The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode Summary: "Fox News Collapses on Live TV as Trump’s Scheme Blows Up"

Release Date: September 14, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Brief Overview

In this episode, the Meiselas brothers react to what they describe as a mounting collapse of Fox News and right-wing media in the wake of high-profile acts of political violence, spinning misinformation around the tragic shooting of political figure Charlie Kirk and the assassination of Minnesota Speaker Melissa Hortman. The brothers dissect and debunk the inflammatory and often contradictory rhetoric coming from Fox News hosts and other right-wing personalities, highlighting the dangerous consequences of this propaganda. Throughout, the hosts use a combination of news analysis, direct audio clips, sharp critique, and their signature brotherly banter to warn listeners of the effects this media environment has on democracy and public safety.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Toxic Rhetoric on Fox News and Calls for Violence

• Brian Kilmeade’s Outrageous Comment:
  The episode opens with the hosts highlighting Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade's shocking on-air suggestion regarding homeless people and those suffering from mental illness:

  • Quote: “Or involuntary lethal injection or something. Just kill them.” (Brian Kilmeade, 01:55)
  • The brothers condemn this as an example of Fox hosts being “high off their own supply of vicious propaganda.” (Host, 00:58)

• Furthering the Narrative:
  The hosts note that Kilmeade continued to make these suggestions over the weekend—not as a slip but as a repeated talking point.

2. Misinformation about Political Violence

• Blaming the Victims & Democrats:
  Kilmeade and other Fox personalities spin the political assassination of Minnesota Speaker Melissa Hortman and the Charlie Kirk shooting, assigning blame to Democrats regardless of the facts.
  • “All they do is just freaking lie over and over again.” (Host, 03:17)
• Challenging the Narrative:
  The hosts fact-check claims, pointing out how the killer of Charlie Kirk was from a Trump-supporting family, despite Fox’s insistence on ambiguity or misdirection.
  • “He actually fit the profile of a lot of these school shooters that we see. These young white men, often Republican radicalized who go down this rabbit hole.” (Host, 09:21)

3. Manufactured Outrage and Political Posturing

• Moment of Silence Controversy:
  Fox News claims Democrats refused to allow a moment of silence for Charlie Kirk in the House of Representatives—proven false by direct audio evidence.

  • “They did do a moment of silence. … Democrats are [saying] We’re not doing a prayer session. We just did a moment of silence. Let's get on with the business of the House.” (Host, 04:39)

• Calls for Escalation:
  Jesse Watters and others escalate rhetoric:

  • Quote: “We have to politically destroy the Sikh movement that's giving birth to these killers … it has to be cordoned off and eliminated. … Enough is enough. This ends now.” (Jesse Watters, 14:09)
  • The hosts argue this kind of language mirrors totalitarian approaches, normalizing talk of eliminating political opponents.

4. Deflecting Blame & Reviving Old Scapegoats

• Blaming Obama:
  Multiple right-wing hosts, including Megyn Kelly, pivot to blaming Barack Obama for the current state of national division and the rise of Trump as a reaction to Obama.
  • Quote: “We haven’t felt like ourselves since Barack Obama. … He’s the one who started to inject race where no one had been doing it.” (Megyn Kelly, 16:52)
  • The hosts highlight the racist subtext in these statements and the absurdity of blaming Obama for Trump.

5. Hypocrisy and Contradictions in Right-Wing Commentary

• Stephen Miller & Elite Credentials:
  The hosts mock Stephen Miller lamenting “universities becoming incubators for extremism” (15:54) while himself being a product of elite institutions.
• Trump’s Self-Centered Response:
  When Trump is asked about Charlie Kirk, he diverts to his pet project: building a White House ballroom.
  • Quote: “Everybody knows about the big ballroom. … I was with the architects … and they came in, they said Charlie Kirk is dead. I didn’t know what they meant.” (Trump, 08:18; 09:09)

6. The True Work of Condemning Political Violence

• Contrasting Responses:
  • The episode draws a clear contrast between Obama, who immediately condemned the violence (“This kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy…” 07:29), and right-wing figures, who equivocate or distract.
  • Democrats are depicted as seeking unity and condemning violence, but are consistently maligned by right-wing media for insufficient performative grief or action (07:10–07:29).

7. Debunking New Right-Wing Talking Points

• Desperate Shifts in Narrative:
  The brothers catalog desperate attempts to blame the shooting on tangential issues like alleged trans roommates or time spent at university, suggesting “the trans ideology” or higher education itself is at fault (12:21–13:42).
• They highlight how these smears are easily debunked and reflect a broader pattern of scapegoating.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fox’s Descent into Propaganda:
  • “They're getting high off their own supply of vicious propaganda.” (Host, 00:58)
• On Blame Shifting:
  • “Let’s blame Obama... What are you talking about?” (Host, 06:24)
• On Trump’s Ballrooms:
  • “By the way, just so you know, it’s not a fluke here, Trump is talking about the ballroom again when he’s asked about Charlie Kirk.” (Host, 08:59)
• On Constant Fox Lies:
  • “Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, everything that former President Biden—didn’t matter what the issue was, they would come up with … whatever their conspiracy there is.” (Host, 18:36)
• On MAGA Escalation:
  • “When they go low, we go high. When they go low, they knock out your knees.” (Host, 18:36)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|---------------------| | 00:58–01:59 | Brian Kilmeade suggests “just kill them” re: homeless/mentally ill on Fox | | 03:25–04:22 | Fox misrepresentations around political killings and Charlie Kirk’s killer | | 04:06–04:39 | False claim about House Democrats & moment of silence for Charlie Kirk | | 07:10–07:29 | Fox panel demands more “action” and “big speech” from left, despite existing Obama statement condemning violence | | 08:18–09:21 | Trump’s odd White House ballroom rant replacing condolences for Charlie Kirk | | 12:21–13:42 | Debunking right-wing narrative shift: trans blame, university “radicalization” | | 14:09–15:04 | Jesse Watters calls for “destroying” and “eliminating” political opponents | | 16:52–18:36 | Megyn Kelly and other right-wingers blame Obama and racial division | | 18:36–End | Broader reflection on MAGA media’s culture of conspiracy and blame |

Tone and Language

The MeidasTouch brothers maintain their distinctive, unapologetically progressive tone throughout—using sarcasm, incredulity, and incisive critique, while grounding their discussion in audio evidence and news clips. They balance urgency with humor and a strong commitment to pro-democracy values.

For Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In:

This episode is a scathing, evidence-packed round-up of how right-wing media is responding—often with lies, deflections, and radical rhetoric—to tragic, politically charged violence. Expect fast-paced banter, pointed exposure of hypocrisy, clear fact-checking, and a consistent call for responsibility in American political discourse. The Meiselas brothers make a compelling case that media narratives, especially from Fox, are not only factually bankrupt but also actively dangerous.