, Donald Trump did nothing. So the Republican party just says, we're the party that just embraces the word of convicted sex traffickers. So utterly despicable here, play this clip. Well, we'll see. What I know is they didn't release parts of the transcript.

8:59They released the whole transcript. And, you know, so you can go through the whole thing. And of course, this confirms what we all knew. If the Democrats, if President Trump had done something wrong, you don't think the Democrats would have released that? I mean, it was their Justice Department who handled all this. You don't think the Garland Justice Department and the Chris Ray FBI would have released everybody. We knew President Trump didn't do anything wrong here. He said that repeatedly. This transcript is the whole transcript and it confirms that. So I think there's nothing there, it seems, based on what we got from the interview of Ms.

9:36Maxwell. And by the way, all of these MAGA media hosts were just having meltdowns yesterday, like Mark Levin, the Fox host right here, who is losing his mind over California Governor Gavin Newsom, strongly pushing back against Donald Trump. Watch as Levin loses it here. Mark Levin, here play this clip. It's really quite simple. And not only is it Donald Trump, his personality, his charisma, it's Donald Trump, the success, success of business, success of politics. He's a massive success. He's a winner. That's what's changing everything. Gavin Newsom is a loser. He's a buffoon. He's a clown. A little dab won't do him.

10:25No. And then Mark Levin says, no, Sam, he's like a Confederate. Here's Mark Levin losing it again. Play this clip. I personally hope he is the nominee. He's such a loser. It's a sanctuary state, California. One of 13, by the way, sanctuary state. I've talked at length about this whole idea of nullification and the neo-Confederacy and that Gavin Newsom is a nullifier and he's a Confederate. Oh, yes, he's a Confederate. Apparently so brilliant are my comments that others are repeating them now. But he's a nullifier and he's a Confederate, a good old Democrat who pretends to be a progressive. I had the opportunity to interview Democratic Congressmember Garcia.

11:10And just so you could hear in his own words what he told me about the Epstein files that were sent by the DOJ, complete and utter BS. Here, let me show you this clip right here. Congressman Robert Garcia, it's great to see you today. I've got to ask you, we know the Department of Justice has turned over some subset of what they're calling the Epstein files based on the subpoena that you pushed forward and you were able to get this subpoena sent to the Department of Justice. So I have to ask you, how many files did you receive? What were in the files that you received? Is the cover up just continuing?

11:51I mean, Ben, what we got was complete bullshit. And we demanded the full Epstein files, and that's not what was sent over. The White House cover-up clearly continues. What they sent us was 33 ,000 pages of essentially documents that have already been in the public domain. And so 97%, 97 % of those 33 ,000 pages are court records, documents, reports that everyone already has, that the public already has and has reviewed. And so instead of actually sending us the client list, information related to Epstein and his crimes, what those who have been involved in the serious, serious damage and harm that he has caused, we didn't get actually any of that.

12:39So that is incredibly concerning for us. The subpoena was to get all the files unredacted at once. They have failed to do so and instead now are playing this game with this limited release of the Epson files, which is a complete joke. And let me just say one more thing. They're now trying to claim somehow that Ghislaine Maxwell is claiming that, oh, no, President Trump wasn't involved. Give me a break. She's a sex trafficker and a known liar. She should not be trusted. And once again, Donald Trump, Pam Bondi, Mike Johnson, they're all involved in a massive cover up. And meanwhile, here's what it looks like in Trump's Gestapo regime as protesters start yelling ISIS here inside metro stations in D.C.

13:27Here's what goes down. Play this clip.

13:51Or take a look at this as ICE is body slamming people onto the ground if you happen to have brown skin. This was someone who was just literally eating crabs in public, got thrown to the ground. Play this clip.

14:13And Donald Trump just continues to reek of desperation. He's been sending emails like this all the time. I don't need help. That's the furthest thing from the truth, unfortunately. His email literally says, I don't need help was the subject line. Then you open it and it goes, that's the furthest thing from the truth. Unfortunately, there's less than 48 hours until my fundraising deadline strikes. Or how about this invitation from Donald Trump? I'm upgrading you to diamond Trump status. Or how about this email from Donald Trump? You just won the gold medal in the Trump world. Or how about this email from Trump?

14:50Holy macaroni, you've just been invited to join the one and only Trump lifetime membership. Or this one from Donald Trump. You've just been awarded the golden Trump award certificate. Or how about this one from Donald Trump? Ben, this is getting sad. I've asked you so many times to complete my official MAGA poll. I'm worried about you. This is the last chance right here. This is the last chance. Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom continues to troll Donald Trump. Gavin Newsom goes, term limits are just suggestions. New mug coming soon to the Patriot Shop. Newsom 2026. Or how about this one?

15:27Gavin Newsom doing an AI version of what the boat parade would look like. Wow. Historic. Thank you, Patriots. Or this photo right here of J.D. Vance, Pete Hegseth, and Stephen Miller. Governor Newsom goes, the three stooges. And finally, Governor Newsom writes, A message to Trump, stop peddling the same lies you used in Los Angeles to infect other cities and states with your authoritarian regime. Stop using our honored military as pawns in your twisted game. Stop the theatrics and attacks on our own citizens. There you have it, folks. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 6 million subscribers.

16:12new updates every single day.

16:42Scoda.

From the publisher

MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on the massive protests growing in Washington DC and elsewhere as Trump gets more desperate and accelerates his disastrous and dangerous plans across the United States.

Visit https://meidasplus.com for more!

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