The MeidasTouch Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode Title: 🚨Melania gets Karma She Feared as it All Comes Out!!!
Date: February 8, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Main Theme:
This episode of the MeidasTouch Podcast delves into the controversy and backlash surrounding Melania Trump’s new biographical film. The Meiselas brothers examine the concerted efforts by right-wing, political, and faith leaders to prop up the movie’s commercial success, alleged attempts to inflate box office numbers, and troubling connections unearthed in recently leaked Epstein files. The episode balances investigative reporting, sharp critique, and signature brotherly banter, focusing on the intersection of politics, propaganda, and accountability.

Main Discussion Points and Insights

1. Melania’s Movie Release: Debunking "Success" Claims

• Initial Hype and Reality Check (03:58):
  The brothers open with the assertion that Melania Trump’s film has failed at the box office, despite claims of financial success.
  • Quote (Brett, paraphrased): “No, it didn’t. It was a complete and utter failure… You claim it made $7 million. It is a complete farce that you say it’s successful…” (03:58)
• Uncovering the Bulk Ticket Purchases:
  Large purchases by right-wing operatives, faith leaders, and politicians intending to curry favor with Trump or inflate the film's numbers.
  • Candidates, especially those seeking Trump's endorsement, are buying movie tickets in bulk and distributing them at events. (03:58-12:44)

2. Military Involvement in Promoting the Film

• Military Pressure Allegations (03:58-11:03): Reports detail that MAGA-aligned military commanders have compelled service members and their families to watch the movie as a form of “bonding,” sparking concern about politicization within the ranks.
  • Key Investigation: Citing reporting from Jonathan Larsen and Ron Filipkowski, emails describe commanders requiring attendance at screenings to avoid negative fitness report annotations.
  • Quote (Read from service member): “Nobody that I know wanted to go except for those that did not want to get jacked up by our unit commander for not attending…” (08:10)
• Pentagon denies any official directive but does not directly address the allegations about individual commanders’ behavior. (09:40)

3. Faith Leaders and Political Groups Inflating Numbers

• Faith-Based Promotion (09:45):
  Paula White Kane, a Faith Advisor tied to Trump, encourages church networks to book theaters in bulk, framing movie attendance as a moral and political act.
  • Email blast urges, “Supporting this film is about standing up for grace… Let’s take this film all the way to number one…” (10:34)
• Political Candidates’ Involvement (12:44):
  Example: Rep. Andy Barr in Kentucky buys out local theaters to offer “free” showings—attendee photos reveal coordinated campaign promotion during screenings.
  • Quote (Ben): “He’s buying out the theaters to pack it with people. And you see…they’re all there holding up a ‘Barr for Senate’ sign.” (12:52)

4. The Epstein Connection: Emails and Fallout

• Leaked Correspondence (03:58, 13:37, 14:38):
  The hosts share and quote newly revealed emails linking Melania Trump with Ghislaine Maxwell and, by extension, Jeffrey Epstein.
  • Melania and Maxwell exchanged nicknames (“Sweet Pea” and “G”), and Melania’s messages praise a New York magazine article that casts Epstein and Maxwell in a positive light.
  • Quote (Email, read aloud): “Dear G, how are you? Nice story about JE and the New York Mag. You look great on the picture. I know you are very busy. Flying all over the world…I cannot wait to go down [to Palm Beach].” (16:58)
  • The brothers highlight Melania’s evasive public response when asked about the Maxwell connection.
    • Quote (Melania, evading question): “We are here celebrating the release and the life of those two incredible people. So let’s honor that.” (14:40)

5. Investigative Report: Are People Actually Seeing the Film?

• Secret Service Sam’s Field Report (15:40-18:15): The podcast sends its own reporter to various California theaters during prime time showings. The conclusion: almost every screening is empty—sometimes just a single paid viewer, despite claims of high turnout.
  • Key Moment:
    • “What did you just tell me? You said...they’re paying people to watch the movie. So it’s pretty empty.” (16:12)
    • “This is the best, most emptiest theater I’ve ever been in.” (17:43)
    • “Give me an E. Give me a P. Give me an S…What’s that spell? Epstein file.” (17:46)
  • Observations of Melania-branded popcorn and cups, part of the expensive but hollow promotional push by major backers.

6. Accountability, Transparency, and Dodging Questions

• Challenge to Melania (18:24-20:05):
  The hosts call out the hypocrisy of Melania and her backers. While other public figures (e.g., Hillary Clinton) are targeted for depositions without evidence in Epstein matters, Melania’s clear connections and unanswered questions are evaded.
  • Suggested lines of inquiry: immigration history, education claims, original entrance into the US, her actual relationship with Epstein and Maxwell.
  • Quote (Ben): “Those are fair game questions. And Melania threatens to sue anybody who asks those questions…She just tried to run away and avoid service so that she doesn’t get served with the complaint. She’s running away cowardly.” (19:40)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

| Time | Speaker / Source | Quote / Moment | |-----------|------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:58 | Ben | “No, it didn’t. It was a complete and utter failure…You claim it made $7 million. It is a complete farce…” | | 08:10 | Military Email | “Nobody that I know wanted to go except for those that did not want to get jacked up by our unit commander for not attending…” | | 10:34 | Paula White Kane | “Supporting this film is about standing up for grace…Let’s take this film all the way to number one…” | | 12:52 | Ben | “He’s buying out the theaters…they’re all there holding up a ‘Barr for Senate’ sign.” | | 14:40 | Melania | “We are here celebrating the release and the life of those two incredible people. So let’s honor that.” | | 16:12 | Secret Service Sam | “What did you just tell me? You said...they’re paying people to watch the movie. So it’s pretty empty.” | | 17:43 | Secret Service Sam | “This is the best, most emptiest theater I’ve ever been in.” | | 17:46 | Secret Service Sam | “Give me an E. Give me a P. Give me an S…What’s that spell? Epstein file.” | | 19:40 | Ben | “She just tried to run away and avoid service so that she doesn’t get served with the complaint. She’s running away cowardly.” |

Key Segment Timestamps

• Melania Movie Box Office, Military Pressure: 03:58–11:03
• Faith Leader and Candidate Involvement: 09:45–12:44
• Kentucky Candidate Bulk Buys: 12:44–13:37
• The Epstein Files and Melania’s Evasion: 13:37–15:06
• Field Report – Empty Theaters: 15:40–18:24
• Calls for Accountability: 18:24–20:05

Conclusion

This episode exposes a multilayered effort by MAGA operatives to manufacture the appearance of Melania Trump’s cultural and political popularity—through bulk movie ticket purchases, military pressure, and orchestrated faith-based promotions. The brothers use investigative journalism and satirical commentary to reveal the artificiality of the film’s “success” and raise serious questions about Melania’s connections to figures in the Epstein scandal, all the while challenging Trump-aligned hypocrisy regarding public accountability. The show remains fast-paced, irreverent, and serious in its defense of transparency and democracy.