Exclusive: Anti-Trump Podcaster Who Dethroned Joe Rogan Wants to Beat Fox News

The MeidasTouch Podcast, a progressive, anti-Trump show hosted by three brothers—Brett, Ben and Jordan Meiselas—became America's most popular podcast this month, knocking off Joe Rogan after a prolonged period of domination by conservative or pro-Trump voices.

MeidasTouch is an American progressive media company and describes itself as a "pro-democracy news network." They officially ranked as the number one podcast in the U.S. in February, according to Podscribe data, with 57.7 million downloads and views per month, an increase of 120 percent.

It's not just the podcast getting attention, either. On YouTube, they have 4.5 million subscribers and post multiple videos daily, all of which garner hundreds of thousands of views. According to the latest Playboard YouTube chart, which tracks the popularity of YouTube channels, the MeidasTouch Network was in first place as of February 23 with 9.3 million views and likes, surpassing Fox News.

They have strong affiliations with Democrats and a long history of opposition toward President Donald Trump. The name MeidasTouch was used for a liberal American political action committee, formed in March of 2020 with the intention of stopping the reelection of Trump.

The PAC changed its name to Democracy Defense Action in 2023, and the name MeidasTouch continues to be used by the news organization, which started with creating viral videos and political ads opposing Trump and supporting Democratic candidates.

Ben Meiselas is an attorney who represented former NFL player Colin Kaepernick, Brett Meiselas is an Emmy-winning video director who previously worked for The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Jordan Meiselas is a marketing supervisor.

Newsweek spoke with Brett Meiselas about the podcast's rise, the shifting political landscape and their mission to beat Fox News.

Changing Political Tides

A month into the second Trump administration, the rise of the left-leaning MeidasTouch podcast may be signaling a shift in tone among Americans. It comes as Trump's approval rating fell by 13 points, 33 days into his term, according to a recent IPSOS poll.

"People are tired of the lies, the hate, and the corruption," Meiselas told Newsweek by email. "They want truth, empathy, and real fighters who won't back down. We don't mince words. We don't bend the knee. I think that's why so many have gravitated to MeidasTouch, especially in these past few weeks.

"Trump's reelection made our mission more important than ever. While others cave, settle lawsuits, or soften coverage, we double down. We're clear-eyed, fearless, and won't be silenced—no matter the consequences."

Asked if he believes the rise of MeidasTouch signals a shift in how Americans are consuming political media under the new administration, Meiselas said "Absolutely."

"People want unapologetic, pro-democracy media that isn't afraid to call things as they are," he said. "They're looking for voices that fight for truth and meet them where they are. That's why MeidasTouch is thriving."

Shifting Media Landscape

Trump's media strategy during his successful 2024 presidential campaign focused largely on podcasters and social media influencers, and included appearances on The Joe Rogan Experience, Bussin' With The Boys and Adin Ross, all of which were thanked by name by the president's longtime friend, Dana White—CEO and president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)—when Trump claimed victory in November.

Much has been made of the shifting media landscape, decline of traditional media and the growing sense behind all of it that Americans think the media cannot be trusted.

"The biggest media shift of our time is happening online," Meiselas said. "The information war is being fought in digital spaces—and has been for the past few years. Traditional media has looked down on digital media—maybe until this past election—but this is where political discourse is being shaped every single day."

Trump's podcast appearances were influenced by his youngest child, Barron Trump, with the 18-year-old suggesting Trump appear on Adin Ross and Bussin' With The Boys, shows that are popular among Gen Z.

The youth vote broke big toward Trump, with the president gaining 11 percentage points from 2020 among voters 18-29, according to AP analysis. President Joe Biden received 61 percent from that age group in 2020, while Vice President Kamala Harris was able to only get 51 percent of the demographic in 2024.

The gains among young and first-time voters were cited as a potential ideological shift for the youth vote. But support among the age group has dropped since the election, with a survey from The Economist/YouGov released on February 12 revealing that the president's net favorability rating among ages 18-29 is minus-18 points.

How does MeidasTouch approach engaging younger audiences?

"We meet people where they are," Meiselas said. "Whether it's TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Substack, or our podcast. Our TikTok has 1.9M+ followers, and our Gen-Z correspondent, Adam Mockler, is approaching 1M on YouTube. Young voters matter, and we make sure they're informed and engaged."

And as for beating out the likes of Joe Rogan and Ben Shapiro, Meiselas said it's "great."

"But what matters most is our impact," he said. "We're proving that pro-democracy voices are not just necessary but in demand. The American people are rejecting the idea that MAGA is mainstream."

Looking Ahead

Following Trump's reelection, a question posed by many is where the Democrats go next after suffering losses across the board in the 2024 election. Democrats lost the presidency, the Senate and failed to flip the House. The setback has led to a period of reflection and redefinition as many members feel disconnected and betrayed.

"Democrats need to fight," Meiselas said, adding that content can't be an afterthought. "It's the most important weapon in the messaging war.

"If you want to win, you need to show up everyday, everywhere. We'll keep leading the way, and those who share our values are welcome to follow, regardless of political party."

So what's next for MeidasTouch? Meiselas said that they see Fox News as their main competition: "They're a multi-billion disinformation machine, yet we already beat them most days on digital."

As of January, Fox News Channel leads cable news networks in the U.S. It averaged about 2.781 million total viewers, with 353,000 in the key Adults 25-54 demographic. During total day (6 a.m. to 6 a.m.), the network attracted about 1.916 million total viewers, including 253,000 in the 25-54 age group, per Adweek.

On digital, Fox News received more than 250 million monthly visits and ranked third among global English-language news websites.

Organizations that analyze media bias such as Media Bias/Fact Check have indicated that Fox News has a right-leaning bias but that it delivers factual reporting. Media Bias/Fact Check also says that the blending of news with opinionated commentary on Fox News may blur the lines between factual reporting and partisan viewpoints.

According to data from Social Charts, on YouTube MeidasTouch received 272.9 million views in the past 30 days. The latest Playboard YouTube Chart data saw them overtake Fox News and land in the top spot.

"We want to compete with and beat Fox in viewership every single day—and be the country's leading source of information," Meiselas said.

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