The MeidasTouch Podcast - Trump Holds Disaster Presser on Deadly Floods

Episode Date: July 7, 2025

MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on Donald Trump’s disaster press conference on the deadly Texas flash floods after Trump left Bedminster where he was play golf during the tragedy. 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 The Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Coalition of the Sane: https://meidasnews.com/tag/coalition-of-the-sane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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No sugar added? Neutral. Refreshingly simple. Donald Trump just gave a disastrous press conference on the tarmac in New Jersey as he was flying back to Washington DC. He spent the weekend golfing at Bedminster. A reporter asked Donald Trump if he was still planning to phase out FEMA in light of the catastrophe that has taken place in Kerr County, Texas. Donald Trump refuses to rule out eliminating FEMA. Here, watch this.

Are you still planning to phase out FEMA? Well, FEMA is something we can talk about later, but right now they're busy working, so we'll leave it at that. So even after all we know, with at least 78 dead and many people still missing. He's talking about eliminating FEMA. Here Donald Trump also says that he does not think that the federal government needs to hire back the meteorologists in Texas and elsewhere who work at the National Weather Service who do the forecasting. Here play this clip. In light of the floods, do you think that the federal government needs to hire back any of the meteorologists who were fired in the last few months? I wouldn't know that. I really wouldn't. I would think not. This was a thing that happened in seconds. Nobody expected it. Nobody saw it.

Very talented people in there and they didn't see it. It's, I guess they said once in a hundred years they've never seen anything like this. So I wouldn't, I mean people are trying to blame the school, they're trying to blame the camp, they're trying to blame, it's just a horrible thing. But no, I wouldn't say that now. As Aaron Rupert says, this is the exact same talking points that Trump used after he cut disaster preparedness his first term and then COVID hit. Then Donald Trump is asked, so are you investigating whether the cuts that you and Doge made to the federal government left key vacancies at the National Weather Service open and degraded

the forecasting? And Trump's like, no, I'm really not. And then he says, or tries to blame it on Biden, but then he says, don't blame it on Biden. Watch this word salad that he gives as an answer. Play this clip. Are you investigating whether some of the cuts to the federal government left tea vacancies at the National Weather Service or the emergency court?

They did not. I'll tell you, if you look at that, that water situation that all is, and that was really the biggest issue. As our friend Molly Jungfast says, Donald Trump has been president for 168 days and he can't take accountability for anything. Just like COVID, like a miracle, it's all going to go away. Next Day Reporter asked Donald Trump, so what do you say to people like Democrats who are blaming you for the federal cuts that you made in Texas? Trump refuses

to even answer and engage with the question. Here, play this clip. Democrats are blaming your federal cuts for the deaths over in Texas. I think that's a question that you should have to answer. Just he's not going to answer the question. So then shifting gears, reporters start asking Donald Trump about the tariff rates, right? The Trump regime promised 90 deals in 90 days. That deadline is July 9th.

There's really been no deals made. So when Donald Trump's asked this question, he has no clue what's even going on, right? He's like, huh, tariffs? What are you talking about, tariffs? And then the reporter says the tariff rates, the deadlines tariffs what are you talking about tariffs and then the reporter says the tariff rates the deadlines what are you doing watch Donald Trump's response let's play And you notice how Howard Lutnick, who I call Nutlick, has to like even like kind of help him out and help answer some of these questions.

Donald Trump is next asked about his phone call with Putin. And we all know because Putin's announced in Russia what he said in Russian TV, their state regime media has published it. Russia says it's continuing its, quote, special operation against Ukraine and will not stop until Ukraine is Obliterated or destroyed and Putin said that he talked to Donald Trump about making movies and musicals together as part of bringing the US And Russia closer together culturally. That's what they put out in on Russian TV and here Donald Trump's like Oh, I was just very disappointed in my call. All right, you're disappointed.

Do something about it. What are you going to do about it? Here, play this clip. You said you had a strategic call with Zelensky the other day. What strategy did you just- I thought it was a good call. He's being hit very hard, as I said he would.

He's being hit very hard and I was very disappointed with my call with President Putin I was very disappointed. And next Donald Trump's asked so are you going to visit Texas? I mean he was spending the weekend golfing while this was taking place. Trump was golfing at Bedminster so are you planning to visit Texas? And Trump's like, maybe next Friday, maybe next Friday I'll go here play this clip. I'm planning to visit Texas, Mr. President. Probably on Friday. We wanted to leave a little time. I would have done it today, but we'd just be in their way.

Probably Friday. Next, Donald Trump is asked if he was briefed about the ship that was hit by the Houthis in the Red Sea earlier in the day. Remember, Donald Trump and Pete Hegsit said, oh, they negotiated this powerful ceasefire that was hit by the Houthis in the Red Sea earlier in the day. Remember Donald Trump and Pete Hegsitz said, oh, they negotiated this powerful ceasefire with the Houthis. And Houthis are in an Iranian-backed group. And so the Houthis struck a cargo ship in the Red Sea.

And Donald Trump pretty much has no clue what the question's even about. He's like, we'll give you a report tonight or tomorrow. I bet you Trump had no clue that that even took place. Here, watch this. President, have you been briefed on the ship that was hit in the Red Sea? Do you know if the Houthis attacked that ship today? We'll give you a report sometime tonight or tomorrow.

Next, you have Howard Nutlick-Lutnick say, look, the president's right about everything in the midst of discussing all sorts of deals with all sorts of countries. He's doing the greatest all sorts of deals with all sorts of countries. The propaganda here is just ridiculous. This is just embarrassing to watch, isn't it? Here let's play it.

Are you expecting any deals to be signed this week and what countries are closest to that? Well, the president is right in the midst of discussing all sorts of deals with all sorts of countries and the gentleman to my right is going to decide and I'm going to be with him when he makes that decision. Next day, a reporter asked Donald Trump about Elon Musk starting a new political party called the American Party and then Donald Trump's like oh it's ridiculous and I think it's such a bad idea watch this. Is it a reaction to Elon Musk starting a third party?

I think it's ridiculous to start a third party. We have a tremendous success with the Republican Party. The Democrats have lost their way but it's always been a two- system. And I think starting a third party just adds to confusion. It really seems to have been developed for two parties. Third parties have never worked. So he can have fun with it, but I think it's ridiculous. Donald Trump is asked about the stadium for the Washington football team, the Washington commanders, and then Donald Trump is upset that they change their name from a slur involving Native Americans

to their current name and that's what he wanted to talk about. Not even really answer the question. Let's play it. The DC city council has not approved a new stadium for the commanders. If they don't approve it, will you step in? Well, we see what happens. I've been looking at the deal and I don't blame them. They have to.

It's a very important piece of property. It's a great piece of property. So we'll see. But if I can't get it, I'll get it. I'll get it. I'll get it. I'll get it. I'll get it. I'll get it. I'll get it.'t blame them. They have to, it's a very important piece of property.

It's a great piece of property. So we'll see, but if I can help them out, I will. You know, ultimately we control that. The federal government ultimately controls it. So we'll see what happens. I saw the plans. I saw the stadium. The owner is very, very successful and a very good man.

I know a little bit. And it would be a great place for the NFL to be there, I can tell you that. So if they want to negotiate a little tough, that's okay with me. The Press The commanders changed the name back to Redskins? The President Well, you want me to make a controversial statement? I would. I wouldn't have changed your name. But that's there. It doesn't have the same ring to me. But winning can make everything sound good.

So if they win, all of a sudden the commander sounds good, but I wouldn't have changed your name. And next day, reporter asked Donald Trump, why not help Ukraine the same way you're helping Israel? Why don't you do that? And then Donald Trump starts lying and saying, we are helping Ukraine. You're actually not. You've pulled out a lot of weapons that were, you stopped giving them the weapons that were approved by Congress and you didn't even give them or our European allies or anybody in

the G7 or NATO a heads up that this was actually going to happen. But notice that Donald Trump doesn't really answer the question. He's like, I do, but the elections are rigged and the war wouldn't even have happened if it wasn't for me. Going back to Molly Jungfast's post, we're in day 168. You promised you would bring peace to Ukraine in less than 24 hours. And now you're out there saying you were just being sarcastic when you said that and you were joking and that you didn't really mean you can bring peace.

It's day 168 and things are getting worse and Putin just called you and said he ain't ever agreeing to a ceasefire. He said he's going to continue that special operation as he calls it, until Ukraine is destroyed. And what are you doing? What are you doing? Here, play this clip. If I were president, if the election weren't rigged, and it was rigged, rigged so badly, and that's come out. Read Miranda Devine and the New York Post today. The election was totally rigged. And if it weren't rigged, you wouldn't have a war with Russia right now, and you wouldn't

have had inflation, and you wouldn't have had the horrible Afghanistan, the way they left. Not that they left. We would have been out before them, but the way they left, not that they left, we would have been out before them, but the way they left, I think the most embarrassing day in the history of our country. You wouldn't have had the October horror show with Israel and Hamas. You wouldn't have had any of it. You wouldn't have had the recent showdown with Iran. You wouldn't have had any of it. And you wouldn't have had inflation.

Now, while Donald Trump was giving that press conference, slightly earlier in the day, you wouldn't have had any of it, and you wouldn't have had inflation. Now, while Donald Trump was giving that press conference, slightly earlier in the day, you had the Texas state officials giving a press conference. And I think there are some very important points to make here as well. One of the things that Governor Abbott, and he's there with some of the local police officials as well, that they're saying is that while they were aware that there could be flash floods potentially taking place, they were not aware that the storm would have ever been this bad. That caught them by surprise. My question is, is one of the reason that caught you by surprise was because the main meteorologist coordinator for the

National Weather Service who worked in this area that covered Kerrville and Kerr County was forced out by Doge. Here listen to what Governor Abbott says of Texas, play this clip. You talked in what you just said kind of about expertise and about just knowing the area and that extends also to the National Weather Service folks who are in those offices and have years and years of experience. There are currently six vacancies in the workhold in the National Letter Service office that cover Fair County. What is your perspective on how that could have impacted the warnings that you all were able to get and how accurate the information was all written?

So I know nothing about the staffing. What I do know is what they put out. And it's my understanding that what they put out was kind of the information that the state was operating off of, and that is that there were alerts or warnings about heavy rain, potential for flash flooding in certain areas. A problem with that is that to most people in the area, flash flooding would mean one thing, not what it turned out to be because they deal with flash floods all the time. Just like I put people on notice in these regions of Texas right now, there's the potential

for flash flooding, but there's no expectation of a water wall of almost 30 feet high. Next, Governor Abbott has asked, so are you talking to Kristi Noem and the Trump regime because they apparently want to eliminate FEMA. They want to eliminate resources for a meteorologist and weather forecast. Are you talking to them about this? Because this seems to be hurting your state and the rest of the country. And here Governor Abbott says that's one of the things we're talking about. Okay, here play this clip.

Governor Abbott, on that topic, we know that these alerts can be life-saving at times. And a lot of times these forecasters get their information from the National Weather Service. Are you communicating with your federal partners on how important the funding is for the National Weather Service in order to issue alerts like this and do this disaster? It's one of the things that we've been doing for a long time. We've been doing this for a long time. We've been doing this for a long time. We've been doing this for a long time.

We've been doing this for a long time. We've been doing this for a long time. We've been doing this for a long time. We've been doing this for a long time. We've been doing this for a long time. We've been doing this for a long time. We've been doing this for a long time. We've been doing this for a long time. We've been doing this for a long time. Are you communicating with your federal partners on how important and binding is the National Weather Service in order to issue alerts like this, and is it a disaster? It's one of the things that we spoke about when Secretary Noem was in, and this is part of ongoing conversations, and I'll add this.

As you all probably know, we have a special session coming up, and the way to respond to what happened in Kerrville is going to be a topic for the special session to address. And next a reporter asks Governor Abbott, did anybody get a warning to the people in the camps outside of just the automated system? Was there anything other than just an alert that there could be flash floods to actually get in touch with people? And you'll see that the official just kind of punts the question and says, you probably want to just ask the county emergency management people here.

Watch this. You know, if anyone tried to get a warning to people at the camps outside of the automated disaster. I missed the first part of the question. Did anyone try to get warnings of the people at the camps outside of the automated disaster center? I missed the first part of the question. Did anyone try to get a warning to the people at the camps outside of the automated system? So, I'm not sure that I understand the question. I mean, does somebody go door to door and knock on the doors or?

Yeah, we're just wondering if there are any official outings in the area. You know, we talked to the county emergency manager when we were there the first day, and the county does have a plan for that county and the 18 or so camps that are in that county. It would probably be really good to ask them that question and let them give you that answer. It's a good question. Thank you. Now, one of the things that you should all know about disaster responses in situations like this, it's not just the state pre-positioning their resources.

What would normally happen in a situation like this is the National Weather Service would make their forecast and then immediately FEMA and the feds would work side by side in a joint task force with the state and the feds would really assume leadership and responsibility. You don't just throw it on the state because the states are not equipped. Even a state as big as Texas or California, they're not equipped to handle these things. It's really the feds that lead the way and bring their resources to bear and help with evacuations and doing all of that. And it doesn't seem to be anything that happened here because the whole view of the Trump regime

is this should be what the states do and FEMA should be eliminated and let's gut the NOAA, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service, which is under it. That's what Project 2025 called for and we were warning about to eliminate the NOAA, NOAA and the NWS, the National Weather Service. Just so you see more about what's happening in the Red Sea. A Red Sea ship was hit by waves of attacks as the Houthis are escalating. Here's how the Telegraph reports it. Houthis set ship on fire with drone boat

attack in the Red Sea. Iran-backed militia continues wave of attacks in the Strait of Hormuz despite Washington's ceasefire. You can see the ship right here that is on fire. And I just want to remind you, because I got to get receipts for all of these things, so we make the connections here together. Back in early May, remember Donald Trump held a press conference where he announced a ceasefire with the Houthis and applauded their bravery and how great they are. And he's so impressed by the Houthis and that nothing's ever going to happen again.

And we'll be able to get our ships inside and outside of the Red Sea. And remember, Donald Trump declared mission accomplished in May. Here, just so you can remember, this is what Trump said in May, because it's important we make these connections together. Here, play this clip. We had a very good outcome with the Houthis and we honor their word. I mean, they made a commitment and we dealt with other countries that were close to them and their surrogates. And we honor all of their words. We'll see what happens. But I think, you know, I believe that

hopefully that's over with and they'll leave the ships alone, you know, I believe that hopefully that's over with. And they'll leave the ships alone, you know, just leave those ships alone. But so we do, we take their word for it. It was, you know, we hit them very hard. They had a great capacity to withstand punishment. They took tremendous punishment. And you know, you could say there's a lot of bravery there. It was amazing what they took.

But we honor their commitment and they gave us their word that they wouldn't be shooting ships anymore. We honor that. Okay. And then do you remember in the last 30 days or so, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, former weekend Fox host, was testifying and Democratic Congressmember Moulton was cross-examining Hegseth about what we did to the Houthis and the strike that the United Sea which was the whole point of the operation. So why? would we Claim that there was a successful operation if the objectives were not achieved, right?

the same thing in Iran where it does not seem to have eliminated the nuclear facilities in any meaningful sense, but here's here's what Congress member Moulton cross-examined Hegsathon here playing this clip. You talked about the success of the Houthi operation, about how much money did it cost? How much money did you spend on missiles shooting at the Houthis? Well, you'd have to compare that with what it cost. I'm just asking how much did it cost? Deferred our shipping lanes around the seas. I'm told it's several hundred million dollars, maybe close to a billion dollars. How many US flagged commercial ships have transited the Red Sea since your so-called

successful operation? Well, thankfully, unlike the previous administration. The answer is zero. Military vessels transited. No, no, no. I didn't ask about military vessels. I asked about commercial vessels. Which would be the precursor for a billion commercial transits.

How many commercial vessels? It's been several weeks. How many commercial vessels US flagged have you mr. Congressman put civilian ships the questions are not to me military sector there to you We have responsibly put military the answer is zero for I reclaim my time and that was about like 30 days or so I want you to make those connections to see where the lies are. So again, you can judge for yourself I always think it's important when I talk about these things just to bring out the receipts to make the connections here.

Oh, they lied here. They lied here. And you could judge for yourself and form your own opinions. But I think it's pretty clear what's going on here. Anyway, hit subscribe, help us get to six million and thanks so much for watching. Can't get enough Midas? Check out the Midas Plus sub stack for ad free articles, reports, podcasts, daily recaps from Ron Filipkowski and more. Sign up for free now at MidasPlus.com.