The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: “Fox News Collapses on Air as Trump Blows Everything”

Date: November 18, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, & Jordy Meiselas

Overview

In this highly charged episode, the Meiselas brothers dissect the latest chaos on Fox News as Donald Trump and his allies react to plummeting approval ratings, an affordability crisis, and the political fallout of the long-awaited Epstein file release. With their trademark mix of sharp legal analysis, biting satire, and sibling banter, the brothers break down Fox’s on-air meltdowns, governmental disorder, and the spiral within the MAGA movement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fox News Meltdowns Amidst Political Unraveling

• Fox News’ On-Air Collapse: The hosts play a series of surreal clips from Fox showing guests and anchors scrambling to spin deteriorating realities—on both the economy and the imminent release of Epstein files.

• Example Quote:
  “FOX is having guests show up who are saying that if you want to make things more affordable…just don’t buy your grandma and your parents any gifts this Christmas…”
  — Ben Meiselas [04:15]

• Fox Guest Clip (Budget Tip): Recommends only buying gifts for ages 3 to 18, “Grandma doesn’t need slippers… now’s not the time to spend and break the bank…”
  [05:08]

2. Ducking Epstein Fallout

• Jesse Watters Downplays Release: Insists national security and classified issues will prevent the full release of Epstein-related files, suggesting no real answers will be forthcoming.

  • “Never, Dana. Okay? Never. Because you can’t release everything... national security implications…”
    — Jesse Watters [06:42]

• MAGAs Dismiss Epstein Concerns: Tim Pool claims, “Americans are not talking about Epstein, nobody cares… they’re talking about grocery prices.”
  — Tim Pool [08:21]

• Meiselas’ Response: Sharp pushback, noting the public’s outrage over both affordability and the MAGA movement’s “complete and utter fraud” on economic issues. [09:10]

• Dubious Defenses: Fox pundits cite denials from Ghislaine Maxwell and legal surrogates, with the brothers mocking the credibility of such claims:
  “Ghislaine Maxwell is a lifelong liar and child sex trafficker. So I don’t think we should view what she’s saying…as accurate.”
  — Ben Meiselas [10:30]

• Notable Clip: “Epstein’s lawyer says Trump was clean. Maxwell said he was clean. Not a single victim has come forward and said Donald Trump did anything…”
  — Watters segment [11:20]

3. Border Patrol Crackdown & Community Fear

• Operation Charlotte’s Web: Fox highlights viral videos of Border Patrol in North Carolina targeting landscapers and construction workers, with the Trump-appointed chief dismissing concerns about profiling and due process.

  • “How do you know who these people are?…We don’t want those people in society…”
    — Greg Bevino, Trump’s Border Patrol Head [13:25]

• Community Impact: School attendance drops, residents live in fear, and hosts denounce “chemical warfare” and “brutal tactics.”

  • “People…are terrified because of chemical warfare taking place against them, the brutal tactics of Border Patrol.”
    — Ben Meiselas [14:50]

4. MAGA Spin on Congressional Inaction

• MAGA Mike’s “Productive Congress”: Representative claims this is “the most productive Congress in history,” ignoring government shutdowns and service cuts.
  • “All y’all have done is rip away people’s healthcare, not show up to work, cause a government shutdown…”
    — Ben Meiselas [16:30]

5. Tariffs & Manufacturing: Reality Check

• Tim Pool’s Tariff Praise: Raises the business owner perspective but is ridiculed for overestimating tariffs’ benefits in manufacturing.
  • “It’s been a godsend for manufacturing in this country, real Americans to get work…”
    — Tim Pool [17:30]

6. Regime Appointments & Partisan Prosecutions

• Sean Duffy’s Air Travel Spin: The former reality TV star turned Trump transportation secretary admits flight safety suffered during the shutdown but attempts to spin it as only “concerning.”
  • Duffy: “It wasn’t dangerous, but…um, it was concerning when…you don’t have air traffic controllers.”
    — Sean Duffy [20:10]
• Retaliation Against Workers: Duffy pledges to penalize air traffic controllers who missed work during the shutdown—offering rewards and threats.
  • “We’re going to pay a reward to those who didn’t take any unexcused absences.”
    — Duffy [22:15]

7. Legal Maneuvers & the Epstein Files

• Todd Blanche’s Defense of Halligan: Blanche, Trump’s former attorney now at DOJ, hails former Trump lawyer Lindsay Halligan (now a US Attorney) despite grand jury misconduct allegations.

  • “US Attorney Halligan…phenomenal job in the EDVA…the argument was last week. We’ll see what happens in the coming weeks…”
    — Todd Blanche [23:35]

• Blanche on Epstein Accountability: Offers vague claims of further investigations that echo the OJ “If I did it” defense.

  • “We’re going to find out if there’s anybody responsible, anybody that hasn’t been held accountable. And if they’re out there, we’ll find them.”
    — Blanche [25:10]

• James Comer on “Legally Released” Documents:

  • “They’ve released what they can legally release... I think the Trump administration is working with us more than what the media has given them credit for…”
    — James Comer [26:15]

8. Fox’s Mind-Boggling Segments

• Ted Cruz Eyes 2028, Plays Coy:

  • “Reporters are going to write headlines that get clicks… I got a job… I’ll tell you right now, the wins we are getting are historic.”
    — Ted Cruz [28:40]

• No China Trade Deal:
  Treasury Secretary Scott Besant admits there is no concluded trade agreement, contrary to repeated administration claims.

  • “We haven’t even finished the agreement which we hope to have done by Thanksgiving… Xi Jinping has great respect for President Trump…”
    — Scott Besant [31:30]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “FOX is having guests show up who are saying that if you want to make things more affordable…just don’t buy your grandma and your parents any gifts this Christmas…”
  — Ben Meiselas [04:15]

• “Epstein’s lawyer says Trump was clean. Maxwell said he was clean. Not a single victim has come forward and said Donald Trump did anything. So I think we could put that to rest.”
  — Jesse Watters [11:20]

• “Community fear is sky high—people… are terrified because of chemical warfare and the brutal tactics of Border Patrol.”
  — Ben Meiselas [14:50]

• “We’re gonna pay a reward to those who didn’t take any unexcused absences.”
  — Sean Duffy [22:15]

• “We’re going to find out if there’s anybody responsible, anybody that hasn’t been held accountable. And if they’re out there, we’ll find them.”
  — Todd Blanche [25:10]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Fox’s Gift-Giving Advice & Economic Spin: [04:15–06:10]
• Jesse Watters Dismisses Epstein Files: [06:42–08:00]
• Tim Pool: Americans Don’t Care About Epstein (Hosts Pushback): [08:21–09:10]
• Credibility of Maxwell and Dershowitz: [10:30–11:20]
• Border Patrol Crackdown & Community Response: [13:25–14:50]
• MAGA Mike on Congress’ “Best Work”: [16:30–17:00]
• Tariffs and Manufacturing Rhetoric: [17:30–18:30]
• Sean Duffy: Air Travel and Shutdown Blunders: [20:10–22:15]
• DoJ Misconduct & Epstein Files: [23:35–26:15]
• Ted Cruz 2028 Presidential Hints: [28:40–29:30]
• No China Trade Deal Admission: [31:30–32:15]

Tone & Style

Maintaining their signature blend of sardonic humor, legal acumen, and brotherly chemistry, the Meiselas brothers leave no stone unturned as they highlight both the farce and dangers present in today’s right-wing media and governance. They punctuate the absurdity with pointed commentary, using Fox’s own words to expose contradictions and spin, all with their unapologetically pro-democracy perspective.

For listeners who missed the episode, this summary captures the key moments, recurring themes of media disarray, administration spin, and the hosts’ relentless exposure of hypocrisy and misconduct within right-wing politics.