The MeidasTouch Podcast: Thursday Afternoon Breaking News Updates (2/5/26)

Host: Ben Meiselas (MeidasTouch Network)
Date: February 5, 2026
Format: Ben on Breaking News – solo news and commentary
Theme: Urgent breakdown of major political, economic, and societal news with focus on accountability, transparency, and democracy, featuring sharp critique of the Trump regime, gerrymandering controversies, AI and crypto impacts, and extensive discussion of the Epstein files scandal.

Episode Overview

Ben Meiselas delivers a rapid-fire update on the most pressing news stories, blending legal expertise, political analysis, and pointed commentary. The episode covers:

• The alarming January jobs report and economic decoupling.
• Dangers and politics of AI in the workplace.
• Epic market crash in crypto and Trump’s reckless involvement.
• Democratic wins in Virginia’s redistricting battle and their national implications.
• Breaking developments in the Epstein files and hypocrisy in U.S. politics versus U.K. responses.
• Analysis of Trump’s bizarre NBC interview, including comments on his cognitive tests.
• The legal and ethical insanity of Trump suing the U.S. government for billions, and the implications for Americans.
• Calls for nonpartisan recognition of threats to democracy and society.

Ben’s tone remains urgent, incredulous, and often humorous, grounded by a commitment to exposing abuses of power and defending democracy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dire January Jobs Report: Warning Signs for the U.S. Economy

• [00:01–05:00]
  • U.S. announced 108,435 layoffs in January, a 205% increase from December—highest since 2009.
  • Quote (Ben): “It’s not a good thing when all these comparisons [are] being made to 2009.”
  • Job cuts are happening even as GDP grows, illustrating a decoupling of employment from economic growth: “The billionaires are getting richer doing deals with each other over AI while screwing over everybody else.”
  • Reference: Commentary from economist Heather Long: “The US Hiring recession shows no sign of ending.”
  • Main job growth areas: only healthcare and AI—both under threat or underregulated.
  • Emerging link: Impacts of unregulated AI on jobs; highlighted via New York Assembly candidate Boris, who left Palantir due to concerns about its ties to ICE.

2. AI and Political Threats

• [05:00–09:00]
  • Ben reports on Assembly candidate Boris's campaign against the threats of unregulated AI, mentioning massive right-wing super PACs attacking candidates who speak out.
  • Quote (Ben): “Anyone who speaks out against AI…are getting attacked by these right-wing oligarchs.”

3. The Epstein Files & U.S. Political Hypocrisy

• [09:00–16:00]
  • Ben teases a deep dive into Trump’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein, referencing ongoing coverage by the network, his interviews with survivors, and a recent video showing clear communication links between Trump and Epstein up to 2019.
  • Quote (Ben): “Trump’s name appears more in the Epstein files than Jesus’s name in the Bible, and more than Harry Potter’s name in all seven books.”
  • He draws attention to the (lack of) consequences for U.S. political figures, contrasting it with shaming and resignations in the U.K.—a running theme of the episode.

4. ICE, Border Patrol, and Crypto Market Crash

• [11:00–13:00]
  • Ben condemns the ongoing abuses by ICE and Border Patrol, referring to them as “Gestapo” and highlighting recent scandals with leaders like Greg Bevino.
  • Crypto analysis: $2 trillion lost from the crypto market since Oct 2025 peak
    • “That’s Great Depression stuff right there. Like a 50% drop.”

5. Trump’s Corrupt Crypto Dealings

• [13:00–14:00]
  • Trump’s company, World Liberty Financial, panic-sold $5 million of Bitcoin at a loss, after previously hoarding at peak prices. Ben indicts Trump’s approach: “Everything Trump touches dies.”
  • No regulation, no transparency—Trump’s pattern mirrored in crypto and AI.

6. Virginia Redistricting: Democratic Triumph

• [14:00–15:00]
  • Virginia Democrats finalize a 10:1 map, countering Trump-inspired Republican gerrymandering nationwide.
  • Quote (Senator Lucas, [13:57]): “We are proud to deliver a map that stands up for democracy, to stand up for genius, to stand up and give us a voice. He started this mess and Virginia is going to finish it.”
  • Ben salutes cooperation in Virginia, credits California’s Gavin Newsom and Prop 50 for inspiring similar tactics.
  • He breaks down gerrymandering math and warns Republicans’ Texas strategies may backfire.

7. Clinton & Epstein Hearings: The Transparency Play

• [15:00–20:00]
  • Ben lauds Bill and Hillary Clinton for calling House GOP’s bluff, agreeing to testify publicly on Epstein:
    • Hillary Clinton post ([16:30]): “For six months, we engaged Republicans on the Oversight Committee in good faith… If you want this fight, James Comer, let’s have it in public. Cameras on. We will be there.”
  • In contrast, Trump tries to shield himself despite 38,000 occurrences in Epstein files.
  • Ben fact-checks viral memes: “Donald Trump is the main character in the Epstein files.”

8. U.K. Response to Epstein Scandal: What America Lacks

• [20:00–29:00]
  • Ben plays audio/video segments from U.K. Parliament on Lord Mandelson’s vetting failure (Epstein ties) and PM Keir Starmer’s honest (if unsatisfying) response.
  • Quote (UK Parliament, [24:34]): “If we want to clean up politics, then this sort of thing should not be being allowed to happen.”
  • Quote (Keir Starmer, [28:39]): “Yes, [the vetting] did. As a result, various questions were put to him…”
  • Ben remarks on the contrast in accountability: “That’s how grownups behave. Right? And I contrast that to James Comer… It’s crazy stuff here compared to that.”

9. Trump’s Deranged Interview With NBC: Cognitive Tests & Thin Blood

• [35:25–37:52]
  • Features Trump bragging about repeated “cognitive mind tests.”
    • Quote (Trump, [35:25]): “I take cognitive physicals… I’ve done three of them. No other president has agreed to do them. I do them because I have no problem with it because I’m 100%.”
  • Trump also rants about taking aspirin for “thin blood”, disregarding his doctor’s advice.
  • Ben: “The way the reporter talks to Donald Trump, like he's talking to somebody in a psychiatric ward… How have we gone to that as the baseline?”

10. Accountability and Transparency Abroad vs. U.S.

• [39:00–41:00]
  • Ben highlights that, unlike the U.K., the U.S. Speaker of the House (Mike Johnson) is deeply partisan, defending Trump despite his obvious exposure in the Epstein documents.

11. Epstein, Russian Oligarchs, and Market Chaos

• [41:00–44:00]
  • New details: Epstein advised associates to short Russia’s currency before the Crimea annexation, implying possible foreknowledge and ties to oligarchs and authoritarian power networks.
  • Ben ties this to massive crypto market manipulation, oligarch-enriching policy choices, and average Americans losing out.

12. Trump’s $10 Billion Lawsuit Against the U.S. Government

• [44:39–50:23]
  • Trump brags about suing for $10 billion over a tax data breach, planning to “give 100% to charity.”
    • Quote (Trump, [44:39]): “Essentially, the lawsuit’s been won. I guess I want a lot of money.”
    • But as Ben points out, Trump would take tax deductions and benefit anyway. “He’s going to steal your taxpayer money and… all the shady deals where he’s earning income he doesn’t have to pay taxes on.”
  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessen testifies in the Senate, confirming the DOJ—not Treasury—decides the payment, which would come directly from the taxpayers’ general fund.
    • Quote (Bessen, [49:31]): “It would come from Treasury, which comes from the general fund, the treasury general account. So taxpayers.”
  • Ben calculates: If every affected taxpayer claimed $10 billion, it would cost the U.S. quadrillions, far beyond the current national debt.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Decoupling Economic Growth from Jobs ([02:00]):
  “The GDP continues to grow at approximately 4%, accelerating the decoupling of employment from economic growth… the billionaires are getting richer doing deals with each other over AI while screwing over everybody else…” – Ben

• On Trump’s Name in Epstein Files ([18:00]):
  “Donald Trump’s name appears more in the Epstein files than Jesus’s name in the Bible and more than Harry Potter’s name in all seven Harry Potter books… Donald Trump is the main character in the Epstein files.” – Ben

• On U.K. Parliamentary Accountability ([24:34]):
  “If we want to clean up politics, then this sort of thing should not be being allowed to happen…” – UK Parliamentarian

• On the Quadrillion Dollar Lawsuit ([51:00]):
  “Imagine if I delivered not just the truth on the news, but I helped you get $10 billion. Is it quadrillion? Quadrillion. What if I got you a quadrillion dollars? … Rachel Maddow, she’s good… but she doesn’t give me a quadrillion.” – Ben

• On Political and Social Priorities ([52:30]):
  “We need to be serious people. These are serious times, made more serious by the clown in the Oval, the fascist clown in the Oval, and we really need to, on a nonpartisan political basis, truly recognize what’s happening here.”

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Opening and Bad Jobs Report: 00:01–05:00
• Unregulated AI & Assembly Member Boris’s Campaign: 05:00–09:00
• Epstein Files and Trump’s Ongoing Ties: 09:00–16:00
• ICE/Border Patrol and Crypto Crash: 11:00–13:00
• Virginia Redistricting Win: 14:00–15:00
• Clintons' Public Testimony on Epstein: 15:00–20:00
• Trump’s Bizarre NBC Interview: 35:25–38:59
• UK Parliament on Epstein/Mandelson: 24:34–29:14
• Trump’s $10B Lawsuit & Senate Testimony: 44:39–50:14
• Outro & Call to Action: 52:00–end

Episode Tone & Language

• Incredulity and urgency about political corruption and incompetence.
• Frequent use of satire and brotherly humor.
• Unapologetic support for democratic norms and transparency.
• Strong criticism of oligarchic capture, both domestically and internationally.
• Calls for action and unity, regardless of party, on core issues like child protection, accountability, and economic fairness.

Resources & Further Recommendations

• Watch Ben’s recent deep-dive videos on the Epstein files (see MeidasTouch YouTube).
• Follow ongoing coverage of Virginia and other state redistricting fights.
• For more detailed economic and legal breakdowns, subscribe to MeidasTouch’s Substack.
• Tune in to the main Meiselas Brothers show for more banter and varied perspectives.

Summary Conclusion:
Ben’s solo update presses the urgent dangers of unchecked power—from AI’s jobs impact to the corruption behind political maneuvers and Trump’s self-dealing. Through sharp analysis, notable soundbites, and international comparisons, the episode lays out a road map of both warning and hope: only transparency, vigilance, and collective democratic pressure can beat back America’s current slide.