The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Fox Gets Rude Awakening as Guest Smokes Hannity on Live TV
Date: January 21, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Episode Overview

This episode dives into a fiery clash on Fox News' "Hannity" between Tennessee State Representative Justin Jones and Sean Hannity. The Meiselas brothers break down how Jones not only held his ground but forcefully called out Fox News for its rhetoric, exposing its alignment with right-wing fear-mongering tactics and Donald Trump's circle. The episode also scrutinizes Fox's bizarre post-interview segments—including Jesse Watters' imperialist rants—and analyzes right-wing rhetoric surrounding ICE, immigration, and the attempted acquisition of Greenland.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Justin Jones vs. Sean Hannity: A Televised Showdown

• Jones' Relentless Critique:
  • Justin Jones challenged Sean Hannity's narrative, accusing Fox News and Trump of inciting fear rather than addressing real issues facing Americans.
  • Refused to let Hannity's interruptions derail his points, instead using them to highlight Fox's tactics.
• Main Accusations:
  • Called out Hannity for focusing on immigrants as scapegoats:

    “You want people to be fearful of immigrants. It's the corporate CEOs who are screwing them over and making so that they cannot afford groceries in their healthcare. That's who we need to go after.” (Justin Jones, [02:50])

  • Accused Trump and Hannity of ignoring real crime, instead associating with "pedos and criminals at Mar-a-Lago."
  • Drew a personal connection to KKK violence, linking current ICE and border enforcement tactics to white supremacist legacy.

2. Memorable Quotes and Mic Drop Moments

• “Shame on you, my brother. God have mercy on you because what you are doing is wrong.”
  — Justin Jones to Sean Hannity ([03:57])

• “Your children will be ashamed of where you stand at this time.”
  — Justin Jones to Hannity ([04:25])

• “They ran my grandparents out of Tennessee… We're seeing those same KKK tactics with ICE and border patrol Gestapo who need to be abolished.”
  — Justin Jones, responding to questions about the KKK ([07:06])

• On Fox News Broadcasting Tactics:

  • Brothers note how Fox turned up Hannity’s volume and played music to drown out Jones, but his critique still came through.

    “You can even see what state regime media was doing here… Justin Jones still got in his points.” (Narrator, [00:59])

3. Fox News’ Pivot: Jesse Watters and the Greenland Rant

• Trump as “Daddy”:

  • Watters and others bizarrely refer to Trump as “Daddy,” revealing the cult of personality.

    “Daddy's home, everybody. Our daddy's home.” (Jesse Watters, [08:13])

• Imperialist Rhetoric Over Greenland:

  • Watters suggests the U.S. should simply take Greenland—and that “we have dominion over the entire Western hemisphere”:

    “Europeans can't just have colonies right off the coast of Maine… If we needed Bermuda, we'd take it and the British would let it happen.” ([10:56])

  • Further asserts America’s right to seize land for strategic advantage, likening Trump to Napoleon.

4. Authoritarian and White Nationalist Undertones

• Hosts draw parallels between Fox’s arguments and authoritarian, white nationalist rhetoric:
  • Critique Fox’s framing of US global “dominance” as “speaking like Nazis.”
  • Point out dehumanization of immigrants and scapegoating by right-wing media.

5. DOJ on Immigrant Policy & Fox’s Spin

• Discussion of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s appearance:
  • DOJ’s intent to target local officials (“going after them”) for resisting federal ICE actions, reflecting political prosecution priorities.
  • Meiselas brothers highlight the dangerous precedent and chilling effect on local governance.

    “The hell is going on here?” (Narrator, [14:07])

6. Kayleigh McEnany’s Praise of Trump’s Messaging

• McEnany praises Trump’s ability to “give a voice” to both sides, but the brothers mock this as hollow spin.
• Raises possibility of adding Greenland as a U.S. territory, painting it as a political ploy against Democrats.

7. Symbolic Protest: Jones Holds 'Abolish ICE' Sign

• The episode closes with a segment on Justin Jones' first day at the Tennessee legislature, where he dramatically displays an “ABOLISH ICE” sign, underscoring the intertwining of protest and governance. ([17:11])

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Justin Jones ([02:39]):

  “You want people to be fearful of immigrants. It's the corporate CEOs who are screwing them over and making so that they cannot afford groceries in their healthcare. That's who we need to go after.”

• Justin Jones to Hannity ([03:57]):

  “Shame on you, my brother. God have mercy on you because what you are doing is wrong.”

• Justin Jones to Hannity and Fox Viewers ([04:25]):

  “Your children will be ashamed of where you stand at this time.”

• Justin Jones on KKK and ICE ([07:06]):

  “They ran my grandparents out of Tennessee… We're seeing those same KKK tactics with ICE and border patrol Gestapo who need to be abolished.”

• Jesse Watters, on U.S. dominion ([10:56]):

  “Greenland is an island in North America… We have dominion over the entire Western hemisphere.”

• Meiselas brothers on Fox’s tactics ([00:59]):

  “They tried to adjust Sean Hannity's volume up and also play music while Justin Jones… was absolutely smoking Hannity. But Justin Jones still got in his points.”

Segment Timestamps

• [00:59]–[07:45]: Justin Jones vs. Hannity segments, including all key exchanges
• [08:13]–[12:09]: Jesse Watters and Fox team pivot to Trump worship and Greenland land grab
• [13:10]–[15:58]: DOJ and Trumpworld discuss targeting state officials, Kayleigh McEnany spins Trump messaging
• [17:11]: Jones' “Abolish ICE” protest in the Tennessee legislature

Tone & Takeaways

• The Meiselas brothers maintain their signature mix of biting analysis, humor, and unapologetic pro-democracy commentary.
• The episode critiques right-wing media’s scare tactics and cult-of-personality focus, while celebrating Jones as an emerging Democratic star who refuses to be intimidated on Fox's home turf.
• Multiple direct audio quotes from the exchanges underscore the raw, unscripted confrontations and the refusal of Jones—and the MeidasTouch hosts—to let Fox’s narrative go unchallenged.

For listeners:
If you missed the episode, this summary captures the heated energy and substance of Justin Jones’ showdown on Fox, and the Meiselas brothers' take on what it says about today’s media and political climate. For future watching, be sure to tune in for more of Jones and the MeidasTouch team's no-nonsense breakdowns.