The MeidasTouch Podcast: "Fox News Loses it on Air as Trump’s Invasion Goes Wrong"

Date: January 7, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Meiselas brothers analyze the chaotic media fallout following Donald Trump's controversial invasion of Venezuela. They focus on Fox News' coverage, highlighting the network’s increasingly unhinged rhetoric, wild justifications for American imperialism, and the eerie echoes of regime propaganda. The brothers play and discuss a series of real on-air Fox News clips, deconstructing the absurdity and dangers behind the narratives presented by hosts, politicians, and pundits.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fox News Meltdowns and Propaganda Rhetoric

[00:57 – 01:59]

• Ben describes how major Fox News personalities like Jesse Watters, Laura Ingraham, and Sean Hannity are "melting down" on live television, amplifying bizarre ideas about Venezuela and Greenland.
  • Quote (Ben) [00:57]: "State Regime Media, which calls itself Fox News, was losing all control on air... it was an absolute disgrace."
• Fox segments included Jesse Watters proposing that the U.S. should steal oil from Venezuela to buy Greenland.
  • Quote (Jesse Watters) [01:43]: "Maybe we use the oil money from Venezuela to buy Greenland. Maybe we just share it with the Danes. I hear the Scandinavians like to get down like that. We don't judge."

2. Pseudo-Colonial Justifications and Wild Claims

[01:59 – 04:25]

• Laura Ingraham and guests make statements suggesting that countries like Greenland and Canada owe their very existence to the United States' military protection.
  • Quote (Laura Ingraham) [02:21]: "Greenland obviously would not exist were it not for the United States of America. Canada would cease to exist without the US Military... They owe our existence to us."
  • The brothers mock these remarks, calling them "worse than Russian or North Korean state media."
• Fox News pundits and US Senators justify invasions and demand reimbursement from Venezuela for its own "liberation."
  • Quote (Senator Moreno) [02:39]: "We deserve to be reimbursed for the cost it took financially to free Venezuela."

3. Demonizing Venezuela’s New Leadership

[03:50 – 04:14]

• Venezuelan Vice President Delsy Rodríguez is painted as a terrorist and "chief of torture."
  • Quote (Fox Guest) [03:56]: "She's even more radical than Maduro... the daughter of a Venezuelan terrorist. That really shows you how she's a true ideologue."

4. Greenland: The New Frontier?

[04:25 – 05:15]

• Continued argument for purchasing Greenland, with Fox guests suggesting a public referendum among Greenland residents (ignoring Denmark's sovereignty).
  • Quote (Senator Margaret Pullman) [04:30]: "Let's let the 50,000 people or so that live in Greenland make that decision. It could mean millions to each one of those people and they'd have a much better partner in America..."

5. Fox's Own Former Stars Turn Critic

[05:15 – 05:44]

• Megyn Kelly, on her independent podcast, critiques Fox's coverage as "Russian propaganda," breaking with her former network.
  • Quote (Megyn Kelly) [05:15]: "I turned on Fox News yesterday and I'm sorry, but it was like watching Russian propaganda. There was nothing skeptical. It was all rah, rah, cheerleading. Yes, let's go."

6. Open Advocacy for Empire and Resource Plunder

[05:44 – 08:27]

• Jesse Watters brags about "stealing the oil," mocks green energy, and pitches a vision of a U.S.-led hemispheric oil cartel.
  • Quote (Jesse Watters) [06:02]: "They are mad that we're taking the oil. What do you think this economy runs on, solar panels?... How about being proud to be an American?"
  • Quote (Jesse Watters) [06:37]: "That puts Trump in control of a North and South American oil empire which would control 40% of world oil production. Kind of makes us the new OPEC."

7. Dehumanizing Rhetoric About Migrants

[10:09 – 11:19]

• Trump loyalists like Pam Bondi repeat conspiracy theories about Venezuela releasing prisoners and asylum seekers being "insane."
  • Quote (Pam Bondi) [10:40]: "Maduro emptied his prisons. He emptied insane asylums and let those people come into our country. And President Trump stopped it."

8. Invented 'Freedom Protests' and Absurd Boasts

[11:19 – 13:25]

• Senator Tim Scott fantasizes about mass celebrations for Trump in Venezuela, despite evidence to the contrary.
  • Quote (Tim Scott) [12:20]: "Free people are now celebrating in Venezuela... people smell freedom in the air and they can thank Donald J. Trump."
• Lindsey Graham claims Trump "is in charge of Venezuela" and threatens regime loyalists with Maduro's fate.
  • Quote (Lindsey Graham) [12:55]: "Who's in charge of Venezuela? Donald J. Trump... If you defy him, what happened to Maduro is going to happen to you."

9. Militarization and Authoritarian Posture at Home

[13:25 – 14:23]

• Kristi Noem boasts to Jesse Watters about her "GI Jane" cosplay operations, rounding up supposed "bad hombres."
  • Quote (Jesse Watters) [14:05]: "Are people thanking you when you're there?... Just say, you know, we've been dealing this trouble for a long time."
  • Quote (Kristi Noem) [14:23]: "They do. The people that are on the streets."

10. Worship of Trump and Expansionist Fantasies

[14:23 – 15:44]

• Lindsey Graham offers gushing praise for Trump, calling him "the greatest president of all time."
  • Quote (Lindsey Graham) [14:34]: "Donald J. Trump, in my view, is the greatest president of all time."
• Graham outlines plans to take down Cuba and Iran next, promising regime change.
  • Quote (Lindsey Graham) [15:22]: "To the people of Cuba, help is on the way."
  • Quote (Lindsey Graham) [15:49]: "Change is coming to Iran. It'll be the biggest change in the history of the Mideast to get rid of this Nazi regime."

11. Attacks on Public Health Institutions and Parental Choice Rhetoric

[16:00 – 17:55]

• Dr. Oz (now a political figure) attacks the American Association of Pediatrics after Trump and RFK Jr.’s administration removes vaccine requirements.
  • Quote (Dr. Oz) [16:56]: "The American association of Pediatrics is a captured organization, and we don't believe they actually even represent half the pediatrician community anymore..."

Notable Quotes

• "This is worse than like RT or Sputnik or TASS... it's worse than pink dress lady in North Korea." – Ben Meiselas, [02:39]
• "There was nothing skeptical. It was all rah, rah, cheerleading." – Megyn Kelly, [05:15]
• "They are mad that we're taking the oil. What do you think this economy runs on, solar panels?" – Jesse Watters, [06:02]
• "Who's in charge of Venezuela? Donald J. Trump." – Lindsey Graham, [12:55]
• "To the people of Cuba, help is on the way." – Lindsey Graham, [15:22]
• "The American association of Pediatrics is a captured organization." – Dr. Oz, [16:56]

Memorable Moments

• The hosts incredulously play extended Fox News segments pitching the literal theft of Venezuela’s oil and the purchase of Greenland using those profits.
• The satirical brotherly banter from Ben, Brett, and Jordy, especially as they mock the logic behind claiming "ownership" of Canada and Greenland.
• Lindsey Graham’s gushing monologues about Trump, escalating into promises of regime change in Cuba and Iran.
• Ben’s repeated comparison of Fox News’ on-air behavior to notorious state propaganda outlets worldwide.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:57] – Introduction to Fox News' chaotic rhetoric
• [01:43] – Jesse Watters' "steal Venezuela’s oil to buy Greenland" pitch
• [02:21] – Laura Ingraham claims Canada & Greenland owe their existence to the US
• [03:50] – Demonization of Delsy Rodríguez (Venezuela)
• [05:15] – Megyn Kelly criticizes Fox News as "regime propaganda"
• [06:02] – Jesse Watters justifies oil theft
• [06:37] – Vision of a U.S.-led Oil Empire, criticism of Denmark’s claim on Greenland
• [10:40] – Pam Bondi repeats "insane asylums" migrant conspiracy
• [12:20] – Tim Scott claims "freedom celebrations" in Venezuela
• [12:55] – Lindsey Graham: "Who's in charge of Venezuela? Donald J. Trump."
• [14:05] – Kristi Noem “GI Jane” segment
• [14:34] – Lindsey Graham declares Trump "greatest president," promises more regime change
• [16:56] – Dr. Oz attacks the American Association of Pediatrics

Tone & Style

• The episode is fast-paced, irreverent, and direct. The brothers mix sharp, fact-based criticism with comedic banter, using ridicule and outrage to deconstruct Fox News’ narratives.
• Frequent use of sarcasm, exasperation, and pointed comparisons to authoritarian and propagandist media.

Conclusion

The MeidasTouch brothers dissect the absurd, dangerous, and at times surreal coverage of Trump’s Venezuelan invasion on Fox News. They highlight the convergence of state-aligned right-wing media, open imperialism, dehumanizing rhetoric, and cult-like adulation for Trump. The hosts suggest that this new form of “regime propaganda” represents an existential threat to democracy and truth in media.