Tuesday Afternoon Breaking News Updates with Ben — 2/24/26 - The MeidasTouch Podcast Recap
Podcast: The MeidasTouch Podcast
Published: 2026-02-24
Duration: 1 hr 10 min
Guests: Katie Fang, Joy Reed
Summary
Ben Meiselas covers the alternative People's State of the Union held by the MeidasTouch Network, highlighting key political figures' involvement and Trump's significant decline in popularity. He also discusses controversial issues involving Trump, such as the collapse of his meme coins and concealed Epstein files.
What Happened
The People's State of the Union, organized by the MeidasTouch Network and Move On, took place on the Washington National Mall as a boycott of the traditional State of the Union. The event featured approximately 40 members of Congress, including notable figures like Senator Gallego and Congressmember Frost, and was hosted by Katie Fang and Joy Reed.
Donald Trump is scheduled to speak for three hours at the traditional State of the Union. Despite this, his approval ratings have plummeted to a negative 27 points, marking the lowest for any president at this point in their second term this century. Additionally, his support among independents is at an all-time low of minus 47 points.
Trump's new ventures include launching a website to sell Trump Watches. Meanwhile, his meme coins have drastically collapsed, with values dropping between 92% and 99% from their all-time highs, resulting in retail losses exceeding $4.3 billion.
The Justice Department is withholding crucial Epstein files, which include 50 pages of FBI interviews involving a minor accusing Trump of sexual assault. Furthermore, 50 terabytes of documents connected to Epstein remain concealed, and recent arrests in the UK related to the Epstein case involve Peter Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten.
The Pentagon is interested in utilizing Anthropic's AI model, Claude, for mass domestic surveillance and autonomous operations. The Defense Production Act might be invoked to compel Anthropic to comply, despite the company's current requirement for human oversight in autonomous operations.
Ben Meiselas mentions the expansion of the MeidasTouch Network, which has reached 6 million subscribers and 9 billion views, with plans to go international and possibly launch a TV network. He also notes how many Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and feeling the psychological toll.
Controversially, a MAGA Republican Congressmember, Tony Gonzalez, has been accused of sexually harassing a young female staffer who allegedly died by suicide. This incident highlights ongoing issues within the political landscape and the need for accountability.
Key Insights
- The People's State of the Union event on the Washington National Mall served as a protest against the traditional State of the Union, drawing 40 members of Congress, including Senator Gallego and Congressmember Frost, and hosted by Katie Fang and Joy Reed. It signifies a growing divide and dissatisfaction with conventional political ceremonies.
- Donald Trump's approval ratings have hit a historic low, with a negative 27-point rating overall and minus 47 points among independents. This sharp decline coincides with his presidency's controversial moves, including the failed launch of meme coins that led to $4.3 billion in retail losses.
- The Justice Department's withholding of crucial Epstein files, including 50 pages of FBI interviews accusing Trump of sexual assault and 50 terabytes of documents, raises questions about transparency. Recent arrests in the UK, involving figures like Peter Mandelson, underscore the ongoing complexity of the Epstein case.
- The Pentagon considers using Anthropic's AI model, Claude, for mass domestic surveillance, potentially invoking the Defense Production Act to bypass current requirements for human oversight. This move highlights the tension between national security interests and ethical considerations in AI deployment.
Key Questions Answered
What is the People's State of the Union?
The People's State of the Union is an alternative event organized by the MeidasTouch Network and Move On, held on the Washington National Mall as a boycott of the traditional State of the Union. It featured about 40 members of Congress and was hosted by Katie Fang and Joy Reed.
What happened to Trump's meme coins?
Trump's meme coins have seen a massive collapse, with their values plummeting between 92% and 99% from their all-time highs. This has resulted in retail losses exceeding $4.3 billion.
Why is the Pentagon interested in Anthropic's AI model?
The Pentagon is interested in Anthropic's AI model, Claude, for potential use in mass domestic surveillance and autonomous operations. Despite Anthropic's current protocols requiring human oversight, the Defense Production Act might be used to force compliance with Pentagon demands.