Trump Deals Himself a Devastating Blow Ahead of the Midterms

August 26, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Donald Trump is planning to spend the hundreds of millions of dollars he raised from small-dollar donors on midterm ads—featuring himself. The ads will claim Americans are living in a golden age, gas prices are great, farmers have never been happier, and the war in Iran has been won. The reality, as the host of the MeidasTouch Podcast notes, is the exact opposite. The episode argues that Trump is delivering a self-inflicted blow ahead of the November midterms, and the evidence comes from his own decisions, his own voters, and his own administration’s handling of a resurgent public health crisis.

The Self-Immolation Strategy

Trump’s plan to use his MAGA Inc. PAC money for self-promotional ads rather than supporting Republican candidates is the central mechanism of the argument. The host calls it a “self-immolation exercise.” Meanwhile, the September 9-10 “deranged midterm convention” in Dallas is already being avoided by MAGA Republican Congress members who “don’t want to go anywhere near this thing.” The timing compounds the problem: it falls during the first week of the NFL season and two days before the anniversary of 9/11. The host plays a fundraising email from JD Vance that reads, “If you can’t give right now, don’t. Groceries cost what they cost,” which the host interprets as an admission that the Trump regime is responsible for high prices.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **Trump’s Self-Destructive Midterm Strategy** - Host Ben Meiselas argues Donald Trump is delivering a death blow to his own party ahead of the 2026 midterms by hoarding campaign funds for self-promotion.
2 (02:04) **Desperate Fundraising and Voter Backlash** - A new RNC text from JD Vance acknowledges high grocery costs while still asking for money, highlighting the party’s disconnect with voters.
3 (04:23) **Measles Crisis and RFK Jr.’s Role** - The U.S. hits a 35-year high of 2,777 confirmed measles cases, with two deaths in Pennsylvania, as the Trump administration’s anti-vaccine rhetoric fuels the outbreak.
4 (08:16) **Record-Low Approval for Trump** - A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows only 13% of Americans strongly approve of Trump, the lowest ever, with just 35% of Republicans approving.
5 (09:35) **Farmers and Ranchers Betrayed** - The Trump administration’s policies—tariffs, lost export markets, and a plan to import cheap frozen beef—are destroying American ranchers while Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins blames the Biden administration for low cattle herds.
6 (11:07) **Foreign Policy Chaos and Humiliation** - Iran and Oman reach a deal on the Strait of Hormuz, but Iran’s deputy foreign minister threatens preemptive action, while Pakistan formally requests a $10 billion bailout from the U.S. Treasury.
7 (13:04) **Trump Selling Fake $1,000 Bills** - Trump’s social media platform is hawking "Trump $1,000 bills" with his face, claiming only 71 are left, while he alienates Canada and debases the presidency.

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Show Notes

MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on Donald Trump delivering the death blow to himself for the midterm as he makes things even worse with each passing day at the GOP is absolutely horrified.

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