Podcast Summary: The MeidasTouch Podcast
Episode: "Fox News Attacks MeidasTouch for Trump’s Declining Health"
Date: December 14, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Episode Overview
In this episode, the Meiselas brothers delve into Fox News's recent attacks on the MeidasTouch Podcast, particularly targeting commentary from Jordy about Donald Trump’s health and media narratives surrounding it. The brothers dissect Fox’s claims, push back on the framing of Trump’s health as a non-issue, and spotlight how Fox and its contributors respond to mounting concerns over Trump's visible physical and cognitive changes. They also compare Fox’s defensive posture toward Trump’s well-being with the scrutiny previously placed on President Biden, highlighting double standards and the lengths to which right-wing media go to defend Trump.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Fox News Targets MeidasTouch and Jordy
- Fox Segment Recap:
Fox aired an entire segment criticizing Jordy for questioning the White House’s explanation regarding Trump’s discolored and bandaged hand. - Jordy's Clarification:
- Jordy stated he wasn’t making the story political, but was frustrated with being “gaslit” about Trump’s health.
- Fox exaggerated Jordy’s comments, falsely claiming he accused Trump of having a “zombie disease”.
- Ben’s Defense:
- Ben: “Hey State Regime Media, you don’t attack my little brother Jordy.” (05:13)
Quote Highlight
“I just don’t want to be lied to and I don’t want to be gaslit.”
— Jordy, (07:26)
2. Media Double Standards on Presidential Health
- Comparisons to Biden:
Fox hosts responded to MeidasTouch by deflecting attention to old claims about Biden’s mental health and suggesting Trump’s ailments were trivial or just signs of “old age”. - Handbandage Excuses:
Fox guest Caroline Levitt claimed Trump’s bruised/bandaged hand was from excessive handshaking, a rationale the brothers challenge as illogical.
Quote Highlight
“That’s not even where the hand actually shakes... just stop with the lies.”
— Ben, (08:40)
3. Fox’s Pattern of Attacking MeidasTouch
- Recounted past moments when Fox labeled MeidasTouch hosts as dangerous for reporting on ICE raids ("should be prosecuted by DOJ"), and took clips out of context to attack their reporting credibility.
4. Fox’s Defense Mechanisms Around Trump’s Health
- Physical Activity & Age:
Fox contributors attempted to minimize Trump’s reduced schedule and appearance of fatigue by chalking it up to age, while simultaneously portraying him as an indefatigable “machine”. - Cognitive Defenses:
- Jesse Watters: “You can’t be a dictator with dementia. Trump didn’t need note cards to know who Hillary Clinton was… he remembers every slight, every name, every statistic.” (15:45)
Quote Highlight
“He barely sleeps at all. That’s a sign of Alzheimer’s and dementia. I’m not suggesting that Donald Trump has it… I’m just giving you opinions.”
— Ben, paraphrasing Howard Lutnick, (17:54)
5. Phony Medical Justifications and Fox’s ‘Experts’
- Fox’s medical contributor, Dr. Mark Siegel, suggests “preventative MRIs of the abdomen” are done by executives, rationalizing Trump getting a full torso MRI — a practice debunked by Midas Health’s Dr. Vin Gupta.
- Dr. Vin Gupta’s Refutation:
- Consulted radiology experts across top institutions; none are aware of “full torso screening MRIs” as standard practice.
- Calls the reporting of only certain results (cardiac and abdominal) “odd” and unsupported by clinical guidelines.
Quote Highlight
“There is no clinical guideline that exists. ...No one is aware of any type of screening guideline to say yes, as you age, get an MRI of the heart and of your abdomen.”
— Dr. Vin Gupta, (23:30)
6. Trump’s Frequent Cognitive Testing – A Red Flag?
- Dr. Gupta explains it’s unusual (and unnecessary) for anyone to repeatedly take the Montreal Cognitive Assessment at the frequency claimed by Trump (“every three months or six months”) and that boasting about passing it is not the “flex” Trump thinks.
Quote Highlight
“No one takes it with this type of frequency... it’s not the flex that he thinks it is.”
— Dr. Vin Gupta, (25:40)
7. Excusing Trump’s Sleepiness and Memory Lapses
- Laura Ingraham and Dr. Siegel downplay Trump allegedly falling asleep during Rubio’s speaking or in meetings: “If you sleep three hours or four hours a night, you’re probably gonna close your eyes whether you’re 79 or 49. I don’t think that matters.” (28:15)
- “Thomas Edison believed in the 10 minute nap…” – Fox Host (28:35)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Ben Meiselas: “They want us shut down. They’re investing billions… to try to destroy us.” (12:42)
- Jordy: “I just don’t want to be lied to and I don’t want to be gaslit.” (07:26)
- Jesse Watters: “You can’t be a dictator with dementia... The man is a lot of things. He does not have dementia.” (15:45)
- Howard Lutnick (as paraphrased): “The president sleeps less than me. I sleep five hours a night. The president sleeps four hours a night. He’s working all the time.” (18:15)
- Dr. Vin Gupta: “No one is aware of a screening process like that... There’s no clinical guideline that exists.” (23:35)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 05:13 — Ben responds to Fox’s attack on Jordy
- 07:26 — Jordy outlines frustration with being lied to about Trump’s health
- 08:40 — Ben debunks the “handshakes” explanation
- 12:42 — Ben on Fox targeting MeidasTouch and their broader efforts to undercut pro-democracy media
- 15:45 — Jesse Watters insists Trump has no “dementia”
- 17:54 — Ben & Howard Lutnick’s statements on Trump’s sleep patterns
- 23:30 — Dr. Vin Gupta refutes preventative “torso MRI” claims
- 25:40 — Dr. Gupta on cognitive health testing frequency
- 28:15 — Laura Ingraham and Dr. Siegel minimize Trump’s sleep habits/napping during meetings
- 28:35 — Fox compares Trump’s naps to Thomas Edison’s
Conclusion
The Meiselas brothers use this episode to dissect Fox News’s attempts to discredit MeidasTouch, highlight double standards in health reporting between Trump and Biden, and expose questionable medical claims from conservative “experts.” They emphasize their commitment to factual reporting and pro-democracy advocacy, while inviting listeners to scrutinize media narratives with critical thinking and reject gaslighting—particularly regarding the health and competence of political leaders.
Tone: The episode blends sharp critique, sardonic humor, and a call for accountability, staying true to the brothers’ lively, bantering style.