Sunday Morning Coffee with Ben Meiselas

Written by Ben Meiselas

Are 👏 You 👏 Ready 👏 For 👏 Coffee with me this morning?

I can’t hear you…

I said…

Are 👏 You 👏 Ready 👏 For 👏 Coffee with me this morning?

Let’s go!

I am on my way to pick up coffee down the block.

Still black coffee. Not tea. No milk. No sugar. Strong black coffee.

Based on the rewards program at the coffee shop, I got some points this morning for a free coffee, and I am cashing in, folks.

I’m going to strut into that coffee shop, show the app with my points, and smile at the jackpot that is a free black coffee.

As I walk to the coffee shop, I wanted to first wish you a Happy New Year, Meidas Mighty.

It’s 2025.

In the words of a song from the new album I’m listening to by the rapper Tyler the Creator, “it’s getting sticky.”

MAGA continues to turn against Elon Musk.

MAGA hasn’t fully turned on Donald Trump, but many already seem to be in the “find out” stage before Trump even takes office and are perplexed that he’s already doing the opposite of what he promised.

We’ve been highlighting the “find out” stage for MAGA and Trump voters on our YouTube channel.

Let’s talk about foreign policy first.

Wait, one second…

I’m inside the coffee shop at the register and showing them my app to get the free coffee.

Oh no!!!!

They’re telling me my points for a free coffee expired in 2024?

What the?! Hold on, hold on…

Did I miss the fine print?

Is there anything I can do?

Ok, ok, all good.

Thankfully, the person taking my order was very nice and still gave me a free coffee.

I didn’t see any fine print saying my points expired.

That’s strange.

Anyway, back to what I was saying.

Let’s talk foreign policy first.

This week we covered how Musk and MAGA were promoting far-right movements internationally.

We talked about how Musk was promoting the far-right Reform Party in the UK, who were getting uneasy that Musk was saying things even too extreme for them, and his statements were backfiring on them.

Meanwhile, Musk has also been supporting the far-right AfD party in Germany.

Although the Conservative Party in Canada isn’t necessarily a “far-right” party like the others I just mentioned, Musk has been promoting their leader Pierre Poilievre, who has previously been sympathetic to MAGA.

There were other major developments in international affairs as well.

The President of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, announced that if Trump retaliates against the Honduran community in America with mass deportations, Honduras would consider kicking the United States out of its military bases in Honduras.

China and Honduras recently established diplomatic relations, and Trump’s threats against the sovereignty of foreign nations are playing right into the hands of President Xi.

Also, earlier this week, Putin gave a New Year’s address where he reiterated statements from his Foreign Minister Lavrov that Russia wasn’t interested in any “peace plan” proposed by Trump for Ukraine that didn’t involve a total surrender by Ukraine.

In other words, Trump has not, and will not, secure a peace deal in Ukraine in 24 hours.

Broken promise after broken promise.

You know, I’m lucky the employee at the coffee shop was so nice.

I was so confident my points were going to get me the free coffee that I was a bit let down to learn I let those points expire.

Let’s face it—it was probably my fault.

Thankfully, over the past few months, I’ve had some good conversations with the employee.

Her name is Natasha. She’s a single mom. She works long shifts and brings her son, Cameron, to the shop each day, and he plays games on his iPad.

Sometimes, when I talk to her, I think to myself, “I hope you’re not a Trump supporter.” It’s an intrusive thought, I must admit, but it’s something that just pops into my head each time I talk to her.

Anyway, not sure the point of that paragraph. Or maybe there was. Oh yeah, the point is, she’s very nice, and she gave me a free coffee even though my points expired.

Back to the news…

Donald Trump has been whining this week about the American flags being flown at half-staff during his inauguration to mourn the death of the late, great President Jimmy Carter, who passed away at the age of 100.

I still can’t believe 49% of America elected this psycho.

He also made a post confusing a “windfall tax” with “windmills,” and he’s currently selling random inauguration crap like a picture book to further grift off his base.

I’m walking back home, by the way, and drinking the free coffee.

I kind of feel bad now if I didn’t deserve this free coffee.

Was this stealing?

Should I have declined the free coffee if my points expired?

Is Natasha secretly a Trump supporter?

Relax, Ben, this coffee is making you jumpy.

Talk about MAGA Mike.

Oh yes, MAGA Mike was about to lose the Speaker of the House vote on the first round.

Three Republicans voted for someone other than him.

He looked like he was going to cry.

He brought two of the MAGAs who voted against him into a back room, called his daddy Trump, and they made some literal backroom deal. MAGA Mike just barely secured enough votes to stay the Speaker in the 119th Congress.

Finally, Trump lost his appeal in the E. Jean Carroll case this week, where the Appeals Court upheld the verdict finding him liable for sexual assault.

Trump also lost his motion to stop the criminal sentencing in the Manhattan DA case, where he was convicted on 34 felony counts.

The NY judge doesn’t seem inclined to throw Trump in prison, but sentencing will nonetheless take place on January 10, where Trump will probably just be declared a felon, and nothing else will happen.

You come here for the truth, and, like this stiff cup of black coffee, I’m just preparing you for the likely result of sentencing on January 10.

Well, dang.

I feel like I’m ending our coffee together on not the best news.

Ok, I’ve got some good news to share.

This week, MeidasTouch was once again the most viewed/liked YouTube channel in America.

We beat Fox, ABC, CBS, and even the NCAA College Football during the playoffs.

That’s a pretty cool fact.

And that’s testament to you, the Meidas Mighty.

I’m walking into my house. I have to be quiet so I don’t wake up my wife, Xochitl, and three-month-old Ximena.

Shhhhhh…

Ok, last piece of good news.

We hit our 2024 subscription goal on Substack.

We became the 8th most subscribed Substack, and we only launched our Substack 100 days ago.

I think by this time next year, we can be number 1.

Why do you get so competitive?

Shhhh, you dropped your keys!

Oh no…that was LOUD!

Tiptoe, tiptoe, tiptoe.

Pick up the keys quietly.

Phew! No one woke up.

As I was saying, we hit our subscriber goal for 2024.

We’re making a big push in 2025 to grow bigger on Substack.

We don’t have outside investors for our network, so one of the main ways we grow is through this Substack.

Look, I know it’s a big ask, but if you are not a paid subscriber yet to our Substack, please become a paid subscriber now and help us grow.

It’s been a great Sunday coffee with you.

Thanks to everyone who joined me for coffee.

Please subscribe now if you can.

Let me know if you need further edits!