Thursday Afternoon Breaking News Updates with Ben — 2/19/26 - The MeidasTouch Podcast Recap

Podcast: The MeidasTouch Podcast

Published: 2026-02-19

Duration: 1 hr 7 min

Summary

Ben Meiselas covers a range of current events including Trump's connections to Epstein, political developments involving former presidents, and controversial endorsements. He also discusses the state of U.S. international relations and domestic political issues.

What Happened

Ben Meiselas begins with a shocking revelation about Donald Trump's connections to Jeffrey Epstein. Documents reveal Trump's name appears over 38,000 times in Epstein-related files, highlighting potential deeper ties than previously known. Additionally, Les Wexner, a financial supporter of Epstein, was deposed and admitted to giving a billion dollars to Epstein, yet no Republican Congress members attended the deposition.

The episode also covers significant legal actions, including Trump's lawsuit against the government for $10 billion over a supposed frivolous lawsuit involving his IRS dealings. The U.S. Supreme Court faces accusations of protecting Trump with claims of absolute immunity, raising questions about accountability.

Internationally, Ben discusses the political fallout for former world leaders. South Korea's former President Yoon was sentenced to life in prison for insurrection, and Brazil's ex-President Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year sentence. These cases reflect the global trend of holding leaders accountable for their actions, contrasting sharply with Trump's situation.

In domestic politics, Marjorie Taylor Greene was pushed out for objecting to Trump's alleged cover-up of a child sex trafficking ring. Trump is also traveling to Rome, Georgia, in Greene's congressional district, seeking support in a politically charged environment.

Ben critiques Trump's involvement with authoritarian leaders, mentioning his meeting with Viktor Orban and endorsement of foreign politicians like Javier Millay. These endorsements are presented as controversial yet successful in Trump's narrative.

A surprising poll from Politico shows that only one in three Canadians see the U.S. as an ally, with 48% viewing it as a greater threat than Russia. This reflects a shift in international perception of American foreign policy under recent administrations.

Trump's executive order endorsing glyphosate-based herbicides sparks further debate, especially as RFK Jr. had previously criticized glyphosate for contributing to chronic diseases in America. This decision by Trump was praised by the House Committee on Agriculture but criticized by environmentalists.

Finally, the MeidasTouch Network is leading a boycott against Trump's State of the Union, with participation from senators and Congress members, indicating significant opposition to Trump's policies.

Key Insights

• Documents link Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein over 38,000 times, suggesting deeper ties than previously acknowledged, yet no Republican Congress members attended the deposition of Epstein's financial supporter, Les Wexner, who admitted giving Epstein a billion dollars.
• South Korea's former President Yoon received a life sentence for insurrection, and Brazil's ex-President Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year sentence, highlighting a global trend of holding leaders accountable, contrasting with Trump's ongoing legal battles.
• A Politico poll reveals only one in three Canadians view the U.S. as an ally, while 48% see it as a greater threat than Russia, indicating a dramatic shift in perception of American foreign policy under recent administrations.
• Trump's executive order endorsing glyphosate-based herbicides has sparked debate, with environmentalists criticizing the decision despite praise from the House Committee on Agriculture, especially given RFK Jr.'s prior claims linking glyphosate to chronic diseases.

Key Questions Answered

What are Donald Trump's connections to Jeffrey Epstein?

Documents reveal Donald Trump's name appears over 38,000 times in Epstein-related files, suggesting deeper ties than previously publicized. Les Wexner, a key financial supporter of Epstein, admitted to giving him a billion dollars, further complicating the narrative.

Why was Marjorie Taylor Greene pushed out of politics?

Marjorie Taylor Greene was pushed out of politics for objecting to what she saw as Trump's alleged cover-up of a child sex trafficking ring. This move highlights the internal conflicts within the Republican party regarding Trump.

How do Canadians view the United States according to recent polls?

A Politico poll reveals that only one in three Canadians consider the United States an ally, with 48% viewing it as a greater threat than Russia. This indicates a significant shift in international perception of the U.S.