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Ben Shapiro
As Donald Trump becomes more unhinged and his approval plummets, Fox, which is just state run regime media at this point, gets more desperate. It's so utterly embarrassing. Let me just show you what went down in the past 24 hours. I'll use to show you what they're doing. So they bring in Lara Trump who now Fox has given a TV show to. So Lara Trump is now going to get paid a huge amount of money by Fox to host Fox. Fox shows to run part of the state run regime media. And here she is introduced by Sean Hannity who accidentally calls her Laura. Shit. Here, play this clip.
Sean Hannity
All right, Joining us now, the host of the upcoming hit show My View with Laura Trump. And by the way, take that to the bank. It will be a hit show. I might even be a guest one day if she ever invites me.
Ben Shapiro
What was that? So then Fox brings in Caroline Levitt, Donald Trump's press secretary. And here she just liter makes up fake numbers where she goes, and I think we've already found with Social Security that there are tens of millions of deceased people who are getting Social Security. Elon Musk told us, and we know Elon Musk and Doge never lie. Right? Right. Here, play this clip.
Caroline Levitt
He is now delivering on it. And I've been fighting fake news reporters all day long here in the Washington D.C. swamp who are trying to fear monger the American people into believing that this administration going after their hard earned tax dollars and their hard earned Social Security checks. So I want to set the record straight on your show tonight, Sean, and I'm very grateful for the opportunity to do so. 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.
Ben Shapiro
What? This data's public. I mean, Elon tried to make some posts today to show, look, there are millions of people or tens of millions of people over the age of 110 who are dead and getting Social Security. This stuff is public. It's not hard to find. I think there's only what, 89,000 people or so above the age of 99 who are receiving Social Security. These numbers are not hard to find. But then again, the purpose of Fox is to lie. And I want to show you this next next methodology they use, which is once they're caught in the lie, just to laugh it off and be like, well that's how we own the libs Watch what happens when the pro democracy voice on Fox named Jessica Tarlov calls out Jesse Waters and other disinformationists for lying and saying that the, that USAID was sending condoms to Hamas and Gaza. Here, play this clip and watch what happens. Play it.
Jessica Tarlov
And, yeah, whatever Jesse says, I mean, maybe we'll find out next week that it's as true as the condoms to Gaza, but there's real stuff. And so I. Oh, cool.
Jesse Watters
I did.
Jessica Tarlov
Okay, so he made that up. Don't bother fact checking it. It was made up.
Ben Shapiro
Did you see what Jesse Watters did there? Jesse Waters was like, yeah, I'm the one who made up that lie. I lied about that. I'm the one who spread that one. What they're trying to do is desensitize their audience that once they're caught lying about something, they've already achieved their agenda. So then they're like, well, we own the lib, so we can lie, right? And they want their audience to think that that's normal, that lying is just kind of funny. And at first they try to get the lie through, and then when they're exposed, they try to act like it's just funny. Here, Jesse Waters then goes on this strange rant about like, Canada's angry at the United States and they shouldn't be. And now Canada's booing America and networks cheering for Canada. Look, Jesse, Donald Trump threatened to annex Canada to conquer it. And you and others have mocked Canada consistently and said it should be a 51st state. Canada just wants to exist with its sovereignty. And so of course you're going to piss them off when you say you want to conquer them and then attack them and mock them every day. But play this clip.
Jesse Watters
CBS is defending Germany, a country who started two world wars that cost millions of lives and who tariff our automobiles quite unfairly, I might add. They're defending a country who boos our national anthem, Canada. Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. And the media is defending Mexico. The media is defending the irs. The media is defending cockamamie spending like millions for Egyptian recycling. Trump has the left defending the indefensible.
Ben Shapiro
But you see what Jesse Waters is trying to do there? He's trying to convince his audience that this is typical abuser behavior. He's trying to convince his audience, look, Canada's the bad guy because they're now booing the United States. Well, perhaps the reason they're doing it is because you're talking basically about enslaving them and conquering them and taking over their country and taking over their sovereignty and forcing them to be part of a country that they don't want to be a part of. Maybe we could give some context there. Jesse Waters, in this next clip I want to show you now, you have Hannity, who basically is, you know, he's trying to vouch for Musk and Trump and say, look, I've seen them together and I know that they know who's the real president here. Like, their relationship is so good. It's just, again, this is what the ultimate propagandist does. Like, you're masquerading and pretending to be news, but you're like, I know the real deal here and I know that they respect each other. Here, play this clip.
Sean Hannity
I can give a few headlines. There's no conflict between them. There's no power struggle. There's no ambiguity as to the who the president is. And what I observe, both in front of the camera and behind the camera, are people that had a great relationship. I don't want to give too much away. People will decide for themselves. You were there for a lot of it. Do you agree?
Caroline Levitt
I definitely agree. And I witnessed this relationship firsthand every single day in the Oval Office at the White House. And President Trump has tasked Elon Musk with administering his America first agenda, just like the rest of us who serve at the pleasure of the president, but most importantly, serve the American people. More than 77 million Americans reelected President Trump to promote monumental fundamental change to shake up the Washington swamp. And there's nobody better than Elon Musk to do that. He is a once in a generation business leader. He sent rocket ships to space. He's far smarter than many of the people who are grunting and moaning on Capitol Hill about these efforts are. And he's the perfect person to help President Trump with this effort. The mainstream media wants to drive a wedge with between their relationship, but they are failing. And our entire team is unified behind President Trump to deliver on the promises he made to the American people on the campaign trail.
Ben Shapiro
Again, it is so utterly pathetic. And by the way, all of this is taking place at a time where yesterday evening the White House submitted a declaration in one of these cases that's trying to block Elon Musk's access to these agencies. And this is how they described it. They said, Elon, this is in the declaration that Elon Musk is a senior advisor to the president and he is not actually part of Doge. That's what they're trying to play off. That happened right there.
Ron Filipkowski
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Ben Shapiro
Here they then have the Interior Secretary, Doug Burgum. He goes on, and this is just like pure North Korea, Pyongyang stuff right here. Where. Where he goes, where Doug Burgum, who's in Trump's cabinet, goes, oh, and when we saw Donald Trump circle around that track over and over again at Daytona 500 in the motorcade, we knew America was back here. Play this clip.
Jesse Watters
When we saw him take that victory.
Sean Hannity
Lap of sorts going around the track.
Doug Burgum
He seemed to be digging it well, Steve, watching President Trump in the beast leading the pace car, leading a field of the most talented drivers in the world, kicking off the entire NASCAR season for America, when he was doing that, it reminded me of how he's actually leading the world right now. I had an opportunity to be with him, with Prime Minister Modi from India, with the prime Minister of Japan. And the world is looking to President Trump for his leadership. And he's out in front and everybody's following his lead. And, wow, is that great for America and great for the world?
Ben Shapiro
Well, you know, just notice what they're trying to do here. They're trying to distract their audience from the fact that prices are going up, inflation is going up, housing is not becoming more affordable, it's becoming less affordable. Trump did not get peace in Ukraine in 24 hours as he promised. Trump promised that prices were going to go down on day one. And Trump continues to take actions which are hurting red states, perhaps even more than blue states. But he's getting rid of jobs in all of these locations and causing absolute havoc. So what do they do on Fox? How do they deal with this as well? And how do they try to justify the xenophobia? How do they try to justify the fact that one of the Trump policies are also going after hardworking people, hardworking migrants who are doing jobs in agriculture and hospitality and construction. So they go on this tirade in the morning where they're like, look, Elon Musk and all of these technological people who are part of the Trump administration, they're just so smart. These are such smart people that we're going to be dealing with quantum computers. So we don't need actual people who are doing the work as laborers, because, let's use a big word, quantum. Quantum computers are going to figure this out. So why would we need all of these millions of people who are here doing this jobs that Americans don't want to do and can't do. Quantum, Quantum. Or play this clip.
Sean Hannity
And we essentially don't need 20 million more unskilled workers. The whole world is becoming mechanized robotics, AI. We're importing people we're not going to be able to employ. So all along here, the entire thing has not been shepherded by a controlling mind. And the mind we needed here was the executive. And obviously we didn't have one. We're paying for it now. Boy, that is a big point. I mean, when you look at the technological. And now next you've got quantum computers coming. I mean, it is mind boggling bringing unskilled workers into the fold here. They'll be on the dole for the rest of their lives if they stay.
Ben Shapiro
Yeah, no, no doubt. Do you see what they're doing? I'm just trying to cue you in on their propaganda tactics right there. So I guess we should deport everybody's what they're saying, even if they're doing key jobs. Because don't worry, Donald Trump and Elon Musk, Quantum, they'll figure it out. With Quantum, we'll make big words for you right there and then right here. I love this part where Jessica Tarlov then makes. And you can see that she struck a chord there because a hit dog will holler. Watch what the panel does when she says. Could you imagine for a second a former president Joe Biden was driving around on a race car track while a number of states, including red states, were suffering. Kentucky. Now we know 12 people died in Kentucky from the horrible storms. West Virginia, Virginia suffering. Donald Trump made no statement at all about that while he was driving around the Daytona 500. Watch this.
Jessica Tarlov
I have heard and you say if Joe Biden had done this, if Joe Biden had shown up at the Daytona 500 while there were people living under emergency declarations and passing away in Georgia, a tree fell into a guy's house and ended up killing him.
Sean Hannity
Do you think this is a fair.
Ben Shapiro
Comparison that you're taking?
Sean Hannity
You're taking. This is not a hurricane event.
Jesse Watters
You're talking about storms. So he needs to respond to every single death. No, then he wouldn't be president.
Jessica Tarlov
Well, he needs to, I think, say something. When the whole point was criticizing Joe Biden for absolutely everything that he ever did. You said that in New York.
Sean Hannity
Did anything start with North Carolina?
Ben Shapiro
Really?
Jesse Watters
That's not true.
Jessica Tarlov
We've gone through it multiple times about how quickly he signed emergency declarations at.
Sean Hannity
This st. How about East Palestine?
Jessica Tarlov
How about you just say that maybe you shouldn't be driving around a race car track when this is going on?
Ben Shapiro
So part of what Fox then does as well is because Donald Trump is suing CBS and Paramount. You have Fox goes after both CBS and Germany at the same time. They attack CBS on Trump's behalf and they attacked Germany because one, Trump suing cbs and two, Germany is being targeted by the Trump administration as they try to get the AfD, the Neo Nazi party, elected. But fortunately, I think the people of Germany are seeing what's happening in the United States and saying Elon Musk trying to support this neo Nazi party in Germany to do it, to cause the exact harm he's inflicting on the US Here in Germany. But watch this. Let's play it.
Jesse Watters
Why is CBS defending Germany, though, over the United States of America? Well, it's not like they're England. They started two world wars. People's grandfather, people's father, who were older, were slaughtered by the Germans. Not to mention all the millions of Jewish people they exterminated. All of a sudden we have to start tiptoeing around the Germans. Why? Why? I will never do CBS Sunday Morning ever again.
Ben Shapiro
I thought this was a very telling moment right here where Jesse Waters, to me, gives it all away, where Jesse Watters basically says, you know what? We're waging a 21st century information warfare campaign against the left. And he spells, this is where he just lets it slip. And he's like, we've got Elon Musk tweets it out, then Joe Rogan podcasts about it, then Fox broadcasts it. Watch this.
Jesse Watters
It's not really the same, Dana. We are waging a 21st century information warfare campaign against the left. And they are using tactics from the 1990s. They are holding tiny press conferences, tiny little rallies. They're screaming into the ether on msnbc. This is what you call top down command and control. You get your talking points from a newspaper and you put it on the broadcast network and then it disappears. What you're seeing on the right is asymmetrical. It's like grassroots guerrilla warfare. Someone says something on social media. Musk retweets it, Rogan podcasts it, Fox broadcasts it. And by the time it reaches everybody, millions of people have seen it. It's free money. And we're actually talking about expressing information. They are suppressing information. If you.
Ben Shapiro
So, by the way, didn't he give away the whole game right there? I thought that was a wild moment. And then finally, after doing all of that, then they try to inflict the fear. So then they call the border czar, Tom Homan, to basically once again threaten AOC that he's urged the DOJ to prosecute her for telling migrants about their rights. He goes, when do you cross the line? Here, play this clip.
Sean Hannity
When does it cross a line into aiding and abetting, lawbreaking? Would it have to have direct involvement by her in helping people to evade ice?
Tom Homan
That's exactly the question I posed to the deputy attorney general. I asked him to look into it. I said, I know through my career, someone steps in front of between you and the person you're arresting or repeating, yeah, that's a violation. But at what point do you cross the line on saying you're educating people versus you're teaching them how to evade ICE to rest? So I've asked that question to the Department of Justice for clear guidance so I can share that with the officers of ice. So we're looking for that clear direction so we can start taking action on people that want to evade, who want to help educate these people to evade ice. So hopefully any day now, we get that guidance sent out to the field.
Ben Shapiro
So I wanted to break down the anatomy of the Fox propaganda. You can see how desperate they're getting and remember that moment there when Jesse Waters, in my view, just gave it all away. Let me know what you think. Hit subscribe let's get to 5 million subscribers. Thanks for watching.
Ron Filipkowski
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Ben Shapiro
Foreign if.
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The MeidasTouch Podcast Episode Summary
Title: Fox News Starts Collapsing as Trump Can't Be Saved
Release Date: February 19, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Episode Focus: An in-depth analysis of Fox News's declining credibility amid Donald Trump's diminishing influence, highlighting recent controversies and propagandistic tactics employed by the network.
The episode opens with Ben Shapiro (a prominent guest) addressing the current state of Fox News, characterizing it as a "state-run regime media" entity that is increasingly desperate as Donald Trump's approval ratings drop. Ben sets the stage for the discussion by highlighting Fox News's attempts to salvage its influence through strategic hires and misleading narratives.
Notable Quote:
Ben Shapiro [00:00]: "As Donald Trump becomes more unhinged and his approval plummets, Fox, which is just state run regime media at this point, gets more desperate."
Ben criticizes Fox News for bringing in Lara Trump as a host for a new show, portraying it as a move to align more closely with Donald Trump's agenda. He underscores the hypocritical introduction by Sean Hannity, who mistakenly refers to her as "Laura."
Notable Quote:
Sean Hannity [00:40]: "Joining us now, the host of the upcoming hit show My View with Laura Trump. And by the way, take that to the bank. It will be a hit show."
Ben further critiques Caroline Levitt, Donald Trump's press secretary, for disseminating false information regarding Social Security fraud, specifically the claim about "tens of millions of deceased people" receiving benefits.
Notable Quote:
Caroline Levitt [01:19]: "President Trump has directed Elon Musk and the Doge team to identify fraud at the Social Security Administration. They suspect that there are tens of millions of deceased people who are receiving fraudulent Social Security payments."
Ben rebuts these claims by presenting factual data, emphasizing the minimal number of Social Security beneficiaries over 110 years old and accusing Fox News of propagating lies.
The conversation shifts to a notable exchange between Jessica Tarlov, a pro-democracy voice on Fox News, and Jesse Watters. Jessica challenges misinformation spread by Jesse regarding USAID sending condoms to Hamas and Gaza.
Notable Quote:
Jessica Tarlov [02:56]: "Maybe we'll find out next week that it's as true as the condoms to Gaza, but there's real stuff."
Jesse Watters sarcastically admits to fabricating the story, aiming to desensitize the audience to Fox's habitual misinformation.
Notable Quote:
Jesse Watters [06:01]: "I did."
Ben interprets this exchange as a tactic by Fox News to normalize lying, presenting it as a means of "owning the libs."
Sean Hannity attempts to validate the close relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, suggesting there is no conflict or power struggle between them. He emphasizes their mutual respect and alignment in promoting the "America First" agenda.
Notable Quote:
Sean Hannity [06:01]: "There's no conflict between them. There's no power struggle. There's no ambiguity as to who the president is."
Caroline Levitt echoes Hannity's sentiments, praising Elon Musk as a "once in a generation business leader" instrumental in executing Trump's policies.
Notable Quote:
Caroline Levitt [06:26]: "Elon Musk is far smarter than many of the people who are grunting and moaning on Capitol Hill... he's the perfect person to help President Trump with this effort."
Ben criticizes this narrative, pointing out the paradox of Fox News promoting high-tech solutions like quantum computing while neglecting tangible issues such as inflation and housing affordability.
Doug Burgum, the Interior Secretary, lauds Donald Trump's leadership by comparing his role to a race car driver leading the NASCAR season. Ben likens this portrayal to "pure North Korea, Pyongyang stuff," suggesting authoritarian undertones in Fox News's praise.
Notable Quote:
Doug Burgum [10:49]: "President Trump... is leading the world right now. And he's out in front and everybody's following his lead."
Ben juxtaposes this with the administration's failures, such as unchecked inflation, rising prices, and ineffective handling of international issues like the situation in Ukraine.
Ben dissects Fox News's propagandistic strategies, highlighting their shift from promoting misinformation to deflecting criticism through mockery and fear-mongering. He underscores Jesse Watters's declaration of an "information warfare campaign against the left," revealing the network's orchestrated efforts to dominate the political narrative.
Notable Quote:
Jesse Watters [16:07]: "We are waging a 21st century information warfare campaign against the left."
Ben emphasizes how these tactics aim to suppress dissenting information, portraying Fox News as a tool for sustained propaganda rather than objective reporting.
The discussion turns to Fox News's aggressive stance on border policies, particularly targeting Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC). Tom Homan, referred to as the "border czar," threatens legal action against AOC for allegedly encouraging migrants to evade ICE detention.
Notable Quote:
Tom Homan [18:34]: "I'm looking for clear direction so we can start taking action on people that want to evade, who want to help educate these people to evade ICE."
Ben critiques this approach as part of Fox News's broader strategy to intimidate and delegitimize political opponents, further entrenching divisive politics.
Ben Shapiro concludes the episode by summarizing Fox News's desperate measures to maintain relevance amid Trump's faltering support. He underscores the network's reliance on propaganda, misinformation, and fear-mongering as indicators of its collapsing credibility.
Notable Quote:
Ben Shapiro [19:12]: "So I wanted to break down the anatomy of the Fox propaganda. You can see how desperate they're getting."
He encourages listeners to engage with the podcast and support their mission to promote democracy and truth.
The latter part of the transcript includes advertisements for MD Hearing and ShipStation, which the podcast typically skips in summaries. However, it's noteworthy that the episode maintains its focus on content-driven analysis, ensuring that promotional segments do not overshadow critical discussions.
Summary Overview:
In this episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, Ben Shapiro, along with his co-hosts Brett and Jordy Meiselas, provides a scathing critique of Fox News as it grapples with declining influence and credibility amidst Donald Trump's waning approval. Through a meticulous analysis of recent hires, misleading narratives, and propagandistic tactics, the hosts illuminate the network's desperate attempts to retain its audience. Highlighting key moments and quotes, the episode offers listeners a comprehensive understanding of the current media landscape, emphasizing the importance of supporting democratic values against biased and state-influenced journalism.