Trump holds DISASTER PRESSER on WH LAWN and RUNS FROM EPSTEIN

What this episode is about

Donald Trump recently held a contentious press conference on the White House lawn where he attempted to shift focus from mounting criticism and the Epstein files by revisiting the controversial idea of acquiring Greenland. Despite facing declining approval ratings and frustrations from the public, Trump accused Democrats of being "radical left lunatics" and defended law enforcement practices, amidst discussions of a looming government shutdown.

Key takeaways

• Trump's approval hits 36%—a potent reminder that even loyalists get tired of reality TV reruns.
• Greenland negotiations are the latest distraction; the real engagement should be with pressing domestic issues.
• Accusing Democrats of lunacy while endorsing Maduro? That's a plot twist even the best screenwriters wouldn't dare.
• Polling shows Republicans are weary of Trump's antics—like binge-watching a series that should've ended seasons ago.
• When government shutdowns loom, talking about balloons feels like using a band-aid on a gushing wound.

Who speaks in this episode?

• Katie Porter (Host) · 5 min speaking

What is discussed, and when

1. 0:00 – 3:00: Donald Trump, Greenland, Epstein file, Attorney General Pam Bondi
2. 3:00 – 6:00: Donald Trump, California, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Katie Porter
3. 6:00 – 9:00: Donald Trump, California, Artificial Intelligence, Governor Nuomo
4. 9:00 – 12:00: California, Donald Trump, Katie Porter, Artificial Intelligence
5. 12:00 – 12:53: Katie Porter, Midas Plus

Notable quotes from "Trump holds DISASTER PRESSER on WH LAWN and RUNS FROM EPSTEIN"

• With the latest poll results from AP Norc showing that Donald Trump's approval is like 36% although it is four points better than JD Vance and the Americans absolutely furious at everything that Donald Trump is doing.

  about Donald Trump · at 0:00

• Referendum. If there's a 30-day ceasefire, Russia refuses to that and kills Ukrainians every day. Then Donald Trump praises the extension of the Maduro regime in Venezuela.…

  about Venezuela · at 2:29

• Whatever. Whatever. People learn. I want to bring in Katie Porter, former congresswoman from California, running for governor of California. I was thinking about you when I watched those clips. I wanted to bring you in.

  about Katie Porter · at 3:57

• Running for governor of California. I note that when we're recording this interview, you have Governor Nuomo right now from California in Munich. kind of serving as a shadow…

  about California · at 5:31

• Vance that's really not in any corner of his administration. And I think that's a big contrast between the Trump one presidency at this point and this Trump presidency. There…

  about J.D. Vance · at 6:46

• Congress. I will continue to do that as governor. But look, our challenges in this country, the rise of AI and the displacement of workers, something you just mentioned, this…

  about Artificial Intelligence · at 9:12

• Our then attorney general Kla Harris, sitting with families across California, helping them figure out if they could hang on to their home and if not, how could they land as…

  about Kamal Harris · at 10:13

• Plugged in? Become a subscriber to our Substack at midasplus.com. You'll get daily recaps from Ron Philipki, ad free episodes of our podcast, and more exclusive content only available at midasplus.com.

  about Midas Plus · at 12:37

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

• Donald Trump — Person · Primary referenced political figure · 12 mentions · first at 0:02
  Central subject of criticism and analysis: polling/approval, Greenland comments, Ukraine remarks, Venezuela stance, and domestic law-enforcement/ICE rhetoric.
• Katie Porter — Person · Main guest · 3 mentions · first at 3:57
  Interviewee discussing Democratic strategy, California governance, and an affordability-focused agenda; contrasts state leadership with Trump-era politics.
• Governor Nuomo — Person · Referenced governor (likely mis-transcription) · 2 mentions · first at 5:34
  Discussed as representing California internationally (Munich/Davos) and contrasting state leadership with Trump; context strongly suggests California Governor Gavin Newsom.
  One of the Brazilian climate change conferences and now in Munich, I support what Governor Nuomo's doing here. I think people are hungry for real leadership. They're hungry for…
• Attorney General Pam Bondi — Person · Referenced witness/official under critique · 3 mentions · first at 0:27
  Cited as giving 'horrible testimony' related to Epstein files; used as an example of accountability/oversight that Porter would challenge.
  Especially, I was thinking about you during the testimony of Pam Bondi and I was All right, I would just wondered if Katie Porter was there with the whiteboard, what that.
• J.D. Vance — Person · Referenced political comparator · 2 mentions · first at 0:03
  Mentioned as having lower approval than Trump and as part of the administration Porter contrasts with prior Trump-era staffing.
• Deli Rodriguez — Person · Referenced Venezuelan political figure (uncertain identity) · 2 mentions · first at 2:38
  Discussed as heading/representing a government the speaker claims is an extension of Maduro's regime; used to argue corruption/foreign policy impropriety.
  Kills Ukrainians every day. Then Donald Trump praises the extension of the Maduro regime in Venezuela. Deli Rodriguez as he throws the pro-democracy opposition under the bus. Let's play it.
• Kamal Harris — Person · Referenced public official (likely mis-transcription) · 1 mention · first at 10:11
  Mentioned as the attorney general Porter worked under running a foreclosure prevention program; context indicates Kamala Harris.
• Jerry Brown — Person · Referenced former California governor · 1 mention · first at 6:26
  Cited as precedent for California engaging internationally (especially climate), supporting the argument that states can lead globally.
  Climate, but also on issues of border safety, of California engaging internationally. This was something Jerry Brown one did when he was president the first time. and so I…

Concepts & topics

• Epstein file — Concept · Key argument · 3 mentions · first at 0:23
  Referenced as a topic Donald Trump is allegedly avoiding discussing, highlighting political controversies.
  Me through, you have the whiteboard, you see those clips there of Donald Trump, and you saw what Pam Bondi did during her I don't even know what that even was regarding the Epstein files. What would your strategy be?
• Artificial Intelligence — Concept · Core topic · 2 mentions · first at 8:12
  Discussed in the context of its impact on workers and the need for a Democratic plan to address its challenges.

Places & events

• California — Place · Setting · 7 mentions · first at 4:00
  Mentioned as the home state of Katie Porter and the current governor, Nuomo, highlighting its political and economic significance.
• Greenland — Place · Setting · 3 mentions · first at 0:15
  Mentioned in the context of Donald Trump's controversial statements about negotiating for its acquisition.
  What is Donald Trump out there saying today? He's he's back on the Greenland thing. We need to take over Greenland.
• Venezuela — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at 2:36
  Discussed in relation to Donald Trump's praise for the Maduro regime and its implications.
• Virginia — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at 7:32
  Mentioned in the context of political achievements and relationships among governors.
  Relationships with other governors. So, for me, it's really exciting to watch Abigail Spanberger get elected in Virginia, Mikey Cheryl get elected in New Jersey. These were my…

Sponsors

• Midas Plus — Company · Sponsor · 1 mention · first at 12:37
  Mentioned as the platform offering exclusive content and ad-free episodes, indicating a commercial relationship.

Full transcript with timestamps

0:00 with the latest poll results from AP Norc showing that Donald Trump's approval is like 36% although it is four points better than JD Vance and the Americans absolutely furious at everything that Donald Trump is doing. What is Donald Trump uh out there saying today? He's he's back on the Greenland thing. We need to take over Greenland. Greenland's going to give us Greenland. This is what he's doing today. And I think anything not to talk about the Epstein files at this point. anything not to talk about Pam Bondi's horrible testimony. Let's play this clip.

0:33 Europe control them anymore. What's your message to them? I think Greenland's going to want us, but uh we get along very well with Europe. We'll see how it all works out. We're negotiating right now for Greenland.

0:46 That's what we're negotiating right now for Greenland. That'll change the topic and we won't talk about Epstein. Then Donald Trump says the Democrats have gone crazy. They're lunatics. Everyone's a lunatic. I don't know. Maybe put up a mirror there, Donald. Here, play this clip.

1:03 We're talking, but you know, we have to protect law enforcement. Uh, ICE has done a phenomenal job. Border Patrol. We have a shut, we have a closed border for the first time in history. Uh, we have to protect law enforcement, our police, our border patrol, ICE, and others in law enforcement. Uh, we and I'm very much, look, I know what they want. I know what they can live with. The Democrats have gone crazy. They're radical left lunatics. That's why their cities are so unsafe. The blue cities are the cities that are unsafe. So, we have to protect our law enforcement,

1:36 which of course is false. There's now going to be another partial government shutdown. Just take off the masks of the ICE agents, put body cameras on them. Let's use judicial warrants. I mean, as far as I know, that's what the Democrats have asked for. And that's that's such a radical concept. I think the radical concept is having masked agents going around kidnapping people and killing people in this country that but call me oldfashioned. Oh, and then Donald Trump attacks Zalinski. Here's what he says. Let's play it.

2:03 Negotiations. Do you still demand Zinski has to hold elections before summer? Well, Zalinski is going to have to get moving. Russia wants to make a deal and Zalinski is going to have to get moving otherwise he's going to miss a great opportunity. He has to move.

2:18 Fact check. Russia does not want to make a deal. Russia wants all of eastern Ukraine. Russia hasn't agreed to do anything. They haven't even agreed to a ceasefire. Zalinsky has agreed to actually hold elections and a referendum. If there's a 30-day ceasefire, Russia refuses to that and kills Ukrainians every day. Then Donald Trump praises the extension of the Maduro regime in Venezuela. Deli Rodriguez as he throws the pro-democracy opposition under the bus. Let's play it. on Venezuela. Will you be recognizing Deli Rodriguez's government as the official government official?

2:55 Well, right now we have done that. We're dealing with them and really and really right now they've done a great job. She's done Deli's done a very very good job and the relationship is strong. The oil is coming out and a lot of money is being

3:10 Yeah. And the oil is going to a bank account that Donald Trump has in Qar, not in the United States. a Qatari bank account for himself and that's an extension of the Maduro regime and Deli continues to say that Maduro is still the lawful president which could likely result in Maduro having his case dismissed by claiming uh diplomatic immunity in federal court. And then Donald Trump asked, well, what do you make about the airspace closure over El Paso? Right? I mean, you have the Department of Defense shooting lasers at birthday party balloons and then blaming it on Mexican cartels and Donald Trump just says, "You know what? People learn.

3:46 Just a mistake. Here. Play this clip. You mean the way it happened? Yeah. People learn. You know, people learn.

3:57 Whatever. Whatever. People learn. I want to bring in Katie Porter, former congresswoman from California, running for governor of California. I was thinking about you when I watched those clips. I wanted to bring you in. Especially, I was thinking about you during the testimony of Pam Bondi and uh I was like, "All right, I would just wondered if Katie Porter was there with the whiteboard, what that cross-examination would look like." And so before we get into other topics, walk me through, you have the whiteboard, you see those clips there of Donald Trump, and you saw what Pam Bondi did during her I don't even know what that even was regarding the Epstein files. What What would your strategy be?

4:36 Well, I mean, I think people just want to hear straight up truth, which is that's nuts. No. Like Greenland not making my groceries cheaper, talking about mistakes in birthday party balloons, not bringing down my housing costs. I mean, there's so much distraction, but I think what you see in the polling is people aren't buying it. Um, even Republican voters and Republican leading voters, they're starting to see through. But it's wearing thin. I think about Donald Trump as a movie that's just too long. Like it was, you know, people watched it for a little while. They were like, "Haha, this is entertaining." I think people have seen through it. And I think they're fed up with it. Even those people who voted for him, I think we're seeing a real fissure even within the Republican party here in California between sort of those who want to just worship Trump and those who are like, "Do can we not do better?"

5:28 Yeah. You know, everybody knows you're running for governor of California. You know, I note that when we're recording this interview, you have Governor Nuomo right now from California in Munich. You know, kind of serving as a shadow president, if you will, and kind of representing the biggest state, most populous, highest GDP, would be the fourth largest GDP in the world. Just curious what your view is, how Governor Nuomo has positioned California as really the contrast to what Donald Trump is doing and has projected California basically as its own country on the world stray stage. Whether it was in Davos, whether before that it was at the one of the Brazilian climate change conferences and now in Munich,

6:12 I support what Governor Nuomo's doing here. I think people are hungry for real leadership. They're hungry for people who aren't going to spew nonsense. Um, and so people I think he's going he's being a representative of America. He's engaging. There's a long history of California, particularly on issues of climate, but also on issues of border safety, um, of of California engaging internationally. This was something Jerry Brown one did when he was president the first time. Um, and so I think people want that leadership. They want that steady hand. They want someone who's going to be thoughtful. They're not getting it from Donald Trump.

6:45 They're not getting it certainly from JD Vance that's really not in any corner of his administration. And I think that's a big contrast between the Trump one presidency at this point and this Trump presidency. There were still a few people hanging on in his first presidency um who were trying to to be to do the work of government and to be smart and to be fact-based. And I think that has all disappeared here. And so it's created a role for states to step up. And I think people are hungry for that. not only here in California, but I think we're increasingly seeing smaller states, um, states that haven't necessarily taken a role in some things, working with other states and coming together. I think the next governor of California is going to have to have relationships with other governors. So, for me, it's really exciting to watch Abigail Spanberger um, get elected in Virginia, Mikey Cheryl get elected in

7:34 New Jersey. These were my 2018 um, congressional classmates. We ran to stand up to Trump in Congress. We understand now we're going to have to come together to do it as governors.

7:44 Look, I think that one of the main things when you run for governor or any position of leadership right now in the Democratic party with the Democratic base is look, this is a fascist takeover right now by this Trump regime. This is authoritarianism. Deliver me a world without Trump. But that alone can't just be the message that it has to be. And then deliver me a world with dot dot dot dot dot. And you see people right now feeling psychologically tortured living paycheck to paycheck. People are terrified with AI. People are having their paychecks are having their healthcare ripped away from them. And so people are scared and they also want to know what the platform is. And yes, the word affordability is is yes, it's the word right now, but that has to mean something in very specific detail. So t talk to us about, you know, the specifics about, you know, in a very crowded primary that exists right now.

8:40 What specifically do you bring to the table that you think distinguishes you in terms of an agenda that actually delivers after we deliver a world without Trump?

8:52 So look, I don't think there are any Democrats out there defending Donald Trump. I think every Democrat is doing the right thing here, which is calling out all of his unconstitutional, illmoral, illegal, wrongheaded behavior, and I think you absolutely need to do that in a fierce and tough and nononsense way. Um, I am prepared to do that. I have did that when I was in Congress. I will continue to do that as governor. But look, our challenges in this country, the rise of AI and the displacement of workers, something you just mentioned, this is happening whether Donald Trump's presidency ends today or it ends a couple of years from now. And Democrats need to have a plan for it. So, there's an element of what Trump is doing. You know, he, you know, he's talking about all this stuff so he doesn't have to talk about the Epstein files, right? He doesn't have to talk about his own terrible um approval

9:39 rating. Democrats need to make sure that we're not just talking about Trump in order to avoid developing our own positive agenda for a better America. And so I spend a lot of time talking about affordability, not as a talking point, but as my life's work. Um, I got my start researching families in bankruptcy, people who were pushed there by medical debt, job loss, um, not being able to collect child support, um, child care that was too expensive. I then ran a statewide foreclosure prevention program after the financial crisis for our then attorney general Kla Harris, sitting with families across California, helping them figure out if they could hang on to their home and if not, how could they land um as best they could to keep a roof over their head and keep their families safe. So, you know, there's a whole Politico article that was written when I was in Congress about my raising my hand in the Democratic

10:32 caucus and pointing out that groceries cost a lot because we were talking about gas, which is gas prices, something that politicians always focus on. This was considered so groundbreaking that a whole political article was written about my talking about the price of groceries. The issue I see right now in this Democratic primary here in California for governor, but across the board for Democrats is a lot of politicians are describing the affordability problem. And people know it's expensive. I push the shopping cart. Voters push shopping carts. Voters pay the bills. I pay my family's utility bill and electric bill. Um they don't want us to describe the problem. They want us to fix the problem. So I think being very very clear with voters that I understand that the biggest building blocks of their budget are things like housing and child care. Those are the biggest ticket items people have. We

11:24 can't nibble around the edges on affordability. We have to drive down the cost of housing. We have to make child care free for every family doing those two things. It's not an extra five bucks a week. It's not an extra, you know, latte or an extra box of cereal. It's transformative for families economically and we need that kind of bold economic agenda.

11:45 Where can people learn more about the campaign and any kind of final message you have to our 6 million subscribers out there?

11:53 Yeah, so our website is katyporter.com. I'm really proud of our incredible social media. Um, amazing videos, not just of me, but of regular Democrats, regular voters, people um talking about what they're scared about, what they want. And I think we all need to really be listening to what comes next. And that's Katie Porterca um on Instagram, on threads, on all those platforms. Um and so we're really trying to show not just that I'm ready to lead, but that I'm going to lead based on what people really need, what they really want, and that is a better future for themselves and their families.

12:30 Katie Porter, thanks for joining us. Thank you. Everybody hit subscribe. Let's get to six million subscribers. Want to stay plugged in? Become a subscriber to our Substack at midasplus.com. You'll get daily recaps from Ron Philipki, ad free episodes of our podcast, and more exclusive content only available at midasplus.com.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Trump holds DISASTER PRESSER on WH LAWN and RUNS FROM EPSTEIN"?

Katie Porter (Host).

What is "Trump holds DISASTER PRESSER on WH LAWN and RUNS FROM EPSTEIN" about?

Donald Trump recently held a contentious press conference on the White House lawn where he attempted to shift focus from mounting criticism and the Epstein files by revisiting the controversial idea of acquiring Greenland. Despite facing declining approval ratings and frustrations from the public, Trump accused Democrats of being "radical left lunatics" and defended law enforcement practices,…

What is mentioned in this MeidasTouch episode?

15 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Donald Trump, Katie Porter, California, Epstein file, Governor Nuomo, Artificial Intelligence. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Trump holds DISASTER PRESSER on WH LAWN and RUNS FROM EPSTEIN"?

The episode runs 13 min; the transcript is about 2,365 words in 25 timestamped sections.

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