The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Fox News Collapses on Air as Trump Kills His Term

Date: November 8, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Overview

This episode dissects the state of crisis and denial at Fox News and within MAGA Republican ranks following a string of electoral losses and growing economic woes under Donald Trump’s term. The MeidasTouch brothers blend sharp political commentary with their signature humor, spotlighting the contradictions and panic broadcasted live on Fox News as they attempt to spin disastrous economic figures and the fallout from Trump’s policies and recent GOP election losses.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fox News’ Meltdown Over Economic Reality

• Fox finally admits the economy is bad: Rising prices for coffee (20%), utilities (11.7%), electricity (5.1%), and vehicle repairs (11.5%) are discussed openly—something the hosts point out even “state regime media” can’t ignore.
  • Quote: “There’s no way that even state regime media Fox can hide it.” — Ben (00:59)

2. GOP Denial and Weak Spin on Election Losses

• RNC Chair’s hollow brags: The RNC chair claims keeping races close and making Democrats spend money is a “win.”
  • Quote: “I’m glad we were able to keep it close and they were spinning their wheels and spending lots of money.” — RNC Chair (01:41)
• Analysis: Ben mocks this as laughable, “That’s what you’re bragging about here? That you lost, but made them work?”

3. MAGA Leaders Reject Compromise on Shutdown and Healthcare

• Sen. Lindsey Graham trashes ACA extension offer: Calls a 1-year subsidy extension “horrible,” refuses to compromise.
  • Quote: “Terrible, horrible. I’m not going to keep giving taxpayer dollars to the five largest healthcare insurance companies under Obamacare to get the government open.” — Lindsey Graham (03:12)
• Host Reaction: Ben frames this as cruelty and obstruction, “There’s nothing you can do for MAGA other than literally deprive 42 million Americans of their SNAP benefits and rip away healthcare. Cruelty’s the point with these MAGAs.” (03:25)

4. Trump’s Own Advisors Admit Economic Failures

• Kevin Hassett (Trump’s economic advisor) concedes recession warning:
  • “We’re starting to see pockets of the economy that look like they might be in a recession… there are pockets that are really hurting.” — Kevin Hassett (04:44)
• Job Loss Data:
  • “America lost 950,000 jobs in the first three quarters, with 153,000 lost in October alone. Most job loss since the Great Recession.” — Ben (05:02)
• Federal Reserve uncertainty: Even Trump advisors can’t dismiss the gravity of the downturn.
  • Quote: “The challenger report was one of the worst ones we’ve seen… The labor market is a little bit softer right now.” — Hassett (06:17)

5. Blaming the “Schumer Shutdown” and Revisionist History

• Labor Secretary doubles down on denial: Lori Chavez Derimer praises Trump’s economy while blaming the government shutdown for all woes.
  • Quote: “This Democratic shutdown has hurt the American men and women of this country who are working so hard every single day to just get ahead.” — Chavez Derimer (07:27)
• Host’s take: Ben compares the talking points to similar Trump denials before COVID disaster, warning of a pattern of blame and gaslighting (07:05).

6. Absurdity of MAGA Leadership Celebrations

• Rick Scott’s whitewashing & bootlicking:
  • Scott, labelled “Mr. Waste, Fraud and Abuse,” praises Trump’s stamina and alleged peace efforts.
  • Quote: “He hates war. He’s trying to bring peace to the Middle East... I mean, you really have to admire. He’s got a lot of stamina.” — Rick Scott (10:08–10:32)
• Ben’s reaction: Calls this embarrassing—highlighting Scott’s past Medicare fraud.

7. Fearmongering and Conspiracies

• Tom Emmer links government shutdown to supposed assassination threats:
  • “Most of these senators are scared to death that if they vote to reopen the government, the insane—I would argue the people that frankly fantasize about the assassination of our great president, that they will turn on them.” — Tom Emmer (11:10)

8. State-Run Media Vibes and Fox News’ Award Show

• Melania Trump gets “Patriot of the Year” at Fox’s event:
  • Ben mocks the “worse than North Korea” vibe, spotlighting how Fox is acting as regime media for the Trumps.
  • Pete Hegseth jokes about sharing war plans on Signal:
    • Quote: “Mike, I’ll hit you up on Signal later.” — Pete Hegseth (12:47)
  • Ben: “They find it so funny that they gave away classified and highly classified information on Signal chats.”

9. Delusional Economic Predictions

• Treasury Secretary Scott Besant claims, “2026–27 is our year!”
  • Quote: “We are at the cusp of the liftoff. In 2026, 2027, President Trump was committed to bringing the manufacturing jobs back…and this is the start.” — Scott Besant (13:23)
• Host reaction: Ben derides this as “completely, utterly pathetic.” (14:06)

10. Endless Blame Game

• Byron Donalds blames Democrats for everything from healthcare costs to inflation:
  • Quote: “That is still hurting in some respects our economy that was unleashed by the Democrats with no Republican votes. Healthcare policy… premiums have skyrocketed, deductibles have skyrocketed…” — Byron Donalds (14:32)
• Ben: “Four years in, everything’s going to be the Democrats fault. I mean these people are such babies.”

11. Fox’s Surreal Coverage & Empty Rhetoric

• Jesse Watters covers celebrity ads while people face economic hardship: Fox distractedly focuses on tabloid news.
• Vivek Ramaswamy: “By winning, Democrats are losing.”
  • Hosts’ take: The absurdity and state media vibe are hammered home, with direct calls for accountability.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ben’s Summary of Fox Coverage:
  “You just whine about everything. They blame, blame, blame.” (14:32)
• On Fox’s Patriot Awards:
  “Just think, this is like worse than North Korea, folks. This is some weird state regime media stuff.” (11:39)
• On Economic Denial:
  “Soft, by the way, is an understatement.” (05:02)
• On MAGA blame culture:
  “Cruelty’s the point with these MAGAs.” (03:25)

Key Timestamps for Segments

• 00:43 — Fox News lists grim price increases; admits reality
• 01:26 — RNC Chair’s spin on GOP election losses
• 03:09 — Lindsey Graham rejects compromise on ACA; healthcare debate
• 04:24 — Kevin Hassett acknowledges recession “pockets”
• 05:37 — Challenging labor market, record job loss data
• 07:27 — Lori Chavez Derimer blames shutdown for economic pain
• 10:08–10:32 — Rick Scott’s effusive praise for Trump
• 11:10 — Tom Emmer’s government shutdown/assassination conspiracy
• 12:47 — Pete Hegseth jokes about classified info leaks
• 13:23 — Treasury Secretary Besant projects economic “liftoff”
• 14:32 — Byron Donalds blames Democrats for all woes

Tone and Takeaways

The MeidasTouch brothers combine biting satire and outrage as they dissect the real-time unraveling occurring on Fox News and in MAGA leadership. Their language is direct, irreverent, and unapologetically pro-democracy, as they expose attempts at scapegoating, highlight self-contradiction, and ridicule the increasingly desperate spin tactics of Trump loyalists and right-wing media.