The MeidasTouch Podcast: "Fox News in Total Panic as Trump Approval Falls" Release Date: February 20, 2025

In this compelling episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, hosts Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas delve deep into the tumultuous relationship between Fox News and former President Donald Trump amid a significant decline in Trump’s approval ratings. The discussion navigates through media strategies, misinformation, and the intricate web of political influence, providing listeners with an insightful analysis of the current political climate.

1. Declining Approval of Donald Trump and Fox News’ Response

The episode opens with a critical examination of the plummeting approval ratings of Donald Trump and how Fox News is responding to this shift. Benny highlights Fox News' attempts to sway public opinion by promoting the trustworthiness of billionaires in handling personal data and government affairs.

Benny (00:30): “As Donald Trump's approval plummets, state regime media known as Foxes, doing everything it can to try to convince we the people that we should just trust billionaires with all of our data, with all of our information.”

2. Critique of Billionaire Influence and Data Privacy

The hosts engage in a robust discussion about the implications of entrusting billionaires with sensitive information. Caroline Levitt counters Fox News’ narrative by questioning the practicality and reality of billionaire involvement in government operations.

Caroline (00:54): “Elon Musk had access to all that stuff when he was running PayPal. And if you're going to trust anybody with rooting out waste, fraud and abuse, wouldn't you want it to be a guy who really doesn't need your money?”

Benny further criticizes the portrayal of billionaires as saviors, arguing that Fox News is misrepresenting their intentions and effectiveness.

Benny (02:14): “The billionaires aren't working for free. They are working to shut down the entities that regulate them so that they can make many more billions of dollars by ripping off we the people.”

3. Misinformation on Social Security and Fraud Claims

A significant portion of the episode focuses on Fox News' misleading claims regarding Social Security fraud. Andrew addresses the dissemination of false information about tens of millions of deceased individuals receiving Social Security benefits, highlighting the lack of evidence and flawed data interpretation.

Andrew (12:33): “President Trump has directed Elon Musk and the DOGE team to identify fraud at the Social Security Administration. They haven't dug into the books yet, but they suspect that there are tens of millions of deceased people who are receiving fraudulent Social Security payments.”

Benny vehemently challenges these assertions, pointing out the absence of concrete evidence and the possibility of data mismanagement.

Benny (13:48): “Maybe you do that. I mean, maybe you don't realize that there weren't tens of millions of deceased people on Social Security. You just don't know how to read the coding, which would have been a very basic thing.”

4. Elon Musk’s Role in DOGE and Government Transparency

The podcast delves into Elon Musk’s purported role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), scrutinizing the White House's conflicting statements. Andrew presents an affidavit that disputes claims of Musk being an employee, emphasizing the administration's opaque handling of his position.

Andrew (11:00): “Elon Musk is not an employee of the US Doge Service or the US Doge Service Temporary organization. That's according to the director of the White House's Office of Administration.”

Caroline attempts to defend Musk’s involvement, reframing his position as a patriotic contributor rather than a formal employee.

Caroline (15:07): “Elon is to me, a patriot. So, you know, you could call him an employee, you could call him a consultant, you could call him whatever you want, but he's a patriot.”

Benny criticizes this evasive explanation, suggesting it is a tactic to avoid transparency and accountability.

5. Fox News’ Handling of Current Events and Public Perception

The hosts critically analyze how Fox News narrates current events, including plane crashes and inflation, often attributing negative outcomes to the current administration while hyperbolizing the previous one. They argue that Fox News employs fear-mongering and misinformation to manipulate public perception.

Benny (04:24): “Donald Trump says, he goes on Hannity last night, he's like, inflation is back, baby. Inflation is back. But it's not my fault. But inflation is back.”

Caroline counters by highlighting inconsistencies and the lack of substantial evidence supporting Fox News' claims.

Caroline (06:02): “But again, air crashes happen, but they were more under Biden than Donald Trump. But the point here is we want to get to a place where we have zero crashes.”

6. Advocacy for Transparency and Accountability

Towards the end of the episode, the discussion shifts towards the need for greater transparency and accountability within government operations. The hosts advocate for scrutinizing government-appointed officials and the roles of influential figures like Elon Musk to ensure they are acting in the public's best interest.

Benny (16:44): “They want to normalize dictatorship. Normalize billionaires going into your private information. It's just a billionaire. You don't trust billionaires, like going into your private data, like you don't trust them.”

7. Call to Action and Community Engagement

The podcast concludes with a passionate plea from Benny to the audience, emphasizing solidarity among listeners and the importance of resisting the misleading narratives propagated by mainstream media outlets like Fox News.

Benny (16:44): “I just don't want you to feel alone. I think one of the things that I like about this network and I like, I like doing these videos like, this is, like, to know when I read your comments, I'm like, okay, we're not alone.”

Additionally, listeners are encouraged to subscribe and engage with The MeidasTouch community to stay informed and counteract misinformation.

Conclusion

In this episode, The MeidasTouch Podcast effectively dissects the interplay between declining Trump approval ratings and Fox News' strategic responses. Through incisive commentary and critical analysis, the hosts expose the layers of misinformation and advocate for transparency and accountability in government and media practices. Notable for its sharp critique and engaging dialogue, this episode serves as a crucial resource for listeners seeking to understand the evolving dynamics of American politics and media influence.

Notable Quotes:

• Benny (00:30): "As Donald Trump's approval plummets, state regime media known as Foxes, doing everything it can to try to convince we the people that we should just trust billionaires with all of our data, with all of our information."

• Caroline (00:54): "Elon Musk had access to all that stuff when he was running PayPal. And if you're going to trust anybody with rooting out waste, fraud and abuse, wouldn't you want it to be a guy who really doesn't need your money?"

• Benny (02:14): "The billionaires aren't working for free. They are working to shut down the entities that regulate them so that they can make many more billions of dollars by ripping off we the people."

• Andrew (11:00): "Elon Musk is not an employee of the US Doge Service or the US Doge Service Temporary organization. That's according to the director of the White House's Office of Administration."

• Benny (16:44): "They want to normalize dictatorship. Normalize billionaires going into your private information. It's just a billionaire. You don't trust billionaires, like going into your private data, like you don't trust them."

This episode stands as a testament to The MeidasTouch Podcast’s commitment to uncovering the truth behind political narratives and empowering their audience with knowledge and critical thinking.