Summary of "Fox News Has Meltdown as Trump Wrecks Budget" Episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast

Release Date: May 3, 2025

In this episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, hosts Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas delve into the tumultuous developments surrounding Fox News and former President Donald Trump's handling of the federal budget. The brothers dissect recent statements from MAGA Republican senators, analyze conflicting economic reports on Fox News, and critique the administration's policies affecting various sectors, including mental health and space exploration.

1. MAGA Republican Senators Critique Trump's Budget Bill

The episode opens with Ben highlighting the internal conflicts within Republican ranks regarding Trump's proposed budget. Senator Ron Johnson from Wisconsin appears on Fox Business, where he openly criticizes the budget bill that Trump touts as a "big beautiful bill."

Ben (00:30): "Fox News is in meltdown mode as MAGA Republican senators are basically saying this budget bill that Donald Trump is calling a big beautiful bill is an utter, utter disaster."

Senator Johnson explains his stance by emphasizing the impracticality of passing the bill before Memorial Day and suggests a more segmented approach to budgeting:

Senator Johnson (00:55): "The tax bill, will we get it before Memorial Day? No, no, there's no way... get the border funding. Second step, just extend current tax law." (00:55)

Ben criticizes the senators' inability to pass meaningful legislation, accusing them of perpetuating a "Ponzi scheme" leading to inevitable catastrophe.

2. Conflicting Economic Narratives on Fox News

The brothers scrutinize the contradictory messages disseminated by Fox News regarding the U.S. economy. While some segments attribute economic growth to Trump's policies, others cite negative indicators under Biden's administration.

Ben references a positive jobs report showcasing 177,000 jobs added in April, countering Fox News' simultaneous negative portrayal of the economy.

Ben (03:01): "When you have J.D. Vance interviewing with Bret Baer saying the economy is bad because of Biden while they have other people on Fox saying the economy is doing great now because of Trump." (03:18)

David supports the positive outlook by affirming that the jobs numbers align with Trump's claims of economic success.

David (03:01): "Very important report... 177,000 jobs added to the economy in April. This proves Donald Trump's point that the economy is doing well." (03:01)

The inconsistency in Fox News' reporting is portrayed as a deliberate strategy to maintain a pro-Trump narrative despite mixed economic data.

3. Due Process and Gang Affiliation Discussions

A significant portion of the episode tackles the issue of due process in the context of alleged gang affiliations. Ben critiques how certain Fox News personalities, like Jeanine Pirro, label individuals as gang members based on superficial evidence.

Ben (04:43): "Even if he was an MS.13 member, you know, at one point in time in his life... We're just a nation of due process." (05:01)

Emily shares an anecdote unrelated to the main political discussion, emphasizing the importance of reliable systems—a segue into their argument for due process.

The conversation underscores the podcast's advocacy for maintaining constitutional rights and scrutinizing claims that bypass legal procedures.

4. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant's Statements on Gas Prices

Ben shifts focus to Treasury Secretary Scott Besant, whom he accuses of misleading the public about gas prices.

Ben (09:12): "Let's bring on Treasury Secretary Scott Besant... it's like Bernie Madoff level." (09:12)

Besant claims a significant decrease in energy prices, attributing it to effective administration policies.

Treasury Secretary Besant (09:30): "We had the biggest decrease in energy prices for a single month in years... gasoline is $1.93 and that's an automatic tax cut for the American people." (09:30)

Ben challenges the accuracy of these figures, suggesting that the administration might be using wholesale prices rather than consumer rates to present a rosier picture.

Ben (09:57): "It's possible that like people in his administration were just showing him data that talks about the price of gas before it goes through the actual market price." (09:57)

The debate highlights concerns over transparency and the reliability of economic data presented by government officials.

5. Budget Cuts to Mental Health Services

A critical segment addresses the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director, Russell Vogt, and his role in the administration's budgetary decisions impacting mental health services.

Ben (11:58): "Office of Management and Budget director, the Author of Project 2025, Russell Vogt... taking away $1 billion in mental health and money for helping students address mental health issues in schools." (11:58)

Vogt discusses reallocating funds from expensive space projects to potentially benefit commercial ventures like Elon Musk's enterprises.

Henry (12:48): "We're not doing anything that would in any way delay what's necessary to get to the moon." (12:48)

Ben criticizes the decision to cut mental health funding, especially when gun violence is linked to mental health issues, arguing that such measures undermine essential support systems.

6. NASA's Budget and Commercial Space Ventures

The podcast shifts to space exploration funding, where Ben expresses skepticism about the administration's commitment to NASA's long-term goals.

Ben (12:48): "They blame all of the gun violence on mental health and then they just remove $1 billion for mental health treatment." (12:48)

Henry from NASA reassures listeners that commercial partnerships, including those with Elon Musk, are intended to reduce costs and improve efficiency without hindering space missions.

Henry (12:48): "We do believe that after Artemis that it's time to look for lower cost, commercial cheaper vehicles." (12:48)

The dialogue emphasizes the balance between government funding and private sector involvement in advancing space exploration.

7. Final Observations and Call to Action

Concluding the episode, Ben references former White House adviser Peter Navarro, criticizing the administration's inability to secure economic deals.

Ben (13:29): "Remember Peter Navarro on Fox... 90 deals in 90 days. We have zero deals. No deal." (13:29)

The brothers urge listeners to engage with their content and support their mission of promoting truth over misinformation.

Ben (13:53): "Hit subscribe. Let's get to 5 million Subscribe 5 million subscribers." (13:53)

Emily reinforces the podcast's commitment to truth and encourages listeners to explore their merchandise.

Emily (13:56): "The truth is more important than ever." (13:56)

Conclusion

In this episode, The MeidasTouch Podcast offers a critical analysis of Fox News' handling of economic narratives, the Trump administration's budget proposals, and policy decisions impacting mental health and space exploration. Through incisive commentary and selective quoting, the Meiselas brothers advocate for transparency, due process, and responsible governance while challenging prevailing narratives in mainstream media.

Notable Quotes:

• Senator Ron Johnson (00:55): "The tax bill, will we get it before Memorial Day? No, no, there's no way."

• David (03:01): "177,000 jobs added to the economy in April. This proves Donald Trump's point that the economy is doing well."

• Treasury Secretary Besant (09:30): "Gasoline is $1.93 and that's an automatic tax cut for the American people."

• Ben (09:57): "It's possible that like people in his administration were just showing him data that talks about the price of gas before it goes through the actual market price."

• Emily (13:56): "The truth is more important than ever."

Note: This summary is based on the transcript provided and aims to encapsulate the key discussions and viewpoints expressed during the episode. It is intended to inform readers who have not listened to the podcast about its main themes and arguments.