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SPEAKER 1
Well, I want to wish everyone out there a happy Thanksgiving. I hope that everyone has a great holiday. I hope you get to spend it with the people you love. I hope that it's peaceful, and I hope that it's as joyful as it can be during these dark times.
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I know it's really hard on a lot of people. I've talked to so many of you and read your emails about how you're dreading this day and not looking forward to it, and I can't blame you. There's people I don't want to go around and ain't going to go around. I completely understand. But I really believe...
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And I know for a fact that we are on the right side of history. I know that we fought the good fight and we're going to continue to do so. I stumbled across this clip and I stumbled across it a day or two ago.

Tennessee Brando on a Country Music Star's Hopeful Message in These Dark Times

Country singer Sturgill Simpson offers a silver lining and a call for compassion amid the chaos.

In a heartfelt Thanksgiving reflection, MeidasTouch’s red-state contributor Tennessee Brando highlighted a poignant message from country music artist Sturgill Simpson. Acknowledging the difficulties many face during the holidays, Simpson shared an uplifting perspective: "This toxic, patriarchal energy... is clinging and clawing for its survival because it knows it's dying, and we are heading towards something very beautiful."

Brando praised Simpson’s optimism, likening the struggles of progress to a final, desperate roar of a fading movement. He encouraged listeners to hold on to hope and compassion while weathering these challenging times. Simpson’s ability to inspire through both music and message was lauded by Brando, who urged everyone to explore the artist's diverse catalog. This Thanksgiving, the message is clear: brighter days lie ahead, even in the face of turmoil.

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Discussion about this video

User's avatar
Claire's avatar

I have to say Tennessee Brando-saw this on Your YouTube channel yesterday and it brought me such peace and tranquility-one of the best commentaries about our current situation 🤗🤗🤗

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Eric Lin Doub's avatar

I agree that this is what is going on -- a last, cruel and destructive surge on the part of a dying system. Historian Arnold Toynbee documented that as civilizations rise and fall, in the 4th and last stage, when the system is disintegrating, those who had the most power at the height of the system redouble their efforts to do all the things that gave them power and control. These desperate efforts are just that, desperation because they know the system is going away. The core question is how to survive this destructive desperation, and keep resisting evil at the same time as we create parallel, new institutions...like Meidas touch!

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Lisa Ham's avatar

I have his tome on my shelf, the abridged one no less. I really need to sit down and read page 32 and beyond. Thanks for the reminder.

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Sharon German's avatar

Love to Tennessee Brando for trying to bring truth and love to his people! Maybe someday at least some of them will come back to reality…keep it up!❤️

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Patrick Murphy's avatar

Haven’t been to a thanksgiving dinner or Christmas dinner since Ronald Regan

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JP's avatar
Nov 30Edited

Let’s see how thankful MAGAs are when tariffs mean things like soap, laundry detergent and socks cost three times what they do now.

Let’s see how thankful they are when they have to wait ten months for their tax refunds, because Trump and friends cut funding for the IRS.

Let’s see how thankful they are when mom isn’t getting her Social Security, and her Medicare co pays go up.

This t-shirt is perfect for Thanksgiving dinner 👇 🤣

https://libtees-2.creator-spring.com/listing/radlib

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Leslie Goodman-Malamuth's avatar

Reagan’s first year in the White House corresponded with my brief starter marriage. I’ve never since feigned Xmas. By the next election night, I’d married the man whose religious faith I share.

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Patrick Murphy's avatar

Please keep your religion out of politics and prayers out of our schools. You’re right to practice your religion I took bullets for and the right for everyone’s else’s right

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Lights Seiferlein's avatar

It doesn't sound like she's a Trumper. So don't attack every person of faith who posts here, please. You don't know her politics so it's just as reasonable to think she might be an ally as not.

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Patrick Murphy's avatar

PO I said that I fought for every single ones rights that includes hers. There is a proper way to do things and place not in our political system is that to be put up with any more than if I posted nude photos of my wounds should be on display.

Get it got it good. No attack at all improper behavior period

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Tracey Angle's avatar

That's sad

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Patrick Murphy's avatar

No itself is freedom of expression for them and me . I don’t do drama and people who lie to themselves and others and believe their own lies when the facts speak for themselves

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Joe Lara sr's avatar

I can Digg it

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Jen Renzaglia's avatar

The conservatives I grew up with in the Midwest always harped about welfare and fell for Reagan's "welfare queens driving Cadillacs." They don't believe in a social safety net and think the churches can handle the poor's needs, without government help. Today, they don't believe in climate change and think money is thrown away there, too, with the green new deal policies. Plus, they would never vote for a candidate that was not pro-life. We won't win with these people; we have to win with everyone else.

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Cathy Delia's avatar

This sounds like my family, even though my sister would not be able to survive without government assistance. Their hypocrisy floors me.

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Colleen McGloughlin's avatar

When you’re going through hell….. keep going.

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Linda Rey's avatar

Refreshing perspective indeed. It's true. The loudest gets the most attention.

I plan to stay in the fold to resist, oppose and fight all the BS of taking rights away from folks. It's not right. It's not kind. It's not compassionate. It's pure hate, evil and greed.

STAND UP, SPEAK UP, STAY INFORMED, STAY STRONG!

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Janet Suriano's avatar

Tennessee Brando, you are always lifting my spirits and easing my mind. You are a wonderful human being and I am grateful you speak out on all the injustices that we go through everyday ❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

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Diane E Bellard's avatar

I do hope you’re right that the MAGA movement and Trumpism is dying. This is not how I wanted to spend my retirement and it’s already been 9 years.

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Leslie Goodman-Malamuth's avatar

Thank you, Tennessee Brando. I spent Thanksgiving Eve in bed, covers muffling my migraine. I was later revived by a plateful of my DIL’s transcendent macaroni and cheese, a from-scratch wonder now a Thanksgiving staple. Thank you, Sarah Ashley, a Georgia peach whose heart is even larger than that restorative serving.

Looking forward to listening to Sturgis, another rare OTC remedy for pain and hopelessness.

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Robin Katzenstein's avatar

I love that message. It makes sense too. Society is progressing and they’re trying to stop it, but won’t be able to. Thank you Tennessee Brando, and I’m going to go listen to some Sturgill Simpson music right now!

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Jackie Robare Fiese's avatar

Thank you for the Thanksgiving message. I have to say I never was very political, but when it came to Cockwomble (Trump) running our country, it came to me that everyone who ever fought and died for our country, throughout these many years, had the same feelings as I do today. Save this country from people like him and his minions. Save democracy.

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Connie's avatar

I hope you are correct. ♥️

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Tara Bryant's avatar

Sturgill has always been the absolute best.

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Janet's avatar

One of the tell tale sign for me that they are losing power is his picks for the administration. All that's left are the lowest of the lowest hanging fruit. I agree with so many of your points.

I'm thinking what has just happened in the past few days in Syria, Romania, Georgia, Ukraine. They aren't giving up and neither should we.

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Lights Seiferlein's avatar

Very cool to see a country singer aware of the patriarchy and I certainly pray that I live to see the end of it. It's not a good system, at least for most of us. Kudos to this gentleman and kudos to you, Brando, for spreading his words and for your continuing message of hope.

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Lois Sell's avatar

Thank you once again for giving us hope! Every time I listen to your channel, I come away feeling so much better!!

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C50BB's avatar

Respect to Brando from Australia. What happens in the US affects us as well.

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Judith's avatar

Thank you….. Much needed and greatly appreciated!

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Betsy's avatar

What a wonderful message for the many who struggle to see what may be ahead. Thank you!

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Daniel D Smith's avatar

I tried to share this four times on Facebook where most of my friends hang out, and it was deleted four times as spam! In fact, any link from this Meidas Substack gets this treatment! F*cking Zuckerberg who went on Friday to Mierda-lago to kiss orange ass!

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Patrick Murphy's avatar

The world is done with conservatives and their lies and propaganda machine and they are being voted out all around the world. Stop playing victim card and stop giving them what they’re after your money. Get out of the stock market and bond markets and put your 401k into gold no penalty and you’ll be in control where the thief’s republican government can touch it .

Stop buying anything new anything big shopping only for what’s on sale close the economy under Trump in the golden toilets of maga

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Tracey Angle's avatar

I've never heard of Tennessee -Brando before. Thanks for sharing his video. I enjoyed it and truly needed to hear that msg today.

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Steve Raymond's avatar

The emergence of radical nationalist religious movements is a reaction to the diminishing prominence of religion in society. So, this is a good time to begin the process of emancipating the world from the tyranny of religion, which has hindered creativity, stifled genius and demonized both natural instincts and pleasurable experiences for millennia.

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Sue Stine's avatar

https://www.tiktok.com/@brianmclaren/video/7432884450091961642 Here is Brian McClaren's short video supporting the message of TB: that we are seeing the death of the old and the labor of something new being born. McClaren's thoughts give me hope.

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Cindy del Valle's avatar

TY and I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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Mary Molina's avatar

Thank you Brando for your Compassion messages we need to hear and we need you for our Humanity as a Country, we will stay United and keep passing messages of Love and Unity, that will destroy the darkness with love and Humanity. We shall overcome 🙏

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Joan Fregapane's avatar

Thank you, TB! Your words & those of Sturgill Simpson have brought me a small measure of hope and peace on this holiday weekend.

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Janet Suriano's avatar

I thank God for you, the Midas Touch Network, the Coach,Stella Mags, Harry Sessnon, Bryan Tyler Cohen, just all the pro democracy people out there. I would go completely cray cray if it wasn't for you guys. Thank you❤️❤️❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

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Sherry Nader Goff's avatar

I love your message and also Sturgill’s. I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving! I had a great one because everyone there was anti-Trump. We didn’t talk politics much but there was lots of love and fun. Thank you for your encouragement! God bless you!

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Natalie Harless's avatar

Agree. At 73 & still an optimist in my heart & soul. We've been through worse for decades. America still stands.

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Gary Barr's avatar

What a breath of fresh air to put forth the proposition that the political darkness we are now in is just before the light of truth comes forth and smothers the darkness. This was also the promise of Christ Jesus the Way Shower. I now see the sun rising on the eastern horizon and the darkness of the presence will soon be disappearing. Thank you. :-)

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Phillip Simmons's avatar

They you so much Tennessee Brando! You are my favorite commentator. #saveamerica2025

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Patrick Murphy's avatar

On January 20th the real resistance starts we the people are taking all of our money out of the stock markets and bond markets and get our 401k turned into gold investments without penalty and then getting that money out of America into safe boxes and numbered accounts overseas where republicans can’t touch it and keeping our bank accounts at 47 dollars and getting the rest of the money out of America.

Get your properties refinanced at 110% LTV get that tax free money out of America then you don’t care not if but when the housing market crashes you already have your equity don’t you. Safely away from the thieves in the Nazi republican leaders.

Park your extra cars and cancel the insurance for them.

Only buy the foods that are on sale and only what you need.

Buy a bicycle and ride share to wool cut the buying of gas in half nationwide.

If we are going to hurt let’s do it on our own rearms that way trumps voters will feel the pressure and pain of being shunned from the rest of America on earth one

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Rhonda Graham's avatar

Perfect for the times, thanks for sharing

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Tammy Fitzgerald's avatar

🙏❤️‍🩹👁️👁️👁️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

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Cheryl Pais's avatar

You too dude.

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Pat Robinson's avatar

From things I read, which may or may not be accurate, it seems attendance at evangelical churches is on the decline, especially among young people. I think (hope) many young people embrace equality, and really judging folks for their ideas, not their identities. My grand children who are being raised as blue specks in a red sea (I mean fellow students believe there is a weather machine in the basement of the white house, we did not send a man to the moon, women are livestock) are pretty much ok with non straight students, people of color. For a while my granddaughter dated one of the few Black boys in the school, and she has made the comment that she and many of her friends would like to be in biracial marriages sort of because you have so many more people to chose from both for partners and for friends. And if you had a choice, which you don't, being bisexual is the way to go for the same reason...there is still a ton of hate in the school, but the fact that my grandkids' have even said this about their classmates is huge. There will still be some parents who will do all they can to totally control what their kids see on their phones, but kids will find a way to a large degree, and when they see non straight folks who are pretty cool, or biracial couples who are happy or folks that do not preach one thing and then do another like virtually all the church going evangelicals, they see through it.

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Jeanne Durco's avatar

Thankful for you!💖

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Patrick Murphy's avatar

Women stop shopping bring the man game to it’s knees don’t date republicans do your homework before going on a date with any of the . Married to a maga not happy get the divorce started now get only a female woman of right thinking lawyer do your research before you hire her Two republican state have outlawed divorce the rest will flow behind the get out for yourself and your kids sake this is going to get damm ugly and you and your children will be in harms way the whites and Mexican men will take it out on you and your kids and you and I both know that don’t we. Don’t think just do it fast as you can

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Molly Cummins's avatar

Thank you!!!!!

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Jeff Hewitt's avatar

Leave on.

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Terry L. Johnson's avatar

Keep up with the Revolution in Government

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Kristin Parker's avatar

Thank you! I needed that!

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Cathy Delia's avatar

I sincerely hope that you are right. It does make sense. I just hope that the damage they do before they finally die can be undone and that this country can repair itself. Thanks for the silver lining.

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Howard Coombe.'s avatar

Yes. Let them go George Forman and then Once They're Done Get Off the Ropes and Break Both Jaws.

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Jeannie M May's avatar

MAGA does not allow in, any conflicting information.

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Margaret Andrews's avatar

Thanks Brandon. We just have to keep the faith.

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Inez's avatar

From London we are cheered and encouraged by you and the many Americans like your good self. Thank you

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ed stull's avatar

lol…

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Tracy L Lewis's avatar

Love spreading the Sturgill goodness. He is a major talent of this era 🔥

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david ludden's avatar

Too bad so many folks will have to suffer and die for the last wind, if that's what this is!

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Kelley Selby's avatar

How many people will have to suffer and die because we have to wait around for maga to die out ? I am not for that at all. Americans have no idea what is coming. It will be brutal, evil, and if you don't believe me you go ahead and watch documentaries on Nazi Germany. We are in a no shit moment America.

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dom's avatar

Your content is fantastic, sir!

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Maureen Hatfield's avatar

Thank you Tennessee Brando! I agree we are undergoing an evolution! Change is never easy, never soft, from your mouth to the populations ears and heart. Go ahead, call me woke, I wear it like a badge of honor. All of us have a place at the table. As an old woman I pray my daughter, SIL, new grand-baby have a path forward of acceptance, open mindedness, and knowledge of we are all of the same! Thank you for sharing these uplifting talks. My time is short, but knowing there is hope for a better ( not easy) path forward, lifts me! Thank you!

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Colleen Brady's avatar

Tennessee, thank you again! I really liked your share of the country music 's quote. It was very uplifting!

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Shame On ‘em's avatar

AMEN!

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Patricia Moore's avatar

Wonderful uplifting message...thanks.

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Yves Riguet's avatar

I hope you caught my drift..

https://youtu.be/Oi9i5nF7SoY

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Lights Seiferlein's avatar

Hope your Thanksgiving was blessed, Brando. Mine was very nice. Had a nice Thanksgiving dinner with friends at the senior community where I live. Most of the community here tends liberal (thank God). A blessed holiday season to you , the Meiselas brothers and their families and to all you Meidas Mighties!

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Willard Campbell's avatar

Every time I try to post this to FACEBOOK they remove it as SPAM

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Ruth Johnson's avatar

I have to say Thank you, Tennessee, for sharing Sturgill with us at this time. And for explaining how this point in time is the end of an era. That certainly makes sense and is hope affirming to me. Last night listening to your music on YouTube was a terrific experience! Never did something like that before. Your fans are great. Thanks again and take care.

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Reese Erwin's avatar

I appreciate your and Sturgill’s efforts to be uplifting, but I do not share your optimism. I don’t see any last gasps, instead, they are gaining momentum and it’s the beginning of a long horrific era.

Reminds me of Anne Frank who wrote beautifully but unrealistically about her optimism in darkness, yet her life and much of her family’s ended in an indescribably cruel death in a concentration camp. She never wrote about how her hope ended in such horror and probably despair and hopelessness. Her silver lining never came.

Same for so many millions during that long era of indescribable suffering. I cannot even think of.

I am facing what I perceive as reality. But, I am still going to try to resist and do what I can to survive and help others.

Thanks for your efforts.

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0:29
And I know for a fact that we are on the right side of history. I know that we fought the good fight and we're going to continue to do so. I stumbled across this clip and I stumbled across it a day or two ago.