In a new video report, MeidasTouch’s red state contributor Tennessee Brando critiques the rank hypocrisy among MAGA for their support of Donald Trump, a wannabe authoritarian without guardrails. After years of claiming to be the party of small government, the Republicans are now supporting the proponent of the largest and most controlling government imaginable. This ad-free Meidas experience is available exclusively for Meidas+ subscribers.
Brando notes that many Republicans previously warned against granting presidents unchecked power, fearing dictatorship. Yet, they now support Trump even as he advocates for measures such as terminating parts of the Constitution or bypassing legal due process.
He specifically calls out the selection of Pam Bondi for Attorney General, who has vocally advocated for stronger gun safety laws in the past, as proof that MAGA Republicans lack all convictions. If this were a Biden pick to run the DOJ, MAGA would be arming up for a revolution. But because Trump picked her, they will let that slide.
Brando calls out MAGA for abandoning their principles so long as their guy is in charge. He recounts personal stories of Trump supporters who have said to him they don’t mind authoritarianism from Trump because he needs to be able to get things done. As long as it is their dictator who does what they want, MAGA has no problem ending our democratic experiment. Trump’s supporters have abandoned their principles of limited government and personal liberty, for partisan loyalty.
Now more than ever we need to stand united against fascism. Help MeidasTouch speak truth to power. We don’t have billionaire investors. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber today.
Hope. NONE of the orange baby man's clown show would be happening if he was disqualified day one after forensic psychiatrist Dr Bandy X Lee's report of the five dangerous mental pathologies of Donald Trump.
But then we get Vance who is even more dangerous than Trump
I wonder what a Fitness for Duty Evaluation for Vance would expose?
I agree that Vance is more dangerous. But he DOES completely lack the charisma that keeps people enthralled, ensorcelled with trump. And if the core doesn't support him, those folks the politicians are desperate to keep happy, will loyalty to Vance be their first consideration?
True, but 4 years of Vance being manipulated by the 2025 folks would be no joke. Vance won't have to worry about MAGA re-electing him - the damage will be done, maybe even no more elections (or, dare I say it? Rigged elections like Putin's)
Wishing Tennessee Brando & family as well as Ben, Brett, Captain Jordy, & fam a very happy & safe Holiday! 🦃
How to Stop Authoritarians Before They Start
🔸️FITNESS FOR DUTY EVALUATIONS that are mandatory, like the military for high responsibility positions, would have stopped Trump before he got within a mile of the White House.
Bandy X Lee, Steven Hassan, and 100 other psychiatrists agree Trump has five dangerous mental pathologies as listed in the books "The More Dangerous Case of Donald Trump" and "The Psychology Of Trump Contagion - An Existential Threat to American Democracy and All Humankind".
"Containing Trump Contagion and Healing from Mental Pathology in Politics"
https://youtu.be/HTkCqU5LM-k?si=f6g0PolglC21w1nR
🔸️Fitness for Duty Evaluations start with everyone who interacts with the individual in question, and when red flags start to appear, 'say something.'
The US Military has procedures to follow that require individuals in question to have a Fitness for Duty Evaluation. Voters must demand the House and Senate do the same.
"Stephen Xenakis- Fitness for Duty Exams: Preventing Autocratic Abuse"
https://youtu.be/vdtChF07ryU?si=VJ5dauWFoUQg10uH
🔸️Outside the military are professionals like Dr. Bandy X. Lee who has several dozen colleagues all of whom are highly qualified to do Fitness for Duty Evaluations.
The U.S. House and Senate have several mechanisms to enforce their rules, including:
* Leadership
* Committees
* Floor Procedures
* Party Discipline
It's important to note that these mechanisms are not always used consistently or effectively. The more voters demand mentally fit leaders the more the House and Senate will comply.
🔸️I like what forensic psychologist Dr. Bandy X. Lee says that fascism and authoritarianism are just dangerous mental pathologies that worm their way into politics.
Everyone on Earth deserves and demands leadership that is mentally fit.
Fitness for Duty Evaluations performed by well respected psychiatrists ensures every country has leaders who do not serve their own power, but serve their own people.
With a pool of mentally fit candidates, we then have all the elections we wish.
Yes, Ma'am. You're 100% right.
My husband was born in Cuba and there when Castro came into power. They thought he was the leader that would give them a democracy. They also believed him when he said they should give up their guns because they would not need them under his leadership, so they did. He lied as Trump and his sycophants do. They want power over the people.
So tempted to get caught watching this video tomorrow when I step outside for a breath of fresh air and anyone comes out a minute or so later to chat with the black sheep of the family 😂
Oh wow. How do you do it? I guess I am lucky that my parents, who were once diehard Republicans and churchgoing Jesus fish people in the 90s, are now hardcore liberals. I’m not sure I could stomach a MAGA Thanksgiving. I’d probably take myself out for dinner and a dive bar after. You’re a better person than I!
I feel ya. I'm a black sheep too. If politics come into the conversation tomorrow, I just might have to leave. Happy Thanksgiving, I hope!
🤣💪🏽
Hypocrisy is an art with Republicans
Christian nationalism is the exact opposite to the biblical teachings of Jesus.
He will say "I never knew you."
Pam BONDI trump university
Her sister is also defending rumps new BFF Elon in a huge case involving his batteries. Always follow the money trail!
https://jacobin.com/2024/11/trump-ag-nominee-musk-bondi
I can't believe that Trump, with all his crimes he has been convicted for 34 counts. For his previous action s as President, is becoming President once again. How can our Laws or a lack thereof
Allow this monster back into office, know we are allowing Trump. BACK into office who has a Dictator agenda. It will destroy America and our Democracy and Constitution as we know it. America. Will not recover again. He must be STOP.
Except Democrats have never taken guns away
You've been attempting to educate people, who aren't fully cognizant of facts pertaining to much of anything. Your motives are always pure, but you can't lead people where they don't want to go.
No question about it, a dictator cannot have an 'armed' populace. The 1st Amendment will fall, but, the dictator will make sure the 2nd Amendment will fall. The rest of the Amendments will follow like a line of dominoes.
Democrats never wanted to take their guns away. I have a friend that thinks that. I told him all they want is better gun control. Background checks, red flag laws, etc.
Kamala did the best she could on such short notice.
Kamala, if the maggots come after her would be welcome to return to Montreal Canada again and live safe from the Orange Trumpian rape/goon squads.
Thank you. So they chose Trump only because he is a White man.
I applaud you for staying the line. I too am surrounded by MAGAts and they will never change my mind from knowing right from wrong. I have to stand up for what I know is right in my heart and that’s human rights, gender rights, animal rights, climate change rights, anything that is for the greater good of humanity.
Guns, pollution, habitat loss, being inhumane to anyone or animal, billionaires and corporations that don’t give a damn about us all in the name of greed, are wrong. It’s that simple and anyone who wants to argue that is also corrupted by dollar signs. It should be a crime to rationalize how to hurt our world, people and animals. Why doesn’t god intervene? I thinks he’s sitting there watching this shit show and anticipating what happens next on the worlds shittiest Soap Opera.
When they start screaming, "OH NO, MAH GUNS," I am gonna laugh my ass off.
This is going to be a very looonnnggg 4 years. Might seem like 40 years instead of 4. Sad, sad day for those that voted for freedom and democracy.
Tennessee Brando, I ultimately blame Biden for the mess we are in. He should have announced he wasn’t running in the spring and opened up the Democrats primary. That and the slowness of Merrick Garland for putting Jack Smith on then case.
This just proves how racist his followers are. The only consistent thing he has said was he is going to get rid of the "illegals" who are in this country, and that is all they care about. They will twist their "values" like a pretzel to justify anything he does because at the core is that promise: to Make America WHITE Again.
He says he'll start with the ones who are criminals. How do you do that? You take the ones who are serving time; take them out of the jails and prisons and deport them. This opens up prison space if its needed for political prisoners and who cares if you free them into another country to wreak havoc.
Then he can round up the "visible" undocumented - landscapers, construction workers, house cleaners, farm workers.
He may tell the 2A people that he needs them to turn over all their weapons so when he sends in the military to get the "bad hombres" they won't mistake the law-abiding citizens for the criminals with guns. Or the NRA will support a gun collection / registration / temporary storage to get the guns off the streets so the military can go after the illegal ones. Then that'll be the end of that.
Happy Thanksgiving!
The MAGATS are hypocrites!
I would say . . . they are people with NO backbone. They are more than likely closeted, or openly racist, misogynistic bigots full of hate and lack of personal accountability. Most of these people cannot think for themselves. They won't do the work. They are so full of privilege that they cannot imagine having actually to do the real work to get ahead. I've seen in my 24 years as an educator in rural communities. I was asked to do the job for students by their parents, and administrators because we must pass them. They cannot Be LEFT BEHIND. Pathetic! We created these morons.
I see that I transposed within a sentence, I meant - 'They are so full of privilege that they cannot imagine personally performing the real work to get ahead.'
Pam Bondi is complicit with stealing internet domain and IP address space in Florida. This is directly related to money laundering. Prove that she isn’t. Don’t slam “Trumps picks” down our throats.
Not a single person will answer these questions. Disgraceful. Disgusting and actually a threat to America.
Prove me wrong
God Bless the USA, because we are going to need His help.
Happy Thanksgiving to Tennessee Brando and family, the Meiselas brothers and their families, and all you Meidas Mighties!!
Right back at everyone sir or man
I somehow think I managed to delete a whole notification somehow on Substack because a big X came up and then I couldn’t seem to get out of and the comments were gone, but someone posted why does this Thanksgiving feels so much like the last supper and I have to agree that is very very thought provoking at this time of our lives right now lol
Happy Thanksgiving down there in Tennessee! thanks for your back porch soliloquy!
My dad refused to get a concealed carry license because he thought it would give the state (blue state/red county) reason to take his gun collection. Never happened. He died with all his guns. They were sold after he died because none of us ever expected we'd need protection from the country. It never crossed our minds that voters would be so stupid to elect someone like Trump.
Too many guns means he and his crazy cabinet picks means they are all targets for shooting deaths. So, yes, he will take the guns away first. A "King" .. "Autocratic Strongman" with unchecked power, will do anything he wants. Your guns first! Told you so! You voted for this!
I empathize with Tennessee Brando. We know there will be consequences and all of us have to suffer the consequences because of their idiotic vote for an authoritarian fascist government.
As a blue woman living in “Lee County” Florida it’s been an eye opener to see our state move from purple to an extreme red dictatorship. Never could I have imagined hundreds of books getting tossed from our schools while a dictator harasses and sues our beloved Disney. The fall out removing climatology, all science based evidence and Covid vaccines will surely have MAGA suffering the fall out from Covid, polluted water ways from Lake Okeechobee causing red tide and horrific fish kills and deadly and costly hurricanes will only continue to increase. As with X many of us will eventually leave for blue states. I’m not one to give up but as the great Kenny Rodger’s wrote~ “You gotta know when to hold them, know when to fold them, know when to walk away, know when to run.”
I'm also a blue woman in bright red Lee County so don't feel alone. It's disgusting what Desantis and his Republican cronies have done to this state. We're a laughing stock. But I guess most of our fellow Floridians don't care because they voted him back in.
It’s a C U L T & as long as dear leader is in charge it won’t be a “dictatorship”. There is no reasoning with a person in a cult.
your friends did get the "the first thing a dictator is gonna do it come for our guns" and yet they fail to understand their part in making it happen. Pity the stupid.
I love this guy!
The problem is that they just want to be right all the time. It’s very hard to argue against someone who changes their positions at every five seconds. They move the goal posts whenever they are losing.
Trump’s 1st term passed a law that allowed people with mental illnesses to own guns. Trump’s such a liar!
No dictator worth their salt allows citizens they've blatantly betrayed, to have firearms.
It’s maddening, isn’t it Brando?
First, they will take away freedom of speech and freedom of the press, then they will take away your guns - because why let maga's organize and have weapons once they realize they've been had.
This is just another example verifying that MAGA is a cult. No matter what Trump says or does, he is always right. I'll never understand.
I'm in the UK and own 7 guns mainly for vermin. I read that in the USA there are over 400 million guns held legally. Vermin?
I know. It's ridiculous! And they're the number one killer of children in this country. So sad.
We are going to see a LOT of leopards eating faces. And many of the newly faceless not even realizing it.
Really well said and plain spoken. Happy Turkey day.
I’m from the government, I’m here to help.
Little did Reagan know it would apply to Republicans.
You are explaining my sister to a T. It's sad because she's a very intelligent person 😢
🥲
oh, i get it now. Other presidents don't have to get things done so they have to deal with pesky things like....the law.
They don’t want to admit that there anything wrong with him or his policies. They’re sheep!
He won't remember what he said the next day
Excellent! Now the rest of the “network” “coalition” “community”, please stop pushing that Pam Bondi getting confirmed no matter what. Brando great job! Thanks for doing what you do. As far as others, if you want an example of why “dems mess up messaging” please see the other parts of the community that DIRECTLY take the opposite position of my here neighbor in TN. Demanding one position be taken, (Bondi will get the job) when the rest of the community obviously speaks truth to power that she will not is why “dem messaging” is broken. I’ll just leaves this right here “gambling” addiction and profiting from it is just as bad trafficking in opioids and dead or living children. Smarten up people.
They are self destructive.
They picked him because he is a white man. They didn’t want a black woman President. So stupid!
"They're coming to take our guns!" How many fucking times have we heard the QAP (formerly GOP) decry this?
You hit the nail directly on the head here, Tennessee Brando. MAGAts would literally hand over their guns to Trump if he told them it was necessary. They believe everything he says, and he has carefully cultivated this state. I also believe they’ll “turn in” to the authorities appointed by Trump anyone they think is disloyal to their Dear Leader.
I’m so happy I decided to be a paid subscriber! It feels great to support you all!
I'm terrified!
We need recounts
We need recounts
“Their dictator”? What happens when some of “their” actions affect everyone so violently that there’s no way to fight it? Musk said “some pain”? It’s going to get pretty awful and remember, to those who supported him, you saw and heard the signs of horror we raised. Really too bad you weren’t listening.
As in Machiavelli's The Prince, Trump wants to be a strong man of virtue. Trump however has no trace of virtue in his corrupt background. If he were not about to harm us all (our country) we might feel sorry for him. And give him a bath.
You are always spot on in your assessments. Thank you
Republicans you really need to get your shit together and big time… You are setting such a dangerous president by letting this man do whatever the hell he wants!! protect your damn constituents, protect your damn country!! protect the constitution which is what you made A pledge to.
What they want him to do what they want him to do..hmmm🤔🙄. Guarantee he will not do what they want,just the opposite. He will do as he pleases.
The single time I have agreed with Trump. "Take the guns if they are a danger to themselves orbothers.
Dumpy taking office is the worst a sitting President can let happen in 2025. President Biden will NEVER let this happen. He is a convicted felon, rascist, fascist, rapist, women hating conman, wanna be dictator, grifter, election cheater. The Biden administration is working behind the scenes and is planning a good moment to stop this clown show. Stay tuned.
It's a done deal. Don't expect anything to improve under Trump's dictatorship. I hope Armageddon comes during his reign.
Don't worry it (Armageddon) probably WILL (happen under his dictatorship...) Sorry.
No need to apologize to me. I meant what I said :)
Call it Out Everyone , those who knew and those that are now discovering the truth!🇺🇸🌏🕊️
Thank you. I hope he does come for the guns first. Would at least be a silver lining. I wish people had to gave training and licensing and safe storage to own a gun.
I think the MAGA folks will never run out of excuses for their designated orange savior. They’ll deny he said something even he put it in his social media post or if he said it live at a rally. They’ll insist that he had every right to have national security documents in a bathroom or in a ballroom but Biden’s small cache of documents was treason.
I’m totally all in with Tennessee Brando. I have a new friend in Tennessee.
I'm strongly pro-gun, and I predicted that Trump is worse for gun rights, than Democrats.
I’m not interested in living in a country where a president has unlimited power ~ a despot is dangerous and giving unchecked power is a dictatorship 💥😔🇺🇸‼️
Republicans are so confused and hypocritical
No wonder they come across as just plain stupid 💥‼️😔
Trump wishes you a happy Thanksgiving, may your turkey be orange and you stuffing chunky….
For those headed into a dicey holiday situation this might help in creating more skillful conversations https://www.theframelab.org/how-to-deal-with-trump-supporters-at-your-family-holiday-gathering/
Right Arm! Tennessee! This one was so absolutely Spot ON it's incredible.
Happy Thanksgiving Brando! 🦃
Excellent, you said that exactly right.
I had to chuckle at your comment about Trump screwing people - he sure has, in more ways than one!
So amazing that people should listen
He's a GD disgrace. And so is Joe Biden. The weakest present we've ever had in American history ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever popped my baby on a tree top. Next time you cry in public make sure you sing to him. It's still biden's neglect it's Kamala Harris's neglect and malpractice politically. It's the Democrats Mal practice. Just because my phone spells words badly doesn't mean I do. Joe Biden is a disgrace. Joe Biden is a disgrace. Blumenthal is a disgrace. Chris Murphy is a disgrace, 😭 Joe Courtney's disgrace. You're all disgraceless except for maybe a couple of you. The Democrats have killed are going to kill thousands of people by their political malpractice thanks. Never ever ever ever ever vote for Democratic party again. And I voted for all these people. I know some of these people. And they know me very well. The truth is these people have committed malpractice. In our lives we are going to pay for it. Joe doesn't even want to pardon his own son what up. Because I may look bad. Sweetheart Mr President you already look bad and it makes you look even like the worst parent in the world not saving your own child. If you can't save your own child you shouldn't even be president. He has those charges because of the Republicans. I wouldn't want my kid to go to jail or something like that. And I would do everything I can to stop it. That's being a loving parent. The present Biden is too worried about his damn vanity to care about the American people or his own children. He's selfish and he's a disaster Donald Trump should have been president and we should have kept them that way. And at this point he has so I guess that's it for America we're done
I like Brando and despise Trump, but in all fairness this is all taken out of context. In both instances they were speaking about a single person who has demonstrated his dangerousness. It's that one person Trump is talking about disarming before he has time to use the guns on innocent people!
Don't you think that they will 'expand" this to include everyone? or how about martial law? I could see him declaring that
I do hope you’re right about that but it’s not exactly like Trump plays by the rules and I do think this is what Brando is talking about he would use it indiscriminately on his critics just because he thinks he can. so yes to some extent if they’re definitely a danger to themselves I agree if that is the case but who is going to make that distinction— if it’s left up the Trump he’ll just say it for anybody he wants to silence or oppress and that will be the end of it.
This is useless. People already know. No one is coming to rescue us. So you better bow now. I don't want to do it. Baha's talk in Fair mogging and what you're calling advocacy. It's not working. Nobody hears you nobody cares. And I'm certainly going to do my best to make sure I tell people not to come here and listen to this crap. Because you know what it's a bunch of hot air. It's like a big therapy session of real people. Nothing's going to change. MTN is also responsible for electing Donald Trump. Think about it. Go back in all the videos for the past two years I have. I've saved most of them. All I did was talk about guys on how bad guys I was and how bad Joe Biden is. Is anybody surprised, Harrison win. Baby Donald Trump was right about Harris she's a weak. Full of BS. A fraud a fake and a liar in my opinion. They should put Jasmine crocodile for press up that would work. I support that on her feet. Cuz that's a real Democrat and so is a AOC and maybe Christmas. I'm not some ghetto piece of trash talking like this. I live in a real blue state. Beautiful paradise of a state. I know nothing of racism or anything like that. I'm white and I don't see it here. We don't see immigrants here. I don't even know it was a problem. And I don't care. If it's a problem. As long as it doesn't become my problem and it hasn't. As for abortion rights. It's not in the Constitution they are right it's not in there. I don't understand how it fall under the privacy actor or any other actor that matter. But women do have rights and we do have rights to control our body. And it should be a national law that there should be abortions allowed. But that's not going to happen anymore ever ever again. I get sick every time I hear about a woman dying because of the abortion thing. I never had experience not having any rights. And I don't have to worry about that now I'm 52 years old. I have to worry about with my daughter. But my daughter told me that she's going to get her tubes tied and so is my other daughter. I'll sell that problem real fast. If Donald Trump and his people get ahold of the US government like they have then we're done. And no matter how much you talk and how much you want to charge people just to hear you venting nobody is coming. And I'm not going to pay for it I'm going to make sure nobody else pays to hear blabbering BS. You'll be in the ashes of History just like MSNBC. And you did it to your own selves. I'm pro-democracy you know I spent two years trying to promote democracy. I spent a lot of money and Kamala Harris. I will never donate any money ever again ever. The Democrats are done as a party. Democracy is still in the air but it's flat lining. There's nothing you can do to change things. You don't even try. Who cares about Donald Trump in a psychopathic tendencies. He's the ruler of this land now and you better start listening.