The MeidasTouch Podcast
Episode: Tuesday Afternoon Breaking News Updates with Ben
Date: January 20, 2026
Host: Ben Meiselas (MeidasTouch Network)
Episode Overview
In this solo breaking news episode, Ben Meiselas addresses recent internal strife within the MeidasTouch Network, clarifies the network’s values, and delivers a comprehensive, passionate analysis of Donald Trump’s latest erratic press conference, its global implications, and the state of pro-democracy media. The episode features sharp contrasts between Trump’s rhetoric and the leadership of world figures like Canada’s Prime Minister Carney and California Governor Gavin Newsom, a discussion of law enforcement at the U.S. border, and an update on legal actions surrounding the Epstein files.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Addressing Internal Network Changes
[00:27 – 07:00]
- Ben opens with a statement on recent controversies regarding inappropriate comments about New York Attorney General Letitia James and District Attorney Alvin Bragg made by guests on MeidasTouch programs.
- He reaffirms the network’s core mission: protecting, preserving, and defending democracy, not personalities.
- Swift response: Internal action was taken within hours to maintain trust and principle.
- Notable Quote:
“Ultimately, the MeidasTouch is a network that needs to be focused on a singular mission of protecting, preserving, and defending democracy. … If that mission is ever compromised, I’m going to take swift action.” – Ben Meiselas [03:50]
- Ben distances the network from individual hosts, emphasizing its people- and democracy-first identity.
2. Trump’s Disastrous Press Conference
[09:40 – 26:00]
- Ben provides commentary and plays several erratic, meandering Trump clips from his latest White House press event, calling his behavior “demented and deranged.”
- Memorable moments include:
- Trump fixating on a paperclip almost hurting his thumb.
- False claims about solving “affordability” and grocery prices, which Ben fact-checks (“Not true. … Grocery prices were basically the highest they’ve ever been since 2022…” [12:11]).
- Trump’s rants about the Nobel Prize, the “Board of Peace,” and inviting authoritarian figures like Putin and Lukashenko to join.
- Praise for the Syrian leader, downplaying crimes and tying his “toughness” to U.S. interests.
- Surreal digression into childhood memories and mother’s comments about mental institutions in New York.
- Notable Quote:
“I’m watching this and I’m like, this is someone who is ill. … This is someone who should not be anywhere near the proximity of power.” – Ben Meiselas [09:58]
- Ben draws stark contrasts with past media standards (e.g., Obama’s “tan suit” and “potato” gaffes) to highlight the normalization of Trump’s aberrant conduct.
3. International Responses and Contrasts
[25:17 – 34:00]
- Contrasting leadership:
- Prime Minister Carney (Canada) at Davos is held up as "the leader of the free world," especially for his composure, internationalist values, and concrete support of Greenland and NATO.
- Carney’s speeches at Davos [clips at 26:26–30:58] highlight the decline of American hegemony and the need for new coalitions and genuine rules-based order.
- Notable Carney Quotes:
- “On Arctic sovereignty, we stand firmly with Greenland and Denmark and fully support their unique right to determine Greenland's future…” [26:26]
- “We knew the story of the international rules based order was partially false… That the strongest would exempt themselves when convenient…” [27:50]
- “If great powers abandon even the pretense of rules and values… Allies will diversify to hedge against uncertainty…” [29:28]
- Howard Lutnick (Trump Cabinet):
- Dismisses Greenland questions and asserts U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere, reinforcing the “America First” isolationist approach.
- Contrast: Ben uses these clips to paint a picture of a world losing faith in American stability under Trump and seeking alternatives.
4. Domestic Policy Critique: Border, Law, and Police
[34:00 – 43:00]
- Ben sharply criticizes current funding for ICE and Border Patrol:
- Calls GOP demands for increased funding “Gestapo”-like and accuses the agencies of terrorizing law-abiding communities.
- Notable Quote:
“Any Democrat who’s not talking about defunding or abolishing ICE at this point… I don’t know how you can support funding ICE and Border Patrol right now.” [16:20]
- Shares polling data showing growing independent support for abolishing ICE [40:27].
- Praises local law enforcement leaders for speaking out about civil rights violations by federal agents.
- Praises Midas network journalists for on-the-ground reporting in Minneapolis and elsewhere.
5. Legal News & Accountability
[43:00 – 48:30]
- Updates on legal sanctions:
- Judge Novak threatens Trump lawyers with disbarment for misleading the court and impersonating U.S. Attorneys.
- Ben emphasizes the network’s tradition of legal rigor and reporting integrity, drawing on his personal background.
- Announces MeidasTouch's expansion (Washington D.C. bureau, new partnerships, subsidiary channels).
6. Jeffrey Epstein Files & Accountability
[48:30 – 52:00]
- Ben discusses congressional and judicial struggles for transparency regarding the Epstein sex-trafficking files.
- Plays a viral clip of Lee McGowan (Politics Girl), who passionately rebukes media minimization of the issue:
- Quote:
“Let’s not get our knickers in a twist over child rape. Why are you talking like that? It’s insane… If it brings down Democrats, bring them down. … But what it feels like right now is that there’s a giant cabal of people that do not have to listen to the law…” – Lee McGowan [49:59–51:13]
- Quote:
- Praises Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie for exposing DOJ delays in unsealing Epstein records.
7. Concluding Reflections & Calls to Action
[52:00 – 59:45]
- Ben reiterates that MeidasTouch exists for “the people” and the defense of democracy, above individual egos or personalities.
- Promotes the network’s continued growth, emphasizing openness, integrity, and allyship for all democratic, independent media.
- Asks viewers to subscribe and stay engaged; previews regular breaking news updates every Tuesday and Thursday.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments with Timestamps
- “I can no longer continue to do political beatdown and I can no longer continue to host the Mea Culpa show on this network. ... Statements to the contrary were not just things that I disagreed with, but strongly disagreed with.” – Ben [02:20]
- “The ranting and raving about Greenland, Panama Canal, whining about the Nobel Prize, flipping through papers, saying, lots of paper here. Look at all this paper. … I’m watching this and I’m like, this is someone who is ill.” – Ben [09:47]
- “What improved the lives of people are people that are living. I saved probably tens of millions of lives in the wars.” – Donald Trump [14:51]
- “Strong guy, tough guy, pretty rough resume, but you’re not going to put a choir boy in there and, you know, get the job done.” – Donald Trump on Syrian leader [19:07]
- “If you have something called the Epstein Transparency act, you can’t basically be like, well, it doesn’t actually mean transparency and we don’t have to follow it.” – Ben, critiquing DOJ excuse [51:07]
- “Bringing you the truth and bringing you the facts… is what I want to do every single day when I wake up, when I go to sleep. That’s why I became a lawyer. … That’s what I bring to this network, and that’s what I mean when I talk about values and principles.” – Ben [07:54]
- “If great powers abandon even the pretense of rules and values … the gains from transactionalism will become harder to replicate.” – PM Carney [29:28]
- “It feels like we’re in this twilight zone until I think independent media came along because everybody’s like, treating this like this is something normal.” – Ben [21:36]
- “ICE and Border Patrol are terrorizing communities. They are the Gestapo. That’s who they are.” – Ben [39:45]
- “We need to focus right now on the existential threats that are confronting our country, the side quests generally. … Everything we should do should be for the people out there.” – Ben [58:20]
Important Timestamps
| Topic/Event | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|:------------:| | Clarifying internal MeidasTouch changes | 00:27–07:00 | | Trump’s press event erraticism | 09:47–14:09 | | Trump on “affordability,” prices | 11:48–12:11 | | Trump on Nobel Prize/Board of Peace | 14:34–15:05 | | Praise for Syrian leader, border critique | 18:59–19:39 | | Carney’s Davos address (sovereignty, rules) | 26:26–30:58 | | Lutnick “our hemisphere” panel comment | 32:06–32:51 | | Gavin Newsom in Davos | 39:12–40:19 | | Poll on abolishing ICE | 40:27 | | Police Chief, Minneapolis racism clip | 42:46 | | Lee McGowan rebukes Epstein minimization | 49:59–51:13 |
Summary Tone & Takeaways
The episode is impassioned, unsparing, and occasionally raw, with Ben Meiselas blending sharp legal, political, and moral analysis. He does not hide his dismay at “normalizing” dangerous behavior from leadership, delivers evidence-laden fact-checks, and makes clear calls for active democratic engagement. Throughout, the focus is on protecting democracy, holding power accountable, and elevating voices for justice over personality-driven drama.
Useful For:
- Anyone needing a succinct yet comprehensive breakdown of current U.S. and global political dynamics.
- Listeners seeking detailed, timestamped coverage for fact-checking or further research.
- Pro-democracy audiences seeking news free of corporate or “both sides” equivocation.
For more content and detailed recaps, subscribe to MeidasTouch’s Substack: midasplus.com