Podcast Summary: “And, This Is Flooding The Zone With Truth”

Podcast: This is Gavin Newsom
Host: Gavin Newsom (iHeartPodcasts)
Date: October 30, 2025
Guest: Ben Meiselas (MeidasTouch co-founder)

Episode Overview

Governor Gavin Newsom sits down with Ben Meiselas, co-founder of the MeidasTouch pro-democracy media network, for a frank, energetic conversation on disinformation, the evolution of digital media, countering Trumpism, the importance of empathy in politics, and tactics for the Democratic Party to communicate and win in 2026. The episode is marked by lively exchanges about new media strategies, the challenge of authoritarian populism, and the urgency to “flood the zone with truth” in an era of rampant misinformation. The mood is candid, sharp, and often humorous as both participants critique right-wing tactics while reflecting on effective messaging and community impact.

Key Topics & Discussion Highlights

1. The Rise of MeidasTouch and Its Pro-Democracy Mission

Timestamps: 04:27–14:46

• Ben Meiselas’ background: Started as a litigator, represented high-profile clients like Colin Kaepernick. Felt compelled to act during COVID and the rise of disinformation, which motivated building MeidasTouch with his brothers.
  • “Represented Colin Kaepernick… I saw what it was like when the force of large corporations and government... were coming after you. In many ways, I feel we're all being Kaepernicked today.” (Ben, 05:30)
• Growth from a protest voice to a media network: First viral video (“Trump the Snake”), realization of the need to build independent distribution rather than rely on mainstream gatekeepers.
  • “We started with grievance and frustration... and then it became clear that we should have a bigger ambition. And that bigger ambition is to build this digital media network… a pro-democracy digital independent media network.” (Ben, 08:36)
• Metrics & impact: Surpassing Joe Rogan’s downloads, billions of monthly video views, expansion into verticals (legal, red-state news, Gen Z content).
  • “We do about 350 million views a month on YouTube, 375 million on Facebook… across all the platforms… if I include TikTok, we're talking 2 to 3 billion views a month. Flood the zone with the truth while MAGA floods the zone with disinformation.” (Ben, 09:39)
• Approach: Built around immediacy, authenticity, listening to the audience, and learning from internet best practices.
  • “I read the comments. I listen to what my audience is saying. I think listening is the key… they know phoniness from authentic caring.” (Ben, 11:46)

2. Media Tactics, Influence, and Countering Right-Wing Messaging

Timestamps: 14:46–28:09

• Newsom on communication asymmetry: The right uses dominance, aggression, and disinformation; Democrats often struggle to counter with strength.
  • “It was a wake up call, a big time wake up call… a communications battle that was so asymmetric.” (Gavin, 20:32)
• Flooding the zone: The need to compete with a constant stream of misleading information with factual, emotional, and persistent content.
  • “You have to say, I see what they're doing. So I have to flood the zone with truth and I have to be powerful with it.” (Ben, 21:22)
• Effectiveness of right-wing tactics: Targeting vulnerable populations, using tragedy or hardship for leverage, while Democrats need to deliver more direct empathy and presence.
  • “Sometimes the bigger the tragedy, a wildfire then… there’s frankly no tragedy that they won’t exploit.” (Ben, 19:04)
  • “Oftentimes I think the Democratic Party just isn’t saying I’m gonna frickin fight for you.” (Ben, 34:17)

3. Building Community and Authentic Engagement

Timestamps: 28:09–43:02

• Offline events & organizing: MeidasTouch not just an online force; large-scale live events, particularly in Canada and across U.S. college campuses.
  • “Canada’s really one of the front lines internationally in their resistance against this authoritarianism… we sell out big auditoriums in Canada, Conservative areas…” (Ben, 16:11)
• Direct listening: Taking cues from the struggles and anxieties of real people, not just ideological circles.
  • “We built a network around that premise… we care about them. And they know phoniness from authentic caring.” (Ben, 13:46)
• Empathy as a “superpower”: Overcoming narratives that empathy is weak; instead, centering compassion, authenticity, and visible presence.
  • “It's not about power, dominance and aggression. It's about empathy, compassion, collaboration. Those are the superpowers.” (Gavin, 43:02)
  • “When I grew up, the… Alphas… would stand up against the bullies… you would put your arm around the marginalized community and say, I got you.” (Ben, 47:27)

4. Disinformation, Economic Populism & Policy Framing

Timestamps: 43:02–67:12

• Trade deals & economic politics: Dissecting Trump's claims on trade deals as fraudulent, populist messaging targeting rural and union voters, and how Democrats can better communicate economic empathy and reality.
  • “We harness the number and say, OK, sure, $17 trillion… the biggest Ponzi scheme in history.” (Ben, 26:23)
  • “What Democrats don't ever do is… look at the camera… say, I care about you, I hear you and I feel your pain and I'm gonna be there and I'm gonna fight for you.” (Ben, 32:51)
• Critique of right-wing scapegoating: How Trump exploits vulnerability, blames immigrants, trans people, and marginalized groups for structural problems he exacerbates.
  • “He gives them a very easy answer. It’s the immigrants, it’s the other, it’s transgender people. And this is why. And we need to be angry. And I'm gonna make this better.” (Ben, 34:17)
• Policy consequence focus: Stresses the impact of policy decisions on real people—healthcare, food assistance cuts—often ignored in political Q&A formats.

5. Moral Leadership & the Challenge of Authoritarianism

Timestamps: 67:12–79:16

• Trump as a redundant figure: Newsom traces the playbook of scapegoating immigrants back to the 1880s, warning historical cycles repeat without vigilance.
  • “He’s an historic figure that literally is a redundant figure in terms of this larger historical experiment.” (Gavin, 58:33)
• Right-wing global populism: The current wave is not uniquely American—linked to right-wing authoritarian surges globally (Orban, Le Pen, etc.).
  • “My view is that this right wing populism… is actually not unique to Trump. America's the biggest country, so he's a vessel of it… But this stuff coming from Putin and Orban and… La Pen in France…the Reform Party in the UK… this is part of a broader situation.” (Ben, 54:57)
• Responding with core values: Not being reactive but leading with principles of empathy, democracy, and service.
  • “You have to lead with your principles and your values… it’s fairly easy for me not to be like, how should I cover this?” (Ben, 54:57)
• Warning on information overload: Paradox of the digital age—more information does not mean better information, risks a return to “lord vs. peasant” feudal dynamics unless democratized.
  • “With AI, with all of this info that’s out there, [authoritarians] want to create this kind of lord vs. peasant dynamic that existed in the dark ages.” (Ben, 54:57)

6. The Fight Ahead: November 4th and Beyond

Timestamps: 79:16–87:42

• Voter intimidation & democratic risk: Discussion of federal agents, ICE, and threats at polling places as part of an authoritarian playbook to discourage participation and legitimate the results.
  • “The strategy is Donald Trump doesn’t want elections. He doesn’t like elections. He wants to be anointed king. He thinks like an authoritarian.” (Ben, 80:59)
• Messaging for mobilization: Calls to not be complacent and to approach the 2026 races and next month’s contests with urgency and humility.
  • “Feelings and vibes… we have to manifest the outcomes versus just believing there are people out there who’ll do it.” (Ben, 85:22)
• Hope and practical activism: Newsom and Meiselas end with messages that individual action can contribute to big change—whether you’re a teacher, chef, or “flower maker.”
  • “The future is not something [to] experience, it’s something to manifest. It’s inside of us, not in front of us.” (Gavin, 87:42)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “[Trump is] weakness masquerading as strength.” — Gavin Newsom (21:39)
• “Flood the zone with the truth while MAGA floods the zone with disinformation.” — Ben Meiselas (09:39)
• “Empathy is for weak people. And I got quite the opposite…” — Ben Meiselas (47:27)
• “The future is not something to experience; it’s something to manifest. It’s inside of us, not in front of us.” — Gavin Newsom (87:42)
• “When I grew up… the Alphas were the people who would stand up against the bullies.” — Ben Meiselas (47:27)
• “This notion, not the rule of law, but the rule of dawn… the Constitution doesn’t matter nor does the Congress.” — Gavin Newsom (75:09)
• “Cruelty and chaos is the policy.” — Gavin Newsom (77:09)

Important Timestamps At-a-Glance

• 04:27-14:46: Ben Meiselas tells the MeidasTouch origin story
• 20:32-23:45: Newsom describes being outmaneuvered by disinformation during wildfires
• 26:23-27:15: Deconstructing Trump’s “trade deals” as fraud
• 34:17-36:54: Trump’s exploitation of working people, Democrats’ need for empathy
• 43:02-47:26: Use of empathy, critique of “alpha” culture, standing up for the vulnerable
• 54:57-58:33: Framing response to authoritarian populism, importance of values and purpose
• 80:59-83:26: Threats to democracy—polling place intimidation, weaponization of security forces
• 85:22-87:42: Hope, work ethic, and every person’s power to create change

Tone & Takeaways

The tone is earnest, assertive, occasionally irreverent, and deeply pragmatic. Newsom and Meiselas are aligned on the urgency: to meet a uniquely dangerous moment in US (and global) democracy with strategic, empathetic, and relentless communication. Listeners walk away with a nuanced understanding of the mechanics and stakes of modern political media, actionable hope for progressive organizing, and a reminder that moral character and connection matter more than ever.

For further details, revisit these highlighted moments and segments for the full flavor of this dynamic conversation.