Thursday Breaking Updates with Ben: Trump Attacks Canada, Charlie Angus Responds - 8/27/26

Ben Meiselas opens the episode by highlighting Donald Trump's recent announcement regarding changing the name of Lake Ontario to "Lake America." Meiselas quickly dismisses this as a distraction tactic, emphasizing that Trump is attempting to divert attention from his failing policies and plummeting approval ratings. He points out that Trump's approval among Americans who "strongly approve" of him is a mere 13%, a figure Meiselas repeats for emphasis. He also notes that in key districts in Texas, where Trump previously won by significant margins, Democratic candidates are now leading, indicating a shift in voter sentiment.

Meiselas then pivots to Trump's "disastrous trade war" against Canada, stating that Canada is fighting back. He reveals that China and Russia have responded to Trump's economic threats against Iran by mocking the U.S. and strengthening their own ties with Iran. Russia, in particular, has announced a $25 billion nuclear deal with Iran, in addition to existing joint ventures. Meiselas asserts that the U.S. has never been weaker in its history, with alliances crumbling and the country running out of weapons and munitions. He sarcastically suggests that Trump's actions are akin to "Operation Economic Outcast," where the U.S. is becoming the outcast.

The Trump Playbook: Distraction and Destruction

Meiselas explains that Trump's strategy is to create outrageous distractions to draw attention away from his failures. He describes Trump as a "psychotic, demented human being" and a "weapon of mass destruction" against the United States. Meiselas references a post from Scott Bessent, a Trump regime official, who ironically criticizes Iran for "squandering enormous sums abroad" while its people struggle, a description Meiselas argues perfectly fits the United States under Trump's leadership. He highlights the hypocrisy, noting that the U.S. is the one funneling billions to "terrorist proxies" and that the name Lake Ontario, meaning "the lake is beautiful, the lake is big," predates both Canada and the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

Meiselas then introduces a clip of a three-time Trump voter from Iowa expressing extreme disappointment with Trump, particularly regarding his unfulfilled promise to lower prices. The voter states, "I'm over it, I think. Over the Trump thing. The Trump wagon." This sentiment is echoed by another clip featuring two Texas Republican voters who declare they are "done" with the Republican Party, feeling betrayed and unheard. They praise Democratic candidates for being willing to listen to their concerns, a stark contrast to the Republicans who they say have given them "nothing more than the middle finger."