{{Short description|American progressive online media network}} {{Use American English|date=November 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox organization | name = MeidasTouch | image = MediasTouch logo.jpg | founded = {{Start date and age|2020|03}} | successor = | founders = Ben Meiselas<br/>Brett Meiselas<br/>Jordan Meiselas<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.meidastouch.com/page/about-us |access-date=October 19, 2023 |website=MeidasTouch |language=en-US |archive-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012093438/https://www.meidastouch.com/page/about-us |url-status=live }}</ref> | type = Media organization | purpose = U.S. news and politics | key_people = Ron Filipkowski<br/>(editor-in-chief)<ref name="Jacobson-2023" /> | website = {{URL|meidasnews.com}} | module = {{Infobox social media personality | child = yes | youtube_handle = MeidasTouch | youtube_display_name = | youtube_years_active = | youtube_genre = Commentary | youtube_subscribers = 6.03 million | youtube_views = 8.4 billion
| tiktok_handle = meidastouch | tiktok_display_name = | tiktok_years_active = | tiktok_genre = | tiktok_followers = 2.5 million
| substack_url = meidasplus.com | substack_newsletter_name = Meidas+ | substack_years_active = | substack_topic = | substack_subscribers = 822,000
| stats_update = December 26, 2025 }}}}
'''MeidasTouch''' (pronounced "Midas touch")<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJfOAjUleTc |title=🚨 President Biden EXCLUSIVE Interview with MeidasTouch |date=December 19, 2024 |last=MeidasTouch |time=0m30s |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=TJfOAjUleTc |archive-date=October 13, 2025 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}{{Cbignore}}</ref> is an American progressive<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dale |first=Daniel |author-link=Daniel Dale |date=February 2, 2021 |title=Fact check: Progressive Super PAC falsely claims Marco Rubio refuses to condemn Capitol attack |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/02/politics/fact-check-meidastouch-marco-rubio-capitol/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007100936/https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/02/politics/fact-check-meidastouch-marco-rubio-capitol/index.html |archive-date=October 7, 2024 |access-date=October 6, 2024 |publisher=CNN |quote=A progressive Super PAC, MeidasTouch, is running an online video that claims Republican Florida Sen. Marco Rubio has refused to condemn the insurrection at the US Capitol.}}</ref><ref name="Hettena-2021" /><ref name="Korach-2025" /><ref name="Boggs-2026">{{Cite web |last=Boggs |first=Justin |date=2026-02-18 |title=Democrats, progressives stage ‘counterprogram’ to Trump State of the Union |url=https://www.scrippsnews.com/politics/democrats-progressives-stage-counterprogram-to-trump-state-of-the-union |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Scripps News |language=en}}</ref> media company. The network describes itself as doing "pro-democracy" journalism.<ref name="Crowell-2024">{{Cite web |last=Crowell |first=Maddy |date=June 10, 2024 |title=A Little to the Left |url=https://www.cjr.org/covering_the_election/democrats-left-new-partisan-media-entrepreneurs.php |access-date=June 27, 2024 |website=Columbia Journalism Review |language=en |archive-date=August 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822104939/https://www.cjr.org/covering_the_election/democrats-left-new-partisan-media-entrepreneurs.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Korach-2025" />
Previously, the MeidasTouch name was used by its founders for a liberal American political action committee formed in March 2020 with the purpose of stopping the reelection of Donald Trump in the 2020 United States presidential election.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 12, 2020 |title=Supercut Exposes The Ugly Truth Of Trump's Rhetoric On Protests |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-ugly-presidency-meidas-touch_n_5ee332c9c5b6b13c3bdb5f23 |access-date=June 16, 2020 |website=HuffPost |language=en |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326003134/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-ugly-presidency-meidas-touch_n_5ee332c9c5b6b13c3bdb5f23 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 8, 2020 |title=PAC releases scathing video against Ivanka Trump using her dropped commencement speech |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ivanka-trump-commencement-speech-video-backlash-pac-colin-kaepernick-a9555536.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ivanka-trump-commencement-speech-video-backlash-pac-colin-kaepernick-a9555536.html |archive-date=May 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=June 16, 2020 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Langlois |first=Shawn |title=Lindsey Graham, Mitch McConnell and other GOP officials slammed as 'cowards' in new viral clip |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/lindsey-graham-mitch-mcconnell-and-other-gop-officials-slammed-as-cowards-in-new-viral-clip-2020-06-17 |access-date=June 17, 2020 |website=MarketWatch |date=June 17, 2020 |language=en-US |archive-date=June 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617185258/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/lindsey-graham-mitch-mcconnell-and-other-gop-officials-slammed-as-cowards-in-new-viral-clip-2020-06-17 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Katz|first=AJ|date=June 7, 2021|title=Fox News Decides Not to Air Ad Submitted by Liberal PAC MeidasTouch|work=Ad Week|url=https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/fox-news-decides-not-to-air-ad-submitted-by-liberal-pac-meidastouch/480245/|access-date=November 15, 2021|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115050957/https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/fox-news-decides-not-to-air-ad-submitted-by-liberal-pac-meidastouch/480245/|url-status=live}}</ref> The SuperPAC aligned with the Democratic Party in the 2020 United States presidential election, the 2020–21 United States Senate election in Georgia, and the 2020–21 United States Senate special election in Georgia.<ref name="Joyner-2020">{{Cite news|last=Joyner|first=Chris|date=December 18, 2020|title=Georgia's Senate runoffs: Special interest PACs flood the zone|work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/georgias-senate-runoffs-special-interest-pacs-flood-the-zone/NOJ2N7NTVVGL5HPXU7GTYYE7DI/|access-date=November 15, 2021|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115050953/https://www.ajc.com/politics/georgias-senate-runoffs-special-interest-pacs-flood-the-zone/NOJ2N7NTVVGL5HPXU7GTYYE7DI/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Williams-2020">{{Cite news|last=Williams|first=Jordan|date=December 5, 2020|title=Liberal group running Grinch-themed ads targeting Loeffler, Perdue|work=The Hill|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/528888-liberal-group-running-grinch-themed-ads-targeting-loeffler-perdue|access-date=November 15, 2021|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115050953/https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/528888-liberal-group-running-grinch-themed-ads-targeting-loeffler-perdue|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Cullins-2020a">{{Cite news|last=Cullins|first=Ashley|date=November 27, 2020|title=Brothers Behind MeidasTouch SuperPAC Talk "Audacious" Post-Trump Plans|work=The Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/brothers-behind-mediastouch-superpac-talk-audacious-post-trump-plans-4090274/|access-date=November 15, 2021|archive-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021103910/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/brothers-behind-mediastouch-superpac-talk-audacious-post-trump-plans-4090274/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The PAC changed its name to Democracy Defense Action in 2023.<ref name="Crowell-2024" /> The MeidasTouch name continues to be used by the '''MeidasTouch Network''', the news organization.<ref name="Jacobson-2023" />
== History == The committee was founded in March 2020 by Ben, Brett and Jordan Meiselas, three brothers from Long Island, while in quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Ted |date=June 12, 2020 |title=The Race To Go Viral: Three Brothers' Anti-Donald Trump Videos Draw Millions Of Views |url=https://deadline.com/2020/06/donald-trump-viral-videos-meidas-touch-1202956847/ |access-date=June 16, 2020 |website=Deadline |language=en |archive-date=September 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924114627/https://deadline.com/2020/06/donald-trump-viral-videos-meidas-touch-1202956847/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Adweek-2020">{{Cite web |title=The Story Behind MeidasTouch, Whose Ads Are Roasting Trump |url=https://www.adweek.com/tv-video/with-meidastouch-3-brothers-are-creating-visceral-ads-by-using-trumps-words-against-him/ |access-date=June 16, 2020 |website=Adweek |date=June 2020 |language=en-US |archive-date=December 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207073922/https://www.adweek.com/tv-video/with-meidastouch-3-brothers-are-creating-visceral-ads-by-using-trumps-words-against-him/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The group name and slogan come from their mother and father, combining their surname and their mother's maiden name, Golden,<ref name="Adweek-2020" /> alluding to the mythological Greek king Midas known for his ability to turn everything he touched into gold.
On July 21, 2023, MeidasTouch filed paperwork to rename itself to Democracy Defense Action,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Caiola |first=Alexandra |date=July 21, 2023 |title=Form 1 for Democracy Defense Action |url=https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00746073/1716773/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025224119/https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00746073/1716773/ |archive-date=October 25, 2023 |access-date=March 7, 2024 |website=Federal Election Commission}}</ref> and later that year, news reporting indicated the MeidasTouch name was being used for a news network called MeidasTouch Network.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/social-security-where-newly-elected-112343766.html|title=Social Security: Where Newly Elected Speaker of the House Stands on Program Cuts, Retirement Age and COLA|date=October 26, 2023|website=Yahoo Finance|access-date=October 27, 2023|archive-date=October 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026195923/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/social-security-where-newly-elected-112343766.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-arthur-engoron-threatens-prison-trump-apparent-breach-gag-order/|title=Judge fines Trump $5,000 after threatening prison for gag order violation - CBS News|date=October 20, 2023|publisher=CBS News|access-date=October 27, 2023|archive-date=October 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027185113/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-arthur-engoron-threatens-prison-trump-apparent-breach-gag-order/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Jacobson-2023">{{Cite web |last1=Jacobson |first1=Louis |last2=Putterman |first2=Samantha |last3=Sherman |first3=Amy |date=October 26, 2023 |title=Did Donald Trump make these 27 campaign promises? Fact-checking this viral list |url=https://www.politifact.com/article/2023/oct/26/did-donald-trump-make-these-27-campaign-promises-f/ |access-date=January 21, 2024 |website=PolitiFact |language=en-US |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031060147/https://www.politifact.com/article/2023/oct/26/did-donald-trump-make-these-27-campaign-promises-f/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Political Action Committee ===
==== 2020 U.S. presidential election ==== On April 22, 2020, the committee released their first video, titled "Are You Better Off?", an allusion to Ronald Reagan's famous line in the 1980 general election presidential debate,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hks.harvard.edu/publications/are-you-better-you-were-4-years-ago | title=Are You Better off Than You Were 4 Years Ago? | access-date=May 4, 2023 | archive-date=May 26, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526090011/https://www.hks.harvard.edu/publications/are-you-better-you-were-4-years-ago | url-status=live }}</ref> which criticized Trump's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States;<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 22, 2020 |title=Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Years Ago? |url=https://meidastouch.com/are-you-better-off-than-you-were-four-years-ago/ |access-date=June 16, 2020 |website=MeidasTouch |language=en-US |archive-date=June 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616215249/https://meidastouch.com/are-you-better-off-than-you-were-four-years-ago/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The committee shared the video in a Twitter reply to George Conway, which was then retweeted by him.<ref name="Adweek-2020" />
On June 6, 2020, another video was released, called "Bye Ivanka"; it took parts out of her commencement speech and focused on her relation with China and criticized Trump's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Papenfuss |first=Mary |date=June 8, 2020 |title=Supercut Mixes Ivanka Trump's Clueless Speech With Attacks On Protesters |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/meidas-touch-ivanka-grump-free-speech-protest-video_n_5edd7e72c5b6c78ceb0112c1 |access-date=June 19, 2020 |website=HuffPost |language=en |archive-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705034950/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/meidas-touch-ivanka-grump-free-speech-protest-video_n_5edd7e72c5b6c78ceb0112c1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Her Wichita State University Tech speech was canceled due to student and teacher pressure.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rogers |first=Katie |date=June 7, 2020 |title=Ivanka Trump Blames 'Cancel Culture' for Pulled Speech. College Says It Took a Stand. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/07/us/politics/ivanka-trump-speech-protests.html |access-date=June 19, 2020 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022011258/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/07/us/politics/ivanka-trump-speech-protests.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first1=Kristen |last1=Holmes |author2=Jason Hoffman |author3=Veronica Stracqualursi |title=University cancels Ivanka Trump's commencement address over backlash to President Trump's response to George Floyd's death |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/06/politics/ivanka-trump-wsu-tech-commencement-speech-canceled/index.html |access-date=June 19, 2020 |publisher=CNN |date=June 6, 2020 |archive-date=May 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501182237/https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/06/politics/ivanka-trump-wsu-tech-commencement-speech-canceled/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
On June 17, 2020, another video was released, "Gop Cowards", which accused Republican senators of being cowards. Near the end of the video, followers are urged to vote 11 Republican legislators out.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moran |first=Lee |date=June 17, 2020 |title=GOP Cowardice On Trump Takes Center Stage In Scathing New Supercut |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gop-cowards-meidas-touch-ad_n_5ee9f530c5b670a2f40edfb0 |access-date=June 22, 2020 |website=HuffPost |language=en |archive-date=May 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501024359/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gop-cowards-meidas-touch-ad_n_5ee9f530c5b670a2f40edfb0 |url-status=live }}</ref>
On June 23, the committee released a video called "Trump Kills US".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mazza |first=Ed |date=June 24, 2020 |title='Mass Murder': Trump's Coronavirus Confession Is Already Being Used In Attack Ads |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-mass-murder-ads_n_5ef2a9c2c5b601e599563821 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |website=HuffPost |language=en |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427144551/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-mass-murder-ads_n_5ef2a9c2c5b601e599563821 |url-status=live }}</ref> The video focuses on Trump's comment at his Tulsa rally which urged doctors to "slow the testing down".<ref>{{Cite web |agency=Associated Press |title='Slow the testing down, please': Trump tells Tulsa audience he recommended fewer coronavirus tests |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/slow-the-testing-down-please-trump-tells-tulsa-audience-he-recommended-fewer-coronavirus-tests-2020-06-21 |access-date=June 26, 2020 |website=MarketWatch |date=June 21, 2020 |language=en-US |archive-date=June 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622071225/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/slow-the-testing-down-please-trump-tells-tulsa-audience-he-recommended-fewer-coronavirus-tests-2020-06-21 |url-status=live }}</ref> MeidasTouch called it "Mass murder on a national scale".<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 24, 2020 |title='Mass murder on a national scale': New advert attacks Trump's comments on virus testing |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/trump-testing-advert-us-election-coronavirus-mass-murder-a9583916.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/trump-testing-advert-us-election-coronavirus-mass-murder-a9583916.html|first=Louise |last=Hall |archive-date=May 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=January 25, 2026 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>
On July 8, a new video was released called "Creepy Trump". It compiled Kellyanne Conway's comments on Joe Biden and put it together with Trump statements.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mazza |first=Ed |date=July 9, 2020 |title=Kellyanne Conway's 'Creepy' Comments Get Turned Against Trump In Biting New Ad |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/meidastouch-trump-creepy_n_5f06a6b3c5b67a80bc02b8ea |access-date=July 15, 2020 |website=HuffPost |language=en |archive-date=May 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514055553/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/meidastouch-trump-creepy_n_5f06a6b3c5b67a80bc02b8ea |url-status=live }}</ref> The ad uses clips of Conway's comments and remarks Trump has presented about women, and was played on Fox News, CNN and MSNBC.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Klar |first=Rebecca |date=July 14, 2020 |title=Democratic super PAC to launch 'Creepy Trump' TV ad |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/507250-democratic-super-pac-to-launch-creepy-trump-tv-ad |access-date=July 15, 2020 |website=The Hill |language=en |archive-date=May 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520185623/https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/507250-democratic-super-pac-to-launch-creepy-trump-tv-ad |url-status=live }}</ref>
On July 14, another video was released called "#ByeDonJr". It takes Donald Trump Jr.'s comments on Fox News about Biden and applies them against Trump. The video also further criticizes the older Trump's handling of the pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 14, 2020 |title='The epitome of the swamp': Brutal new attack ad turns Donald Trump Jr's comments against the president |first=Gino |last=Spocchia |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election/donald-trump-jr-joe-biden-attack-ad-2020-election-a9618366.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election/donald-trump-jr-joe-biden-attack-ad-2020-election-a9618366.html |archive-date=May 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=July 15, 2020 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mazza |first=Ed |date=July 15, 2020 |title='Bye Don Jr': New Attack Ad Turns Trump Son's Words Against The President |language=en-AU |work=HuffPost |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/new-attack-ad-turns-trump-sons-words-against-the-president_au_5f0e2640c5b648c301f0bde7 |access-date=July 15, 2020 |archive-date=December 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224074857/https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/new-attack-ad-turns-trump-sons-words-against-the-president_au_5f0e2640c5b648c301f0bde7 |url-status=live }}</ref>
The group continued its activities after the November 3 elections. On November 27, it claimed credit for making #DiaperDon the top Twitter trending topic in the US, via a tweet that mocked (as summarized by ''The Independent'') a "press briefing ... which saw [Donald Trump] furiously assail a reporter from behind a surprisingly small desk", and provoked Trump into calling for the immediate abolishing of Section 230 "for purposes of National Security".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Embury-Dennis|first=Tom|date=November 27, 2020|title=Trump declares Twitter national security threat after #DiaperDon trends following meltdown|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/trump-twitter-diaperdon-election-press-conference-b1762682.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030064256/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/trump-twitter-diaperdon-election-press-conference-b1762682.html|archive-date=October 30, 2021|access-date=November 30, 2020|website=The Independent|language=en|url-status=live}}</ref>
==== 2020–2021 Georgia Senate elections ==== The SuperPAC targeted Republican candidates in the 2020–21 United States Senate election in Georgia and the 2020–21 United States Senate special election in Georgia with several televised attack ads, billboards, direct mailings and door-to-door canvassing efforts.<ref name="Joyner-2020" /><ref name="Williams-2020" /><ref name="Cullins-2020a" />
Most notably, MeidasTouch aired an advertisement called "The Grinches of Georgia." CNN said of the ads, "Humor is the chosen route for Democrat-backed Meidas Touch. Their television ads show Perdue and Loeffler with green faces and Grinch-like features. A nursery rhyme narration includes the verse, "Their stockings were stuffed from the stocks that were sold, when they heard Covid was coming, before we were told."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/21/politics/georgia-senate-runoff-pac-spending-cnntv/index.html|title=Pop-up super PACs flood Georgia runoff: 'It's about the big message'|first1=Kim|last1=Berryman|first2=Kyung|last2=Lah|publisher=CNN |date=December 21, 2020|access-date=December 15, 2021|archive-date=January 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128130130/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/21/politics/georgia-senate-runoff-pac-spending-cnntv/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Hill'' credits MeidasTouch as framing the Republican candidates Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue as "Looting Loeffler" and "Chicken Perdue," respectively. "The ad takes aim at the senators—dubbed 'Looting Loeffler and Chicken Perdue'—and highlights the controversies surrounding their stock purchases," ''The Hill'' said.<ref name="Williams-2020" /> The "Grinches" ad campaign also included matching billboards and mailers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/georgians-get-scrooged-by-campaign-ads/UGT6KM3MVVGNPBCL7IVCJURWGA/|title=Georgians get Scrooged by campaign ads|website=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=December 22, 2020|access-date=December 15, 2021|archive-date=January 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104135524/https://www.ajc.com/politics/georgians-get-scrooged-by-campaign-ads/UGT6KM3MVVGNPBCL7IVCJURWGA/|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== News network and podcast ===
On July 22, 2024, shortly after JD Vance was named Donald Trump's running mate, MeidasTouch editor-in-chief Ron Filipkowski posted a clip from a 2021 Fox News interview in which Vance stated, "we are effectively run in this country via the Democrats, via our corporate oligarchs, by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they've made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable too." The resurfaced remarks from Vance sparked viral outrage against the candidate across social media, with many celebrities weighing in, including Jennifer Aniston and Taylor Swift.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alund |first=Natalie Neysa |title=Vance's 'childless cat ladies' comment sparks uproar from Swift fans: 'Armageddon is coming' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2024/07/24/taylor-swift-jd-vance-childless-cat-ladies/74525531007/|date=July 25, 2024 |access-date=September 23, 2024 |website=USA Today |language=en-US |archive-date=August 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240818193041/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2024/07/24/taylor-swift-jd-vance-childless-cat-ladies/74525531007/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Samuels |first=Brett |date=July 26, 2024 |title=JD Vance defends 'childless cat lady' remarks |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4794753-vance-childless-cat-ladies-blowback/ |access-date=September 23, 2024 |website=The Hill |language=en-US |archive-date=July 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726000000/https://web.archive.org/web/20240726172041/https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4794753-vance-childless-cat-ladies-blowback/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=KiMi |title=Jennifer Aniston hits back at JD Vance's viral 'childless cat ladies' comments |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2024/07/24/jennifer-aniston-slams-jd-vance-childless-cat-ladies-comments/74537088007/|date=July 24, 2024 |access-date=September 23, 2024 |website=USA Today |language=en-US |archive-date=September 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923072830/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2024/07/24/jennifer-aniston-slams-jd-vance-childless-cat-ladies-comments/74537088007/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Swift, referencing Vance's comments, signed off her post endorsing Kamala Harris as a "childless cat lady."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bink |first=Addy |date=September 11, 2024 |title=Why did Taylor Swift sign Kamala Harris endorsement 'childless cat lady'? |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/4873294-why-did-taylor-swift-sign-harris-endorsement-childless-cat-lady/ |access-date=September 23, 2024 |website=The Hill |language=en-US |archive-date=September 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240917140558/https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/4873294-why-did-taylor-swift-sign-harris-endorsement-childless-cat-lady/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2024, Adam Mockler joined MeidasTouch as a contributor, anchoring coverage and commentary.<ref name="Bensinger-2025" /> By 2026, he was being invited to sit on panels for television network programs,<ref>Robbins, Willa Pope, ''[https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/get-your-fcking-hand-out-of-my-face-scott-jennings-loses-it-on-adam-mockler/ "'Get Your F*cking Hand Out Of My Face!' Scott Jennings Loses It on Adam Mockler"]'', Mediaite, May 1, 2026</ref><ref>Christopher, Tommy, ''[https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/wow-anti-trump-media-and-ex-cnners-pile-on-scott-jennings-over-career-murder-mockler-meltdown/ "'Wow': Anti-Trump Media and Ex-CNNers Pile On Scott Jennings Over Mockler Meltdown"]'', Mediaite, May 1, 2026</ref> and at one, he confronted Scott Jennings on air with the result that Jennings lost his composure rather than answering the question directed toward him.
Following the 2024 presidential election, prominent Democratic politicians such as Joe Biden, Hakeem Jeffries, Elizabeth Warren, and Adam Schiff have made appearances on the podcast.<ref name="Korach-2025" /> As of March 2025, the network had 12 full-time employees and 30 regular contributors.<ref name="Korach-2025">{{Cite magazine |last=Korach |first=Natalie |date=March 13, 2025 |title=The Trump Resistance Won't Be Televised—It'll Be on MeidasTouch |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/trump-resistance-meidastouch |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |magazine=Vanity Fair}}</ref>
MeidasTouch has also weighed in on Canadian politics, with New Democratic Party MP Charlie Angus appearing as a guest commentator.<ref name="Edwards-2025">{{Cite news |last=Edwards |first=Samantha |date=March 10, 2025 |title='We're not mincing words': How the anti-Trump MeidasTouch Podcast became a hit in Canada |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/article-were-not-mincing-words-how-the-anti-trump-meidastouch-podcast-became/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250310214527/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/article-were-not-mincing-words-how-the-anti-trump-meidastouch-podcast-became/ |archive-date=March 10, 2025 |work=The Globe and Mail}}</ref> In September 2025, Angus launched MeidasTouch's Canadian channel, MeidasCanada, on Labour Day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Elizabeth |date=December 29, 2025 |title=Former MP Charlie Angus planned a quiet retirement. Now, he'd rather 'kick at the darkness' |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/charlie-angus-trump-resistance-9.7023605 |url-status=live |access-date=March 22, 2026 |website=CBC}}</ref>
In July 2025, MeidasTouch unearthed a video clip of a 2010 deposition by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in which he was asked if he had socialized with underage girls in the presence of Donald Trump.<ref name="Mazza-2025">{{Cite web |last=Mazza |first=Ed |date=2025-07-24 |title=Jeffrey Epstein Asked About Himself, Trump And Underage Girls In Resurfaced Video |url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/jeffrey-epstein-asked-himself-trump-040012869.html |access-date=2025-08-25 |website=HuffPost |language=en-CA |via=Yahoo News}}</ref><ref name="Hawkinson-2025">{{Cite web |last=Hawkinson |first=Katie |date=2025-07-24 |title=Resurfaced clip shows Epstein pleading the Fifth when asked about Trump |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/epstein-trump-video-plead-the-fifth-b2795557.html |access-date=2025-08-25 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>
In October 2025, MeidasTouch broke the news that Donald Trump planned to fire munitions over the Interstate 5 in California, causing the interstate's closure, during the No Kings Protests.<ref>{{Cite news |title=EXCLUSIVE: Trump May Launch Missiles from Warships into California this Friday and Saturday as Part of “Vanity Parade” - MeidasTouch News |url=https://meidasnews.com/news/exclusive-trump-may-launch-missiles-from-warships-into-california-this-friday-and-saturday-as-part-of-vanity-parade- |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251219104131/https://meidasnews.com/news/exclusive-trump-may-launch-missiles-from-warships-into-california-this-friday-and-saturday-as-part-of-vanity-parade- |archive-date=2025-12-19 |access-date=2026-03-22 |work=MeidasTouch News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Trump Wants to Fire Missiles Over California on Same Day as No Kings |url=https://newrepublic.com/post/201846/donald-trump-fire-missiles-parade-no-kings |access-date=2026-03-22 |work=The New Republic |issn=0028-6583}}</ref> The Trump administration initially denied the reporting.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-17 |title=Marines say live ammunition demonstration will not close 5 Freeway near Camp Pendleton |url=https://abc7.com/post/marines-say-live-ammunition-demonstration-will-not-close-5-freeway-camp-pendleton-250th-anniversary-event/18022086/ |access-date=2026-03-22 |website=ABC7 Los Angeles |language=en}}</ref> The ''San Francisco Chronicle'' later reported on munitions striking two California Highway Patrol vehicles on October 18, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vaziri |first=Aidin |date=2025-10-20 |title=CHP cruiser on I-5 hit by shrapnel during Marine Corps event attended by JD Vance |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/chp-cruiser-hit-shrapnel-marine-vance-21109155.php |access-date=2026-03-22 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en}}</ref> An investigation by the U.S. Marines Corps described the incident as the result of a "one in a million" malfunction. The report determined that the explosion was "highly improbable; beyond reasonable expectations and should not have happened, but it did."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hodgman |first=Lucy |date=2026-03-18 |title=Marines say 'chain of anomalies' caused shell to explode over I-5 in October |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/marines-interstate-5-explosion-22082360.php |access-date=2026-03-22 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en}}</ref>
In March 2026, ''Forbes'' described MeidasTouch as using "a 'trial lawyer approach,' combining legal analysis (by attorney Ben Meiselas), media commentary and brotherly banter to explain complex political issues—setting it apart from, for instance, CNN or other cable news opinion-based roundtables."<ref name="Racioppi-2026">{{Cite web |last=Racioppi |first=Frank |date=March 17, 2026 |title=2026 iHeartPodcast Awards Winners Announced At SXSW |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/frankracioppi/2026/03/17/iheart-podcast-awards-winners-annouhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/frankracioppi/2026/03/17/iheart-podcast-awards-winners-announced-at-sxsw/nced-at-sxsw/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 18, 2026 |website=Forbes}}</ref>
== Founders == The Meiselas brothers grew up on Long Island.<ref name="Rose-2025" /> Their father, Kenny Meiselas, is an entertainment lawyer who has represented Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, Nicki Minaj and Sean "Diddy" Combs.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Saval |first=Malina |date=2019-04-10 |title=The Marvelous Mr. Meiselas: Meet the Attorney Who Closes Deals for Lady Gaga, Sean Combs and the Weeknd |url=https://variety.com/2019/music/news/ken-meiselas-attorney-lady-gaga-sean-combs-weeknd-interview-1203184151/ |access-date=2026-03-27 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Rose-2025">{{Cite news |last=Rose |first=Steve |date=2025-10-11 |title='We're fighting for you!' Podcaster Ben Meiselas on taking on the Maga media – and winning the ratings battle |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/oct/11/podcaster-ben-meiselas-on-taking-on-the-maga-media-and-winning-the-ratings-battle |access-date=2026-03-26 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
Brett Meiselas (born {{Birth based on age as of date|35|2025|October|11|noage=1}})<ref name="Rose-2025" /> is an Emmy-winning video editor who worked for ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show''.<ref name="Cullins-2020b">{{Cite web|date=October 6, 2020|title=Meet MeidasTouch, the Super PAC That's Gotten Hollywood's Attention (and Millions of Views) With Their Anti-Trump Videos|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/meet-meidastouch-the-super-pac-thats-gotten-hollywoods-attention-and-millions-of-views-with-their-anti-trump-videos-4071919/|first=Ashley |last=Cullins| access-date=February 25, 2022|website=The Hollywood Reporter|archive-date=February 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208025523/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/meet-meidastouch-the-super-pac-thats-gotten-hollywoods-attention-and-millions-of-views-with-their-anti-trump-videos-4071919/|url-status=live}}</ref> Jordan Meiselas (born {{Birth based on age as of date|32|2025|October|11|noage=1}})<ref name="Rose-2025" /> is a marketing supervisor living in Brooklyn, New York.<ref name="Cullins-2020b" />
'''Ben Meiselas''' (born {{Birth date|1985|5|19}})<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1924703205373706296 |user=meiselasb |title=Thank you, everybody for your birthday wishes! I am so grateful for your support and friendship. Keep up the fight and always remember your superpowers! |first=Ben |last=Meiselas |date=May 19, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Rose-2025" /> is a former attorney.<ref name="Rose-2025" /> His ''bar mitzvah'' party was held at Justin's, a now-defunct restaurant owned by Sean Combs.<ref name=":0" /> Ben studied law in Georgetown,<ref name="Rose-2025" /> and worked as an intern for Steve Israel, Hillary Clinton and Sean Combs.<ref name="Aswad-2019a">{{Cite web |last1=Aswad |first1=Jem |date=April 10, 2019 |title=Attorney Ben Meiselas on Repping Colin Kaepernick, Interning for Diddy and Hillary Clinton They have become the go to "axe men" for the Democratic Party. |url=https://variety.com/2019/music/news/colin-kaepernick-attorney-ben-meiselas-diddy-hillary-clinton-1203184719/ |access-date=June 16, 2020 |website=Variety |language=en |archive-date=September 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920224755/https://variety.com/2019/music/news/colin-kaepernick-attorney-ben-meiselas-diddy-hillary-clinton-1203184719/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Rose-2025" />
Ben represented former NFL player Colin Kaepernick<ref name="Aswad-2019a" /> and the attendees of the Fyre Festival, together with his boss Mark Geragos.<ref name="Aswad-2019b">{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=2019-04-10 |title=Attorney Recalls How the Fyre Festival Was Brought Down, Step by Step |url=https://variety.com/2019/music/news/how-fyre-festival-was-brought-down-ben-meiselas-1203184776/ |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> In December 2022, he partnered with Geragos to form Engine Vision Media and acquire ''Los Angeles'' magazine from Hour Media.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tinoco|first=Armando|date=2022-12-06|title=Los Angeles Magazine Sells To Attorneys Mark Geragos And Ben Meiselas; Formed Engine Vision Media|url=https://deadline.com/2022/12/los-angeles-magazine-sells-attorneys-mark-geragos-ben-meiselas-engine-vision-media-1235190558/|access-date=2023-05-21|website=Deadline Hollywood|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2023, Ben quit his job as an attorney to devote his efforts to MeidasTouch.<ref name="Rose-2025" />
Ben married his longtime partner Xochitl Marin in May 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sammarco |first=Ally |date=2024-05-29 |title=Wedding Close-Up: L.A. Magazine Co-Owner Ben Meiselas Marries Xochitl Marin |url=https://lamag.com/weddings/ben-meiselas-xochitl-marin-wedding-guests-vendors/ |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Los Angeles |language=en-US}}</ref> They have a daughter.<ref name="Rose-2025" /> Ben appeared in the Fyre Festival documentaries ''Fyre'' and ''Fyre Fraud'', both released in 2019.<ref name="Aswad-2019b" />
== Reception == === Political action committee === MeidasTouch was described in October 2020 as "a viral video powerhouse" by ''The Hollywood Reporter.'' The magazine noted it "caught the attention of politically inclined Hollywood A-listers like Judd Apatow, Mark Ruffalo and Ken Jeong." <ref name="Cullins-2020b" /> In October 2020, ''Variety'' described MeidasTouch's videos as "razor-sharp."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=2020-10-30 |title=Behind MeidasTouch: How Three Brothers Slam Donald Trump Daily With Razor-Sharp Viral Videos |url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/meidastouch-donald-trump-viral-videos-1234819464/ |access-date=2026-03-20 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
In April 2021, Seth Hettena of ''Rolling Stone'' magazine criticized MediasTouch's $1 million advertising strategy as "nonsensical and a more effective tool for fundraising than for helping Democrats win elections" and raised concerns that donors were being misled by "grandiose self-promotion".<ref name="Hettena-2021">{{cite magazine |last1=Hettena |first1=Seth |date=April 8, 2021 |title=The Trouble with MeidasTouch |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/meidastouch-2020-campaign-finance-trump-1152482/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107050336/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/meidastouch-2020-campaign-finance-trump-1152482/ |archive-date=2021-11-07 |access-date=2021-12-17 |quote="The group spent more than $1 million on an advertising strategy that it calls revolutionary but campaign veterans and independent experts say is nonsensical and a more effective tool for fundraising than for helping Democrats win elections... It's not hard to find examples of how MeidasTouch's grandiose self-promotion doesn't match reality... The arrangement was neither illegal nor uncommon, but was MeidasTouch — which bills itself as uniquely transparent and honest — misleading its donors when it said: “We are giving” money to the Biden campaign and “we are proud to have already chipped in”? The ones who were giving were Meidas' donors, not the Super PAC itself." }}</ref>
In February 2022, singer-songwriter India Arie shared a compilation of podcaster Joe Rogan saying the racial slur "nigger" on ''The Joe Rogan Experience'' on Instagram.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Paul |first=Larisha |date=February 1, 2022 |title=India Arie to Pull Music From Spotify Due to Joe Rogan's Comments on Race |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/india-arie-jeo-rogan-spotify-race-1293234/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |access-date=February 22, 2022 |archive-date=March 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319094847/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/india-arie-jeo-rogan-spotify-race-1293234/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Rogan apologized, calling his past language "regretful and shameful" while also saying that the clips were "taken out of context" and he only quoted the slur to discuss its use by others.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Aratani |first1=Lauren |date=February 5, 2022 |title=Joe Rogan apologises for repeated use of N-word after footage emerges |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/feb/05/joe-rogan-apologises-for-using-n-word-and-racist-planet-of-the-apes-story |access-date=February 6, 2022 |work=The Guardian |language=English |quote=The podcast host Joe Rogan has offered "sincere and humble apologies" after footage emerged of him repeatedly using the N-word on his hit show. The comedian, 54, who has a lucrative deal with the streaming giant Spotify, said it was the "most regretful and shameful thing" he has ever had to speak about, but stressed the clips were "taken out of context". Rogan has come under fire recently for sharing coronavirus misinformation on his hugely popular podcast The Joe Rogan Experience. Prominent musicians including Neil Young and Joni Mitchell have withdrawn their music from the service over its decision to continue hosting the show, which was reportedly acquired for more than $100m (£77m) in 2020. |archive-date=March 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327130820/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/feb/05/joe-rogan-apologises-for-using-n-word-and-racist-planet-of-the-apes-story |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Maruf |first1=Ramishah |last2=Stelter |first2=Brian |date=February 5, 2022 |title=Joe Rogan apologizes for using racial slurs |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/05/media/joe-rogan-racial-slur-apology-india-arie/index.html |access-date=February 6, 2022 |publisher=CNN |language=English |archive-date=March 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303122121/https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/05/media/joe-rogan-racial-slur-apology-india-arie/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Stolworthy |first1=Jacob |date=February 5, 2022 |title=India Arie shares resurfaced clips of Joe Rogan using N-word 22 times |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/joe-rogan-india-arie-spotify-b2008284.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/joe-rogan-india-arie-spotify-b2008284.html |archive-date=May 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=February 6, 2022 |work=The Independent |language=English |quote=Resurfaced Joe Rogan footage, shared by musician India Arie, shows the podcaster using the N-word multiple times. On Tuesday (1 February), the Grammy-winning singer said she was removing her music from Spotify because of Rogan's "language around race". She branded the podcaster "problematic", saying that she came to her decision as she felt she should "walk" through a door "opened" by Neil Young. The week before, Young asked that his music be removed from the platform due to its affiliation with Rogan, whom he said had spread "false information" regarding Covid-19 vaccines.}}</ref> The footage in question was first published by the political action committee PatriotTakes,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Joe Rogan says repeated N-word use was 'taken out of context' in resurfaced video clips |url=https://www.yahoo.com/video/joe-rogan-says-repeated-n-222716824.html |last=TheGrio Staff |date=February 5, 2021 |access-date=November 2, 2023 |publisher=Yahoo News |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102221048/https://www.yahoo.com/video/joe-rogan-says-repeated-n-222716824.html |url-status=live }}</ref> an affiliate of MeidasTouch.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Left-Wing Activists Are Bringing Back MAGA Twitter |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2021/08/patriottakes-and-future-resistance-twitter/619645/ |last=Tiffany |first=Kaitlyn |date=August 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903095833/https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2021/08/patriottakes-and-future-resistance-twitter/619645/ |archive-date=September 3, 2021 |access-date=November 2, 2023 |url-status=live |work=The Atlantic}}</ref> This resulted in allegations of a defamation attempt by MeidasTouch, which the founders denied in an interview with Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, instead attributing the source of the footage to Alex Jones, who was a recurring guest on Rogan's show.<ref>{{cite web |first=Sarah |last=Westwood |date=February 8, 2022 |title=Joe Rogan takedown bid seen as coordinated attack |url=https://gazette.com/news/joe-rogan-takedown-bid-seen-as-coordinated-attack/article_89c0e273-998f-5bc3-860d-0d65e89a4a5f.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209053749/https://gazette.com/news/joe-rogan-takedown-bid-seen-as-coordinated-attack/article_89c0e273-998f-5bc3-860d-0d65e89a4a5f.html |archive-date=February 9, 2022 |access-date=February 14, 2022 |work=gazette.com}}</ref> Rogan described the video compilation as a "political hit job".<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 9, 2022 |title=Joe Rogan says he's a victim, slams clip of him using racial slur as a 'political hit job' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/joe-rogan-says-s-victim-slams-clip-using-n-word-political-hit-job-rcna15482 |access-date=February 14, 2022 |work=Variety |publisher=NBC News |language=en |archive-date=March 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319094847/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/joe-rogan-says-s-victim-slams-clip-using-n-word-political-hit-job-rcna15482 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title='Political hit job': Joe Rogan's claim over Spotify saga |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/joe-rogan-says-hes-the-victim-of-a-political-hit-job-in-the-on-going-spotify-drama/55MYB5AHEFUZWWUACUS7U3DWAQ/ |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ |archive-date=February 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214021708/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/joe-rogan-says-hes-the-victim-of-a-political-hit-job-in-the-on-going-spotify-drama/55MYB5AHEFUZWWUACUS7U3DWAQ/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== News website and podcast === MeidasTouch has been characterized as progressive,<ref name="Korach-2025" /><ref name="Mazza-2025" /><ref name="Boggs-2026" /> liberal<ref name="Jacobson-2023" /> and left-wing.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Allyn |first=Bobby |date=2025-08-14 |title=Anti-Trump podcast MeidasTouch is rivaling Joe Rogan. Does it have staying power? |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/08/14/nx-s1-5493541/meidastouch-rogan-trump-podcast-video |access-date=2026-03-26 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Hawkinson-2025" />
In June 2024, MeidasTouch was described in the ''Columbia Journalism Review'' as being made for social media, unlike a lot of more traditional left-leaning media outlets, and does a better job than most of exploiting the perception that the mainstream media was too sympathetic to Trump.<ref name="Crowell-2024" />
In February 2025, Podscribe listed ''The MeidasTouch Podcast'' as the top podcast in its rankings of monthly downloads and plays for the period of January 1–February 12, beating out ''The Joe Rogan Experience''.<ref name="Bensinger-2025">{{cite news |last1=Bensinger |first1=Ken |last2=Epstein |first2=Reid |date=March 9, 2025 |title=MeidasTouch Pops on Podcast Charts as Progressives Search for Answers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/09/business/media/meidastouch-podcast-democrats.html |access-date=March 19, 2025 |work=The New York Times |language=en}}</ref> Downloads and plays increased by 141% for the period of February 12–March 12, making ''The MeidasTouch Podcast'' the top podcast in that ranking, and the MeidasTouch Network the #2 podcast publisher by downloads and plays behind only Spotify.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Korach |first1=Natalie |title=The Trump Resistance Won't Be Televised—It'll Be on MeidasTouch |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/trump-resistance-meidastouch?srsltid=AfmBOorQKG4Use0BV3A_Cwp_PEF7Ia9UZypI8U8YEZOisCIWstvPUWFR |access-date=March 19, 2025 |magazine=Vanity Fair |date=March 13, 2025}}</ref> While the number of listeners per episode and YouTube subscribers remains significantly lower than Joe Rogan due to ''MeidasTouch'' releasing so many 10–20-minute episodes, its growth since the reelection of Donald Trump has mirrored other progressive podcasts and online shows like ''Pod Save America'' and ''The Young Turks''.<ref name="Bensinger-2025" />
In March 2025, Media Matters identified MeidasTouch as the 4th most-popular progressive online show across the most popular streaming and social media platforms, with 6.4 million total viewers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gogarty |first=Kayla |date=March 14, 2025 |title=The right dominates the online media ecosystem, seeping into sports, comedy, and other supposedly nonpolitical spaces |url=https://www.mediamatters.org/google/right-dominates-online-media-ecosystem-seeping-sports-comedy-and-other-supposedly |access-date=March 16, 2025 |website=Media Matters for America |language=en |archive-date=April 20, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250420170547/https://www.mediamatters.org/google/right-dominates-online-media-ecosystem-seeping-sports-comedy-and-other-supposedly |url-status=live }}</ref> That month, John Ross and Nathan J. Robinson, writing in ''Current Affairs'', unfavorably compared the podcast to ''The Joe Rogan Experience'' and said, "Even though it is targeted at viewers who think Trump is dumb, the content is remarkably shallow, by which we mean that it doesn't dive seriously into topics like health care, criminal punishment, foreign policy, and inequality. It's the ''National Enquirer'' for Trump-haters." They also criticized MeidasTouch's lack of coverage of left-wing concerns such as environmental issues, the Gaza war and Trump's efforts to crack down on pro-Palestinian protests, as well as MeidasTouch's close ties to the Democratic Party.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/meidastouch-turns-democrats-minds-to-slop|title=MeidasTouch Turns Democrats' Minds to Slop|last1=Ross|first1=John|last2=Robinson|first2=Nathan J.|date=March 17, 2025|magazine=Current Affairs|access-date=May 22, 2025|archive-date=May 10, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250510121609/https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/meidastouch-turns-democrats-minds-to-slop|url-status=live}}</ref>
''The MeidasTouch Podcast'' was awarded Podcast of the Year at the 29th Annual Webby Awards in April 2025. Journalist Molly Jong-Fast presented ''The MeidasTouch Podcast'' hosts with the award.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NEW Webby Gallery + Index |url=https://winners.webbyawards.com/2025/specialachievement/447/the-meidastouch-podcast |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=NEW Webby Gallery + Index |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 12, 2025 |title=Snoop Dogg, Walton Goggins, The MeidasTouch Podcast, Norman Teague & More Honored at the 29th Annual Webby Awards |url=https://podnews.net/press-release/webby-awards-2025-ceremony |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=podnews.net |language=en |archive-date=May 13, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250513071739/https://podnews.net/press-release/webby-awards-2025-ceremony |url-status=live }}</ref> That month, Virginia Heffernan of ''The New Republic'' attributed the news group's success to embracing the kind of masculinity that stands up to bullies and speaks truth to power.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Heffernan |first=Virginia |date=April 23, 2025 |title=Liberal Media in Crisis? Not The MeidasTouch. It's Bigger than Rogan. |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/194187/meidastouch-ben-meiselas-liberal-media-bigger-rogan |access-date=May 8, 2025 |magazine=The New Republic |issn=0028-6583}}</ref>
''Der Spiegel'' highlighted MeidasTouch's international coverage in its May 2025 issue, particularly as it relates to Donald Trump's threats against Greenland and Canada.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nelles |first=Roland |date=May 10, 2025 |title=Nur eine Richtung: abwüarts |work=Der Spiegel |pages=84-86}}</ref>
In July 2025, ''The MeidasTouch Podcast'' overtook ''The Joe Rogan Experience'' for the first time on YouTube's weekly podcast ranking.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Liddell |first=James |date=2025-08-01 |title=Anti-Trump podcast dethrones Joe Rogan for top spot in US |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/joe-rogan-meidastouch-podcast-youtube-b2800447.html |access-date=2025-08-25 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>
In March 2026, ''Forbes'' noted that the show "has often supplanted Joe Rogan's long-running podcast for the top spot in Podtrac ratings."<ref name="Racioppi-2026" />
''The MeidasTouch Podcast'' was awarded Best News Podcast at the 2026 IHeartRadio Podcast Awards, beating nominees including ''The Daily,'' ''The Megyn Kelly Show, Pivot, and Up First from NPR.''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tate |first=Sarah |title=2026 iHeartPodcast Awards: Full List Of Winners |url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2026-03-16-2026-iheartpodcast-awards-full-list-of-winners/ |access-date=2026-03-18 |website=iHeartRadio |language=en}}</ref> The show also won The Advertiser's Choice award at the 2026 Indie Podcast and Creator Awards held at the 2026 South By Southwest (SXSW) Conference by Oxford Road.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-17 |title=Indie podcast creators recognised at SXSW awards ceremony - PodcastingToday |url=https://podcastingtoday.co.uk/indie-podcast-creators-recognised-at-sxsw-awards-ceremony/ |access-date=2026-03-18 |website=podcastingtoday.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>
== Notable contributors == === Current === * Charlie Angus – former MP and member of Canada's New Democratic Party<ref name="Edwards-2025" /> * Dave Aronberg * Karen Friedman Agnifilo * Ron Filipkowski (editor-in-chief)<ref name="Jacobson-2023" /> * Scott MacFarlane<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Ted |date=2026-03-23 |title=Former CBS News Correspondent Scott MacFarlane Says He's Joining MeidasTouch Network |url=https://deadline.com/2026/03/scott-macfarlane-cbs-news-meidas-touch-1236762908/ |access-date=2026-03-23 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> * Aaron Parnas<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jarvey |first=Natalie |date=2026-02-03 |title=Ben Meiselas Built ‘MeidasTouch’ Into an Empire as TV News ‘Betrayed Their Audiences’ |url=https://theankler.com/ben-meiselas-built-meidastouch-into/ |access-date=2026-05-01 |website=The Ankler |language=en-US}}</ref> * Katie Phang<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harvey |first=Josephine |date=2025-05-22 |title=Canceled MSNBC Host Reveals Her Next Move |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/canceled-msnbc-host-katie-phang-reveals-her-next-move/ |access-date=2025-08-25 |website=The Daily Beast |language=en}}</ref>
=== Former === * Michael Cohen<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/progressive-meidastouch-network-drops-michael-235738247.html|title=Progressive MeidasTouch Network Drops Michael Cohen's Podcasts After Claiming He 'Felt Coerced' to Testify Against Trump|date=January 18, 2026|website=Mediaite|last=James|first=Sean}}</ref>
== See also == * Courier Newsroom * Democracy Docket * More Perfect Union * ''The Lever''
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *{{Official}}
{{Never Trump movement}}
Category:American organizations established in 2020 Category:American TikTokers Category:Left-wing populism in the United States Category:Never Trump movement Category:Organizations established in 2020 Category:Political organizations based in the United States Category:Progressivism in the United States Category:United States political action committees Category:YouTube channels Category:American political podcasts