The MeidasTouch Podcast: "Fox News Collapses on Air as Blue Wave Arrives"

Date: November 5, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the chaotic reactions across Fox News in the immediate aftermath of a resounding set of Democratic victories on Election Day 2025. The Meiselas brothers highlight the contrast between Fox News' attempts to spin or downplay the results and the overwhelming evidence of a "Blue Wave," or sweeping Democratic success across governorships, attorney general races, mayoral races, and key ballot propositions. The episode features their signature mix of sharp political analysis, satirical commentary, and curated clips from Fox hosts struggling to cope with the results.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fox News’ On-Air Meltdown Over Democratic Victories

• Opening Reaction ([02:47]):
  Ben Meiselas points out Fox News' visible panic following the strong Democratic showing:

  “Media, which calls itself Fox News, was in an utter panic all last night. They could not handle the, not just the blue wave, but the blue tsunami that crushed MAGA on election day.”

• Fox contributors like Ari Fleischer attempt to rationalize defeats, suggesting Republicans are still in better shape "big picture."

  "If I take all this data tonight, I, I think I'd rather be big picture a Republican than a Democrat." (Ari Fleischer, [03:30])

2. Spin Efforts & Coping Narratives

• Kellyanne Conway’s Rationalizing Losses ([04:48]):
  Kellyanne tries to blame the voters for allegedly “lying to pollsters,” and insists Republicans just need to mirror Trump’s outreach:

  "You can get [Trump's] endorsement. And this is a clarion call for 2026, folks... You have to go and dip into these unfamiliar to Republican constituencies." (Kellyanne Conway, [05:37])

• Jesse Watters Denies Trump Referendum Narrative ([05:53]):
  Watters claims the night wasn't about Trump, despite data and other Fox analysts contradicting him.

• Election Analyst Reveals Trump's Toxicity ([06:31]):

  "71% of them who voted hate [Trump], hate the guy. So this is really what led to the outcome tonight." (Election Data Analyst, [06:31])

3. Fox News Forced to Call Elections for Democrats

• Key Races Called On-Air:
  • Mikey Sherrill, Governor of New Jersey ([07:57]):

    "The FOX News decision desk can now project that Congresswoman Mikey Sherrill will in fact become the next Democratic governor of New Jersey."

  • Zoran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City ([08:27]):

    "The FOX News decision desk can now project New York City has elected Democrat Assemblyman Zoran Mamdani to be its next mayor... the first Muslim mayor of the city and its youngest in more than a century."

  • Jay Jones, Virginia Attorney General ([09:06]):

    "FOX News decision desk can now project that Democrat Jay Jones will become Virginia's next attorney general, defeating the Republican incumbent Jason Mears."

4. Struggling to Explain Democratic Momentum

• Affordability & Economic Concerns ([11:18]):

  • Fox hosts and contributors debate whether their economic message is resonating;
  • Labor market and inflation anxieties seem key, but haven’t translated into GOP wins.

  "Affordability basically means inflation, that prices are too high and that's a real sensitivity spot for people... I think if the economy's stupid ends up being the simple story of a lot of elections." (Labor Market Expert, [11:50])

• Retreat to “Blue States” Excuse ([12:54]):

  “Blue states are blue states and that's why the Democrats won tonight.” (Ari Fleischer, [12:54])

• The brothers highlight inconsistencies, noting that even traditionally competitive states like Virginia flipped strongly blue in both statewide and legislative races:

  “What about all the House of Delegates in Virginia that turned blue? How many was it? 15, 16?” (Podcast Host, [12:47])

5. Desperate and Extreme Claims on Fox

• Personal Attacks and Escalation ([13:01]): Fox panelists smear NYC’s new mayor as “a socialist, anti-Semite, pro-Hamas guy,” representing attempts to ignite culture wars after electoral defeat.

• California’s Prop 50 and Redistricting ([13:15]):
  Major California ballot initiative passing, flipping GOP seats, cited as further evidence of the Blue Wave.

6. Polling & Right-Wing Pollster Meltdown

• Pollster Doubles Down on GOP Advantages ([14:18]):
  Right-wing pollsters dispute media polling averages and argue “look at their actions, not their words”—despite clear Democratic gains.

7. Economic Spin and Labor Market Analysis

• Labor Secretary Response ([15:47]):
  Laurie Chavez Darimer, labor secretary, explains the challenges in the labor market, blaming the continuation of economic uncertainty on GOP-fed rate delays and shutdowns, rather than on Democratic policy.

  "With the shutdown and with the delay in dropping that Fed rate, it has caused some more uncertainty. And so we want the labor market to grow." (Laurie Chavez Darimer, [15:52])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Big Picture Cope:

  “I'd rather be big picture a Republican than a Democrat.”
  — Ari Fleischer, ([03:30])

• Referendum on Trump:

  "71% of them who voted hate [Trump], hate the guy. So this is really what led to the outcome tonight."
  — Election Data Analyst, ([06:31])

• Fox Forced to Announce Dem Wins:

  "Congresswoman Mikey Sherrill will in fact become the next Democratic governor of New Jersey."
  — Fox News Decision Desk, ([07:57])

• Desperate Culture War Turn:

  “We've got a socialist, anti Semite, pro Hamas guy as mayor of New York.”
  — Political Analyst on Fox, ([13:01])

• Economic Spin:

  “Affordability… that prices are too high and that that's a real sensitivity spot for people.”
  — Labor Market Expert, ([11:50])

Important Timestamps

• 02:47 – Opening: Fox News’ reaction to Democratic wins
• 03:30 – Ari Fleischer defends GOP “big picture”
• 04:48 – Kellyanne Conway on polling and Trump endorsement
• 05:53 – Jesse Watters on referendum narrative
• 06:31 – Analyst on Trump’s unpopularity
• 07:57 – Fox calls NJ for Mikey Sherrill
• 08:27 – Fox calls NYC mayor race for Zoran Mamdani
• 09:06 – Fox calls VA attorney general for Jay Jones
• 11:18 – Hosts discuss Fox’s economic narrative
• 12:54 – Ari Fleischer: “Blue states are blue states”
• 13:15 – Fox projects Prop 50 win in California
• 14:18 – Right-wing pollster on polling reliability
• 15:47 – Labor Secretary on the economic outlook

Tone and Takeaways

Throughout the episode, the Meiselas brothers deploy their trademark mix of irreverence and sharp critique, exposing Fox News’ inability to process the scope of Democratic victories and the catastrophic failures of the MAGA GOP strategy. The hosts highlight the repeated cognitive dissonance, the desperate spins, and the eventual on-air acknowledgments that Fox News was forced to make—often with visible reluctance and palpable discomfort.

This episode is especially useful for those wanting a real-time, media-savvy breakdown of the 2025 “Blue Wave” as it played out not just in vote tallies, but in the fraught and telling moments of conservative media’s live reaction.