The MeidasTouch Podcast – Tuesday Afternoon Breaking News with Ben (2/24/26)

Host: Ben Meiselas (MeidasTouch Network)
Date: February 24, 2026
Summary Prepared By: [Podcast Summarizer AI]

Episode Overview

This Tuesday “Breaking News” episode, hosted solo by Ben Meiselas, dives into the ongoing battle between the MeidasTouch Network and the Trump administration, with a special focus on the State of the Union boycott, the People's State of the Union event, government and media complicity, Trump’s financial and legal controversies, disturbing new revelations about suppressed Epstein files, and a broad reflection on the current authoritarian drift in US politics. The tone is biting, irreverent, and passionate, blending hard-hitting facts with signature MeidasTouch wit and urgency.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Boycotting Trump's State of the Union

• MidasTouch & MoveOn's "People's State of the Union":

  • Ben explains the network's decision to boycott the Trump-led State of the Union in favor of hosting a “People’s State of the Union” — an alternative event on the National Mall featuring over 40 members of Congress and key progressive voices.
  • “Why would we want to platform an authoritarian festival? Why would we want to platform someone who’s going to just continue to lie and someone who's already broken down all the traditions and norms and has ripped to shreds our constitution?” (Ben, [03:47])
  • The event, co-hosted with MoveOn, opposes legitimizing Trump’s administration after years of democratic backsliding.

• Satirical 'Preview' of Trump’s Address:

  • Ben humorously mimics Trump's speaking style, mocking his expected “me, me, me” rhetoric and self-congratulatory claims.
  • “There it is. I did the speech for you... I did the whole bit. That’s what’s going to happen.” (Ben, [05:31])

• Congressional Participation & MAGA Fury:

  • MAGA Republicans, including Speaker Mike Johnson (“MAGA Mike”), have criticized the MeidasTouch Network’s boycott as “shameful,” claiming only Democrats would politicize the tradition.
  • MAGA Mike’s clip played and rebutted:
    • “It’s shameful that they would boycott an address... Our constituents want and need us to be here. Every member... represents over 750,000 people. They’re disenfranchised if you’re not sitting in the seat.” (Mike Johnson, [10:00])

2. Trump’s Grifts & Economic Deceit

• Trump’s Hustles:

  • Coverage of Trump’s latest promotional scheme (“Trump watches”) and the collapse of his “meme coin” crypto tokens, revealing a staggering $4.3 billion in retail losses:
    • “Insiders cashed out over $600 million... Retail holders absorbed the losses at a ratio of 20 to 1... Just 45 whale wallets—insiders—extracted a combined $1.2 billion.” (Ben, [14:10])

• Economic Performance and Gaslighting:

  • Ben lists Trump’s historical business failures and critiques his pattern of blustering over actual results:
    • “This is why his casinos went bankrupt. If there was a Guinness Book of Records on bankruptcies, he’d be at the top.” (Ben, [33:12])
    • Satirizes Trump’s promised economic outcomes and constant “I won” rhetoric in the face of empirical failures.

3. Media Complicity & the “Regime Press”

• White House Press Critique:
  • Ben criticizes mainstream media for uncritically repeating White House talking points, playing a recording from ABC’s Jonathan Karl post–presidential lunch:
    • “He told us... the next three years are going to be the best years economically... it’s already begun.” (Jonathan Karl, [22:39])
  • Reproaches journalists for acting as “stenographers,” failing to push back on presidential falsehoods:
    • “What’s the point of posting that video? What’s the point of that? Seriously, it’s embarrassing.” (Ben, [23:55])

4. Trump’s Deepening Unpopularity

• Polling Analysis:
  • In-depth breakdown with a Political Analyst of Trump’s historically abysmal approval heading into the State of the Union:
    • “Trump’s net approval rating? Negative 27 points... He is weaker than any other president this century going into a State of the Union address at this point in their second term.” (Political Analyst, [25:31–27:08])
  • “At this point a year ago, Donald Trump was at -13 points [with independents]. Look at this: -47 points among independents, the lowest Donald Trump has ever been in either of his two terms.” (Political Analyst, [27:14])

5. Cover-up of Epstein Files & DOJ Corruption

• New Revelations:

  • NPR reporting indicates DOJ withheld or deleted Epstein-related files implicating Trump in sexual abuse of a minor, despite legal mandates for release.
  • “There are 50 pages of FBI interviews involving someone who was a minor who accused Donald Trump of sexual assault. That’s being hidden.” (Ben, [18:52])
  • Representative Massey and Rep. Robert Garcia are among those seeking accountability:
    • Massey: “We were not able to search the files... that subset contains what I think may be names of co-conspirators.” ([19:02])
    • Garcia: “These highlighted documents are actually missing under our oversight subpoena. What we have here is a survivor... and now these documents are missing. The DOJ needs to answer, why are they covering this up?” ([46:31])

• Integrity vs. Partisanship:

  • Ben reiterates his view is not strictly “political” but based on fundamental decency:
    • “I don’t view this as a Republican Democrat issue. I just look at the conduct and I’m like, this is abhorrent.” (Ben, [51:48])

6. AI, Surveillance, and Pentagon Overreach

• Anthropic AI Standoff:
  • Breaking news on the Pentagon’s push for unrestricted access to Anthropic’s AI for mass surveillance and possible autonomous lethal operations.
    • “The government wants the AI monitoring you 24/7 and then being able to kill you or people abroad... the chat-GPT decides who dies. That’s what the government wants.” (Ben, [53:22])
    • Jennifer Griffin (Fox): “If by Friday Anthropic does not agree to the Pentagon’s use of the model without restrictions, [the Pentagon] would terminate the contract and use the Defense Production Act to force compliance.” ([54:06])
  • Ben flags the lack of media coverage and the bipartisan risk to civil rights.
    • “Could you imagine if that was a plan from Obama or Biden?” (Ben, [53:58])

7. General Political Malaise & The Human Cost

• What Americans Want:

  • Ben discusses (with palpable compassion) the sense of despair and longing among working Americans: unaffordable rent, healthcare insecurity, fear of AI, and the erosion of dignity and economic security.
    • “People are terrified about AI replacing American jobs... People want to be able to work a job and be paid with dignity... and they don’t want this predatory Epstein class that’s destroying their lives.” (Ben, [57:42])

• Rejecting Political Calculation:

  • Pushback on the “gamification” of political coverage—Ben urges speaking from the heart over focus-grouped messaging:
    • “Just be real and caring and react normally to how things are. And if it offends you, if you see something, you say something. Be a grown up, be an adult.” (Ben, [59:52])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump's Speech:
  • “Why would I live stream the State of the Union where we just know he's going to lie the entire time?” (Ben Meiselas, [03:47])
• Satirizing Trump:
  • “I created the Board of Peace. The Board of Peace is what we called it.” (Ben Meiselas, impersonating Trump, [05:13])
• On MAGA Criticism:
  • “MAGA Mike Johnson attacking the Midas Touch Network. He says that we are disgraceful. We are, we are horrible. We are extremists... He says, here’s what MAGA Mike has to say moments ago. Let’s play it.” (Ben, [09:29])
• On DOJ Suppression:
  • “So let’s be clear what we know for sure based on what’s been produced: 50 pages of FBI interviews involving someone who was a minor who accused Donald Trump of sexual assault. That’s being hidden.” (Ben, [18:52])
• On AI & Surveillance:
  • “The government wants the AI monitoring you 24/7... not being hyperbolic. The moment you walk out of your house... you will always be monitored.” (Ben, [53:22])
• On Deprogramming:
  • “Cults are hard to break... one of the things with cult programming and deprogramming is you go so far into a rabbit hole... you admit that you were wrong all these years and caused so much pain. So that’s why people go deeper into cults.” (Ben, [34:24])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:47: Decision to boycott State of the Union/local satire of Trump's expected speech
• 09:29: MAGA Mike Johnson attacks on MeidasTouch + Ben’s rebuttal
• 14:10: Trump’s grifts: collapse of meme coins, retail investor losses
• 18:52: DOJ withholding/destroying Epstein files implicating Trump; Rep. Massey and Rep. Garcia interviews
• 25:31: Polling segment: Trump’s historically negative approval
• 27:14: Collapse among independent voters (–47 net approval)
• 33:12: Trump’s business record and the myth of his “deal-making”
• 46:31: Rep. Garcia: Missing Epstein files, new Democratic investigation
• 51:48: Ben on separating principle from partisanship
• 53:22: Breaking: Pentagon wants unrestricted AI for surveillance/lethal ops
• 57:42: American economic hardship and daily fears
• 59:52: Ben on authenticity vs. political calculation

Conclusion & Call to Action

Ben wraps with heartfelt thanks, celebrating MeidasTouch’s milestone of 6 million subscribers and stressing the importance of tonight’s People’s State of the Union. He calls on listeners to invite friends and family, leveraging grassroots action to oppose authoritarian normalization:

“The next is the TV network. The next is the TV network, okay?... My promise for you right now is we’re going to work every day as hard as we can to fight for the truth and to fight for democracy. How about that, Jeremy?” (Ben, [65:15])

[End of Summary]