A progressive podcast critical of Donald Trump has unseated Joe Rogan’s long-standing dominance in the podcasting world. According to industry tracker Podscribe, The MeidasTouch Podcast skyrocketed to the top of the charts, surpassing The Joe Rogan Experience by a significant margin in downloads and views over the past month.
The show, hosted by brothers Ben, Brett, and Jordan Meiselas, saw a 101% increase in audience reach, amassing 56 million downloads and views across streaming platforms and YouTube. In contrast, Rogan’s podcast slid to second place with 48.6 million, reflecting a steep 32% decline.
A Shift in Podcasting Influence
With the 2024 election cycle behind them and Trump’s legal troubles mounting, audiences appear to be gravitating toward political commentary that directly challenges right-wing narratives. The Meiselas brothers have built their brand by blending sharp analysis, humor, and an unabashed pro-democracy stance, a combination that seems to be resonating with a wide swath of listeners.
“We’re not just talking into a mic. We’re holding the powerful accountable,” Ben Meiselas said in a recent episode. “Our listeners aren’t looking for sugarcoated reporting. They want the truth, no matter how brutal it is.”
Their coverage over the past month has been particularly hard-hitting. They’ve dissected Trump’s high-profile appearance at the Daytona 500, scrutinized his administration’s handling of multiple aviation incidents, and analyzed the economic fallout of his controversial tariff policies.
The Meiselas brothers bring a wealth of experience to their podcast. Ben, a civil rights attorney, is best known for representing Colin Kaepernick and co-owning Los Angeles Magazine alongside high-profile lawyer Mark Geragos. Brett, a two-time Emmy winner, honed his storytelling skills as a video editor for The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Jordan, formerly a top advertising executive, has helped craft the show’s viral messaging.
Conservative Stronghold Still Holds Firm
Despite MeidasTouch’s rise, the podcasting landscape remains dominated by right-leaning voices. After Rogan, Candace Owens’ self-titled podcast holds the third spot, followed by The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett, This Past Weekend with Theo Von, and The Shawn Ryan Show. Conservative commentator Dan Bongino also makes the top 10, while Ben Shapiro’s show ranks ninth, bookended by NPR’s Fresh Air and Up First.
Political analysts note that figures like Rogan and Von have been instrumental in shaping Trump’s appeal among younger male voters. Their blend of anti-establishment rhetoric and cultural commentary has played a key role in the former president’s media strategy.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration has taken notice of podcasting’s growing influence. Last month, the White House announced a new initiative to grant greater press access to independent podcasters and social media influencers, a move seen as an effort to counteract the dominance of right-wing digital media.
With an election season already heating up, the battle for ears—and ultimately, votes—is only just beginning.
Discover more from Next Gen News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Shame this did not happened before we were saddle with this authoritarian moron. Too freaking late now, Corporate CEO better get inline with Trump or he will sic on them the many previously independent government regulators Trump now directly controls.
Is Springtime for Fascism again boys !!
Ah HitlerSmith, Meidas is all evil TDS HATE LIES and everyone with a working brain or with morals knows that…
Trump can’t be bought like everyone else has been bought. He’s a business man not a crooked politician