The MeidasTouch Podcast: Fox News Collapses on Air After Trump Kills His Term

Date: November 22, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Episode Overview

In this packed episode, the Meiselas brothers dissect state media, specifically Fox News, as it grapples with the political fallout from Donald Trump’s recent actions and policy failures. From the economy and awkward Fox coverage of Trump’s Oval Office meeting with NYC Mayor-elect Zoran Mamdani, to wild claims about Chinese surveillance and real-time Republican spin, the brothers use their mix of legal acumen, comedic banter, and sharp critique to expose contradictions, hypocrisy, and absurdity among Trump’s political enablers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fox News Economic Spin Meltdown

Timestamp: 02:04–03:39

• Fox News struggles to explain high food prices and shrinking holiday budgets, blaming economic woes on policies under Trump, though trying to spin the narrative in his favor.
• Clips played show Fox anchors recommending viewers stick to turkey due to skyrocketing beef prices and suggesting adults forego holiday gifts to save money:
  • “Budget, budget, budget. You need a plan. Also remember, adults don't need gifts, okay? Focus on the people in your life who are age 3 to 18. Grandma doesn't need slippers.” (Fox Guest, 03:19)
• Ben and Brett lampoon the contradiction: If Trump’s economy was so good, why the need for such austerity tips?

2. The Mamdani–Trump Oval Office Meeting: Conservative Media Whiplash

Timestamp: 03:39–07:14

• Fox expected a showdown between Trump and NYC’s newly elected Democratic Socialist Mayor Zoran Mamdani, but instead, the meeting was a conciliatory “love fest.”
• Fox personalities like Brian Kilmeade and Laura Ingraham scramble to frame the outcome as further evidence of Trump’s “presidential” demeanor and strategic genius:
  • “This was a love fest. It’s a respect fest... But Donald Trump understands the stage at that point...” (Brian Kilmeade, 03:58)
  • “He thinks [Mamdani will] do a great job. Well, that's a, that's a head spinning comment...most on the Hill, they've never really understood Trump.” (Laura Ingraham, 05:16)
  • “Trump played chess today—was brilliant, absolutely brilliant.” (Fox Guest Palladino, 06:15)
• The brothers mock how Fox’s prior headlines promised a “Showdown With Socialism” yet pivoted to praise after witnessing no conflict.

3. Republican Messaging & Distractions: "State Regime Media" Outlandishness

Timestamp: 07:51–11:05

• Fox and GOP surrogates try to distract from Trump’s struggles by pushing culture war topics and conspiracies, including:
  • Congresswoman Ashley Hinson warning about “the Chinese spying on your baby monitors.”
    • “From my perspective as a mom...to think that the Chinese could be spying on your morning routine...it's certainly very, very concerning.” (Ashley Hinson, 08:34)
  • Simultaneously call for massive “socialism for farmers” in bailout demands.
    • “We need this bridge, these payments to go out to our folks so they can continue to operate...” (Ashley Hinson, 10:49)
• Ben highlights the hypocrisy of decrying socialism while asking for government bails via direct payments to core GOP constituencies.

4. Foreign Policy Failure: Trump’s Surrender Plan for Ukraine

Timestamp: 11:05–15:53

• The brothers discuss the previously respected General Keith Kellogg’s resignation as a Ukraine envoy, linked to Trump’s demands that Ukraine surrender territory and sovereignty to Russia for peace.
• Fox News personalities and MAGA Republican lawmakers like Senator Markwayne Mullin are shown echoing Kremlin talking points:
  • “So, Senator, this deal, my opinion, would be a win for Putin. You happy with that?”
    “Well, I think it’s a win for both...Crimea, they kind of see themselves more as Russia.” (Senator Markwayne Mullin, 13:02)
• The MeidasTouch team argues the GOP backs down to Putin, attempts to dictate peace at Ukraine’s expense.

5. Moral High Ground Claims and Conservative Contradictions

Timestamp: 15:53–16:33

• Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar claims the GOP is “the morally sound party,” even as her party pushes policies that the brothers argue harm immigrants, children, and healthcare recipients:
  • “GOP is also a morally sound, morally sound party. The problem with the Dems is that they have been infiltrated by an ideology that is completely foreign to the American values, the Judeo Christian values.” (Salazar, 16:04)
• The brothers point out how these self-proclaimed moral stances clash with reported party actions.

6. Spin on Judicial Investigations: Wiretap Misrepresentation

Timestamp: 12:08 & 16:33–17:58

• House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan is shown misleadingly characterizing court-ordered subpoenas for metadata (not wiretaps) as eavesdropping amid January 6th probes:
  • “That is outrageous. That for two and a half years they tapped your phone...they got all your text messages, not the contents, but every time you text someone...” (Jim Jordan, 12:13)
• The hosts clarify there was no actual eavesdropping; the investigation was into calls about insurrection, with full legal authorization.

7. Notable Fox News Floundering & Host Reactions over Mamdani

Timestamp: 16:33–17:28

• Sean Hannity struggles to frame Zoran Mamdani, lamely attacking the idea of redistributing “Elon Musk’s money” to help average people instead of investing in SpaceX, Starlink, etc.:
  • “Mamdani would like the government to seize the billions in 'equity' because it's not fair right now...he gives people free stuff...he thinks the odds are much higher they're going to keep him in power...” (Sean Hannity, 16:33)
• Brothers point out Fox’s confusion and inability to stick to a consistent attack line.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Fox News’ Food Price Crisis:
  “If you look at what President Trump has already done with respect to the economy...It's a proven economic formula that is working.” (Caroline Levitt on Fox, 06:58)
  Ben: “He’s been so good with the economy that state regime media needs to run segments telling people the only protein they should be eating is turkey...” (07:14)

• On the GOP and Moral High Ground:
  “GOP is also a morally sound, morally sound party. The problem with the Dems is they've been infiltrated by...an ideology completely foreign to American values.” (Salazar, 16:04)
  Ben: “The morally sound party that endorsed the Coast Guard removing the swastika and the noose and the Confederate flag as hate symbols. You’re the morally sound party that’s literally preventing kids from getting an education…” (15:58)

• On Outlandish Fox Coverage:
  “From my perspective as a mom...the Chinese could be spying on your morning routine...It's certainly very, very concerning.” (Ashley Hinson, 08:34)

Important Timestamps

• 02:04 — Opening salvo: Fox News food price spin
• 03:19 — Fox guest: “Adults don’t need gifts…don’t get Grandma slippers.”
• 03:58–06:15 — Brian Kilmeade, Ingraham, Palladino: Contradicting coverage of the Trump–Mamdani meeting
• 08:34 — Rep. Hinson: “Chinese spying on baby monitors”
• 11:51 — General Kellogg resignation, Ukraine surrender plan
• 12:08–12:30, 16:33–17:28 — Jim Jordan/probe misstatements, Hannity’s failed Mamdani attack
• 16:04 — Maria Elvira Salazar: Claims of GOP moral high ground

Conclusion

This episode showcases the MeidasTouch brothers at their best, blending sharp news analysis with brotherly banter and calling out Fox News's frantic messaging and hypocrisy. Key moments revolve around Fox’s economic spin, the right’s inability to maintain consistent messaging after Trump’s unexpected moves, and GOP lawmakers caught up in contradictions between public postures and policy realities—especially on Ukraine, economic hardship, and the misuse of “moral values.”

For listeners seeking truth behind the conservative media circus and unvarnished progressive commentary with humor and substance, this is a can’t-miss episode.