The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: "Fox News Collapse on Live TV as Trump Awful Plan Goes Sideways"

Date: October 8, 2025
Hosts: Ben Meiselas, Brett Meiselas, Jordy Meiselas
Network: MeidasTouch Network

Overview

This episode dives into the disarray at Fox News, especially in the wake of a government shutdown, and exposes the desperate narratives and propaganda tactics used by Fox News personalities defending Donald Trump and Republican policies. The Meiselas brothers, leveraging their signature mix of sharp analysis and hilarious banter, dissect the "Fox News collapse," highlighting the absurdity, contradictions, and projection present in recent Fox segments. The episode focuses on Fox's attempts to shift blame for the shutdown, attack Democrats, distract with culture-war issues, and lionize controversial figures like Stephen Miller—all while their narrative unravels on live TV.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fox News' Floundering Response to the Government Shutdown

• Fox’s “Blame Obama & Biden” Narrative
  • Fox has been attempting to deflect blame for the government shutdown from Republicans and Trump onto Democrats, with guests like Sen. Ron Johnson making extreme claims:

    “It should be obvious to every American that it’s not the Republicans that are a threat to our democracy. It’s President Obama, it’s President Biden...” — Ron Johnson (01:44)

• Distraction Tactics
  • Instead of addressing the real cause or solutions for the shutdown, Fox segments veered into unrelated “culture war” issues—e.g., marijuana legalization, census conspiracies—trying to whip up fear or outrage rather than inform.

2. Absurdist Segments & Off-topic Rants on Fox

• Marijuana as a Crisis
  • Sean Duffy bizarrely claimed the “real issue” is marijuana legalization, painting it as an existential threat while barely addressing the shutdown:

    “At a time when culture is pushing and celebrating the use of marijuana, we’re not talking about the risks... To legalize it is dangerous.” — Sean Duffy (02:57)

• 2020 Census Conspiracies
  • Sen. Tommy Tuberville implied the census—and by extension the 2020 election—was “rigged,” despite the census taking place under Trump:

    “It was all game plan. The Democrats were letting illegals come in for a different count. They obviously had a census going. It was all rigged.” — Tommy Tuberville (03:59)

3. The Stephen Miller Segment: Fox’s “High Value Male” Fantasies

• Jesse Watters’ Odd Praise
  • Watters launched into a fawning, awkward soliloquy about Stephen Miller’s supposed “high value” as a man:

    “Miller is a high value man because he has power and influence, because he has vision... He speaks with confidence and flair and he’s unafraid of anything... and they have younger wives with beautiful children.” — Jesse Watters (05:41)

  • Ron Filipkowski and the hosts found this “pretty creepy” (07:04) and out-of-touch.
• Attacks on AOC
  • Following AOC’s Instagram post mocking Miller, Fox forced Miller to listen and respond live, leading to more mudslinging:

    “He looks like he is angry about the fact that he’s 4'10". And he looks like he is so mad… that he’s taking that anger out at any other population possible.” — AOC, as played by Laura Ingraham (07:48) “We knew that her brain didn’t work. Now we know their eyes don’t work… What a train wreck.” — Jesse Watters (08:27)

  • Watters doubled down in a later segment, with a crass, misogynistic claim:

    “I think AOC wants to sleep with Miller. It is so obvious, and I'm sorry, you can’t have him.” — Jesse Watters (09:36)

4. Projection and Playing the Victim

• Attacking Democratic Billionaires
  • Fox accused billionaires like J.B. Pritzker and Gavin Newsom of “throwing around reckless rhetoric” and “demonizing” law enforcement (11:56), ignoring similar behaviors by certain Republican figures.
• Kristi Noem’s Outrage Playbook
  • Noem claimed Sen. Padilla “attacked” her (13:01), playing the victim, when in reality, footage showed the opposite.
  • She also branded Portland politicians “a bunch of pansies” (13:39), escalating the insults and cosplay-like tough talk.

5. Immigration and Racial Profiling Denials

• DHS Denials of Racial Profiling
  • Tricia McLaughlin (DHS) denied racial profiling occurred:

    “Race has nothing to do with it. And for him [Gov. Pritzker] to do that upon all these attacks… is just despicable.” — Tricia McLaughlin (15:21)

  • The hosts noted this contradicted actual DOJ arguments and Supreme Court rulings.

6. Shutdown Blame Game & Health Care

• Republicans Try to Shift Responsibility
  • Sen. John Thune insisted Democrats must accept the GOP's demands “or else”:

    “It’s… open up the government and, or, or else. I mean, I think that's really the choice that's in front of them right now.” — John Thune (17:08)

  • Hosts debunked this ultimatum approach, noting bipartisan requirements in governance.
• Medicare Fraud Reminder
  • The podcast highlighted Sen. Rick Scott’s history in the largest Medicare fraud in U.S. history and his blame-shifting about Obamacare costs (18:42).
• Democrats on Fox: Sen. Kelly Calls Out Trump
  • Senator Kelly pushed Fox to recognize the shutdown disproportionately hurts rural Trump voters, demanding real negotiation (19:30).

7. Fox Personalities’ Frustration and Misplaced Outrage

• Sean Duffy & Gavin Newsom Over Flight Delays
  • Duffy wrongly blamed Democrats for shutdown-related disruptions at Burbank Airport:

    “Every Republican has voted to keep the government open… The reason they’re shutting it down today is because illegals aren’t getting health benefits…” — Sean Duffy (21:17)

  • Hosts pointed out that Republicans control the government and orchestrated the shutdown.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fox’s Strategy:

  “Everything they do is projection.” — Ron Filipkowski (11:32)

• The “High Value Male” Rant:

  “Men who are high value men like Stephen Miller take risks. They’re brave... and have younger wives with beautiful children. I think I just gave him like a dating recommendation.” — Jesse Watters (06:38)

• Speaking Truth to Power:

  “The American people are fed up and disgusted with your crap. With the fascism, with mass ICE agents disappearing people... Fascism on the streets of New York.” — Ron Filipkowski (15:58)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 01:43–02:57: Fox hosts try to shift blame for government shutdown via guests like Ron Johnson and Sean Duffy.
• 03:35–04:41: Census conspiracy discussion with Tommy Tuberville.
• 05:41–07:09: Jesse Watters' Stephen Miller monologue.
• 07:48–08:57: AOC’s mocking of Stephen Miller and Fox’s live response.
• 09:36–10:01: Jesse Watters’ misogynistic remark about AOC and Miller.
• 11:53–12:12: Fox attacks on Democratic billionaires.
• 13:01–14:38: Kristi Noem’s victim narrative and mocking of Portland politicians.
• 15:10–15:58: DHS spokesperson defends ICE, denies racial profiling.
• 17:08–17:29: Sen. Thune’s “open up or else” shutdown ultimatum.
• 18:42–19:13: Sen. Rick Scott’s Medicare fraud history and Obamacare blame.
• 19:30–20:18: Sen. Kelly challenges Fox narrative, highlights harm to Trump’s own voting base.
• 21:05–21:53: Burbank Airport delays and the blame game between Sean Duffy and Gavin Newsom.

Tone & Style

The MeidasTouch brothers keep their wit sharp and tone incredulous throughout, mocking Fox’s melodrama and hypocrisy while emphasizing the real damage of distraction, projection, and deceitful right-wing propaganda. Their mission remains clear: defending democracy, debunking Fox-fueled misinformation, and rallying listeners to stay informed and resist media manipulation.

Summary prepared for those wanting an informed, entertaining look into Fox News’ public unraveling and the broader rightwing meltdown during the government shutdown scandal of October 2025.