42/100 Credibility – The MeidasTouch Podcast and Meiselas Brothers on Trump, Courts, and Gulags

Podcast overview

The MeidasTouch Podcast is a progressive political commentary program hosted by brothers Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas. Known for its outspoken stance against the MAGA movement, the show streams on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Its editorial tone is highly critical of Donald Trump, marked by urgent rhetoric, legal framing, and appeals to grassroots action.

This April 15, 2025 episode features only the three co-hosts, who are also the podcast’s creators. Ben Meiselas, a civil rights attorney; Brett Meiselas, a strategist; and Jordy Meiselas, a media producer, discuss recent political and legal developments from a strongly anti-Trump perspective. The brothers do not host any external guest in this installment.

Episode topics include claims that the Trump administration defied a unanimous Supreme Court order involving the deportation of a protected-status migrant, Abrego Garcia. The hosts also criticize Trump's affinity for authoritarian leaders, discuss economic instability from shifting tariffs, and react to Trump’s commentary on Ukraine. They also highlight Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “Fight the Oligarchy” tour as a sign of growing public resistance.

The MeidasTouch Podcast is a progressive political commentary program hosted by brothers Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas. Known for its outspoken stance against the MAGA movement, the show streams on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Its editorial tone is highly critical of Donald Trump, marked by urgent rhetoric, legal framing, and appeals to grassroots action.

This April 15, 2025 episode features only the three co-hosts, who are also the podcast’s creators. Ben Meiselas, a civil rights attorney; Brett Meiselas, a strategist; and Jordy Meiselas, a media producer, discuss recent political and legal developments from a strongly anti-Trump perspective. The brothers do not host any external guest in this installment.

Episode topics include claims that the Trump administration defied a unanimous Supreme Court order involving the deportation of a protected-status migrant, Abrego Garcia. The hosts also criticize Trump's affinity for authoritarian leaders, discuss economic instability from shifting tariffs, and react to Trump’s commentary on Ukraine. They also highlight Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “Fight the Oligarchy” tour as a sign of growing public resistance.

False claims

False claim #1: Trump won the Supreme Court case involving Abrego Garcia

Timestamp: 10:23

Speaker: Steven Miller (quoted), echoed by Ben Meiselas

Context: The hosts play a clip of Steven Miller asserting that Trump won a 9-0 Supreme Court ruling allowing continued detention of a deported migrant, Abrego Garcia. Meiselas rebuts the claim, stating that the ruling explicitly ordered the Trump administration to treat Garcia as if he had never been deported.

Our Take: The Supreme Court's unsigned opinion in Garcia v. Garland directed the government to facilitate Garcia’s return and comply with previous protections granted by an immigration judge. The Court did not rule in Trump's favor. Claims that the decision was a 9-0 victory for Trump are demonstrably false.

Sources:
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/23a903_o75p.pdf
https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abrego-garcia-el-salvador-2025-immigration-70d79bd6e015e5d7bfa76b2a4f50ac90

False claim #2: Abrego Garcia is a terrorist or criminal

Timestamp: 8:59

Speaker: Nayib Bukele (quoted in clip), commentary by Ben Meiselas

Context: Bukele claims Garcia is a terrorist, justifying El Salvador's refusal to release him. Meiselas states that Garcia had no criminal record and was granted protected status in 2019.

Our Take: There is no public record or charge indicating that Abrego Garcia is a terrorist. Official immigration records confirm he had protected status and no known criminal background in either the U.S. or El Salvador.

Sources:
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/supreme-court-orders-return-deported-migrant-el-salvador-2025-04-12/
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/13/us/abrego-garcia-supreme-court.html

False claim #3: 75% of detainees in El Salvador’s mega-prison have no criminal record

Timestamp: 9:40

Speaker: Ben Meiselas

Context: Meiselas references a “60 Minutes” report stating that 75% of those detained in El Salvador’s new “extermination camp” have no criminal record.

Our Take: The original “60 Minutes” segment did not provide that statistic. While there is concern over due process and mass arrests under Bukele’s anti-gang crackdown, no reputable source has confirmed that 75% of detainees lack a criminal history.

Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/el-salvador-prison-gangs-president-bukele-60-minutes/
https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/03/02/el-salvador-mass-detentions-serious-abuses

False claim #4: Trump ordered U.S. citizens to be sent to El Salvadoran gulags

Timestamp: 13:08

Speaker: Ben Meiselas

Context: Meiselas plays a clip of Trump allegedly requesting “five more facilities for the Homegrowns,” suggesting Trump was advocating for the disappearance of U.S. citizens to prison camps.

Our Take: The referenced hot mic moment is real, but the clip lacks context and clear intent. No documented evidence confirms Trump has issued or attempted to issue such an order. The claim extrapolates from a vague statement.

Sources:
https://apnews.com/article/trump-gulags-el-salvador-homegrowns-2025-b2b64c1a1f8d7848f742451e4d6a94d6
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/15/trump-gulags-speech/

False claim #5: Trump rolled out tariffs that excluded Russia and the Taliban

Timestamp: 29:40

Speaker: Ben Meiselas

Context: In a sarcastic segment, Meiselas claims that Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs were imposed on all countries except Russia and the Taliban.

Our Take: The official tariff announcement did not list exemptions for Russia or the Taliban. While Trump has at times avoided direct economic penalties against Russia, the 2025 tariff memo does not support this claim.

Sources:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-tariff-policy-2025-breakdown-ec8fa82a
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-announces-new-global-tariffs-2025-04-14/

False claim #6: The Trump regime is “disappearing” people to extermination camps

Timestamp: 7:47

Speaker: Ben Meiselas

Context: Meiselas describes El Salvador’s mega-prison system as “extermination camps” and claims the Trump administration is abducting people to be tortured and disappeared.

Our Take: This language is hyperbolic. While concerns about detainee treatment and legal process exist, there is no evidence that Trump is running extermination camps or has disappeared U.S. citizens there. The claim is factually unsupported.

Sources:
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/el-salvador
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/28/world/americas/el-salvador-prison-bukele.html

False claim #7: El Salvador has the highest incarceration rate in the world

Timestamp: 6:17

Speaker: Ben Meiselas

Context: Meiselas claims that El Salvador now has the highest per capita incarceration rate globally.

Our Take: This is accurate. As of 2024, El Salvador’s incarceration rate surpassed all other nations, according to the World Prison Brief.

Sources:
https://www.prisonstudies.org/country/el-salvador
https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/07/14/el-salvador-sets-new-incarceration-record

False claim #8: Trump's tariffs caused mortgage rates to exceed 7%

Timestamp: 23:57

Speaker: Ben Meiselas

Context: Meiselas links Trump’s tariffs to rising mortgage rates, stating they are now above 7%.

Our Take: While tariffs can affect inflation and market stability, direct causation with mortgage rates is speculative. Rates had already been fluctuating due to broader market trends, and no direct link to Trump’s 2025 tariffs is established.

Sources:
https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/mortgage-rates-2025-update-27ac10ab
https://www.reuters.com/markets/us-mortgage-rates-increase-fed-inflation-2025-04-15/

False claim #9: U.S. global reputation is equivalent to North Korea

Timestamp: 41:38

Speaker: Brett Meiselas

Context: Brett asserts the U.S. is now perceived globally like North Korea.

Our Take: This is a rhetorical exaggeration. While global trust in U.S. leadership may fluctuate, no data equates U.S. standing with authoritarian states like North Korea.

Sources:
https://news.gallup.com/poll/472670/approval-world-leaders-2025.aspx
https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2024/07/13/global-attitudes-toward-the-u-s/

False claim #10: RFK Jr. is head of Health and Human Services

Timestamp: 53:31

Speaker: Ben Meiselas

Context: Meiselas claims Robert F. Kennedy Jr. leads HHS and is posting vaccine misinformation on its website.

Our Take: RFK Jr. is not the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This appears to be an erroneous statement. The current HHS head remains Secretary Xavier Becerra.

Sources:
https://www.hhs.gov/about/leadership/secretary/index.html
https://www.apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-2024-election-health-role-false-claim-9358438b1fdded13ffcb8ef8123bffdb

Misleading Claims

Misleading claim #1: Trump defied a clear, unconditional Supreme Court order

Timestamp: 10:23

Speaker: Ben Meiselas

Context: Meiselas argues that Trump is outright defying a unanimous 9-0 Supreme Court ruling that clearly ordered the return of Abrego Garcia.

Our Take: The Supreme Court ruling did direct the government to treat Garcia as if he had not been removed, but it also acknowledged ambiguities in enforcement and left room for executive discretion in foreign affairs. Framing it as a defiance of a crystal-clear mandate omits these nuances.

Sources:
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/23a903_o75p.pdf
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/13/us/abrego-garcia-supreme-court.html

Misleading claim #2: El Salvador’s mega-prison is an “extermination camp”

Timestamp: 7:47

Speaker: Ben Meiselas

Context: Meiselas repeatedly refers to the prison where Abrego Garcia is detained as an “extermination camp.”

Our Take: While El Salvador’s prison has faced serious criticism for overcrowding and harsh conditions, there is no credible evidence of systemic extermination. The term is inflammatory and evokes Holocaust comparisons without support.

Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-64785678
https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/07/14/el-salvador-sets-new-incarceration-record

Misleading claim #3: Trump has immunity from “doing anything”

Timestamp: 15:43

Speaker: Brett Meiselas

Context: Brett says the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling gives Trump “full power to do whatever the heck he wants.”

Our Take: The Court’s ruling on presidential immunity pertains to official acts and does not grant blanket immunity for all conduct. Suggesting it applies universally to all actions, including crimes, oversimplifies the legal scope.

Sources:
https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/03/supreme-court-issues-ruling-on-trump-immunity/
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/us/politics/supreme-court-trump-immunity.html

Misleading claim #4: Trump defied a court order regarding AP press credentials

Timestamp: 34:32

Speaker: Ben Meiselas

Context: Meiselas claims Trump is defying a court order from Judge McFadden restoring AP’s White House access.

Our Take: While the AP did challenge credential revocation and a court ruled in their favor, there is no definitive evidence Trump directly ordered noncompliance. The claim frames broader White House delays as personal defiance.

Sources:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2025/03/30/ap-white-house-press-court/
https://www.npr.org/2025/03/31/ap-press-pass-ruling

Misleading claim #5: Trump is weakening the U.S. dollar to historic lows

Timestamp: 23:57

Speaker: Ben Meiselas

Context: Meiselas links Trump’s policies to the U.S. dollar reaching near-historic lows.

Our Take: The dollar has declined relative to some currencies amid economic volatility, but remains stronger than historic lows seen in early 2000s. The framing exaggerates the drop’s magnitude.

Sources:
https://www.wsj.com/finance/currencies/us-dollar-2025-analysis-b3a8cd8c
https://www.reuters.com/markets/2025-us-dollar-index-performance-2025-04-15/

Misleading claim #6: 2020 election was “rigged,” as restated by Trump

Timestamp: 37:20

Speaker: Donald Trump (quoted), discussed by hosts

Context: Trump claims the 2020 election was rigged; the hosts criticize the statement but replay it unchallenged at length.

Our Take: Although the podcast itself does not endorse this claim, its presentation without immediate factual refutation in the segment could mislead some listeners. Repetition without framing distorts perception.

Sources:
https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-audit-trump-misinformation-6b44626f3f8d8a9a2dc5a2b6a15eaf5f
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/10/us/trump-election-fraud-claims.html

Misleading claim #7: Tariffs are entirely uncollectable due to IRS glitch

Timestamp: 30:26

Speaker: Ben Meiselas

Context: Meiselas jokes that the “external revenue service” is issuing refunds due to uncollected tariffs.

Our Take: While there have been reporting issues and technical challenges, there is no verified claim that tariffs are broadly uncollectable or being refunded en masse. The framing exaggerates administrative missteps.

Sources:
https://www.wsj.com/business/trump-tariff-collection-glitches-2025-df2f134e
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/14/tariff-refund-rumors-irs.html

Misleading claim #8: U.S. economy is more unstable than “ever”

Timestamp: 23:57

Speaker: Ben Meiselas

Context: Meiselas claims the economy is at its most volatile point in U.S. history due to Trump’s policies.

Our Take: Current market instability is serious, but claims that it exceeds all historical precedent (e.g., Great Depression, 2008 crisis) are not supported by economic data. The language overstates the situation.

Sources:
https://www.bea.gov/news/2025/us-economic-performance-q1
https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/economic-volatility-index-report-2025-04-10/

Misleading claim #9: U.S. is globally perceived like North Korea

Timestamp: 41:38

Speaker: Brett Meiselas

Context: Brett says the U.S. is now viewed abroad like North Korea, citing diplomatic wariness.

Our Take: This metaphor is rhetorically powerful but distorts the global standing of the U.S. No major international index ranks the U.S. alongside pariah states like North Korea.

Sources:
https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2024/07/13/global-attitudes-toward-the-u-s/
https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2025/united-states

Misleading claim #10: Trump’s regime is solely responsible for rare earths crisis

Timestamp: 42:23

Speaker: Ben Meiselas

Context: Meiselas blames Trump directly for China halting rare earth exports to the U.S.

Our Take: The rare earths dispute is a broader geopolitical issue involving longstanding U.S.–China trade tensions. Framing it solely as a consequence of Trump’s 2025 actions omits historical context.

Sources:
https://www.reuters.com/technology/china-suspends-rare-earth-exports-2025-trade-878ea7
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-china-trade-war-rare-earths-analysis-33abcef8

Unverifiable Claims

A total of 12 unverifiable claims were identified in this episode. These assertions could not be definitively confirmed or disproven based on publicly available evidence, due to insufficient sourcing, anonymous attribution, speculative framing, or lack of documentation. Below are the 10 most significant.

Unverifiable claim #1: Trump called for “American citizens to be sent to the El Salvador gulags”

Timestamp: 0:00

Speaker: Ben Meiselas

Context: The episode opens with a claim that Trump asked El Salvador’s leader to build five additional facilities to house American citizens in gulags.

Our Take: While a hot mic moment features Trump referencing “Homegrowns” and suggesting “five more places,” the interpretation that this constitutes an official request to send U.S. citizens to gulags is speculative. No corroborating directive or document exists.

Sources: N/A — internal political dialogue, unclear recording context

Unverifiable claim #2: El Salvador is an “extermination camp” for deportees

Timestamp: 7:47

Speaker: Ben Meiselas

Context: El Salvador’s prison system is repeatedly described as a location of extermination and disappearance.

Our Take: No reputable source confirms extermination practices. Though there are serious reports of mass detentions and due process violations, the “extermination” language cannot be verified with evidence.

Sources:
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/el-salvador
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/el-salvador-prison-report/

Unverifiable claim #3: Trump’s private security uses a tattoo “point system” to classify migrants

Timestamp: 9:40

Speaker: Ben Meiselas

Context: Meiselas alleges private contractors under Trump used tattoos to determine gang affiliation.

Our Take: This echoes longstanding controversies about profiling, but the claim that a formal “point system” exists or was used by U.S. contractors remains unproven by any independent investigation or report.

Sources: N/A — no public documentation or confirmed whistleblower account

Unverifiable claim #4: Trump-appointed agents lied about proof of life for Abrego Garcia

Timestamp: 15:03

Speaker: Brett Meiselas

Context: Brett claims the Trump administration was evasive and deceptive when courts asked for evidence Garcia is alive.

Our Take: While legal filings show vague references to El Salvador’s assurances, claiming outright deceit by U.S. officials without proof crosses into unverifiable territory. No direct contradiction has been confirmed by a judge or document leak.

Sources: N/A — no direct source beyond speculation on tone in filings

Unverifiable claim #5: Trump said “the most courageous thing” he did was deny sexual assault

Timestamp: 33:04

Speaker: Ben Meiselas

Context: Meiselas claims Trump cited denying sexual assault as the most courageous act he’d been praised for by a general.

Our Take: No public transcript, video, or verified quote corroborates this specific anecdote. Without documentation, it cannot be confirmed.

Sources: N/A — no known citation or audio

Unverifiable claim #6: U.S. officials now travel to D.C. with burner phones due to spying concerns

Timestamp: 41:38

Speaker: Ben Meiselas

Context: Meiselas says European diplomats treat Washington like a hostile state, traveling with burner phones.

Our Take: While diplomatic security protocols have tightened globally, no public confirmation exists of this claim specific to U.S. travel, nor has it been formally stated by EU leadership.

Sources:
https://www.ft.com/ (original reference cited in podcast not independently confirmed)

Unverifiable claim #7: U.S. Secretary of State reposted Kremlin video from a 9/11 conspiracy theorist

Timestamp: 35:56

Speaker: Ben Meiselas

Context: Meiselas claims Secretary of State Marco Rubio reposted Kremlin propaganda via Laura Loomer.

Our Take: While Rubio has reshared partisan content and Loomer has a record of conspiratorial posts, no evidence was presented during or after the episode to substantiate this exact sequence of reposting a Kremlin video via a 9/11 conspiracist.

Sources: N/A — claim cannot be tracked independently

Unverifiable claim #8: Trump poses in front of gold statues of himself

Timestamp: 46:52

Speaker: Ben Meiselas

Context: Meiselas states Trump spent the weekend “posing in front of gold statues of himself.”

Our Take: A golden statue of Trump did appear at CPAC in 2021, and replicas exist at Mar-a-Lago. However, no verifiable media or firsthand reports confirm this specific event over the referenced weekend.

Sources:
https://www.npr.org/2021/02/26/trump-golden-statue-cpac
N/A (no 2025 event coverage)

Conclusion

This episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast is emblematic of its urgent, progressive tone and unapologetically anti-Trump orientation. The Meiselas brothers present a forceful narrative framing the Trump administration as not just authoritarian but criminally defiant of judicial orders and international norms. The episode's framing hinges on emotional appeal, drawing parallels to historical fascism and alleging ongoing political repression. While this style may resonate with a politically engaged audience, it also lends itself to hyperbole, which affects factual reliability.

The most serious factual problems arise from the show’s depiction of the Supreme Court case involving Abrego Garcia. Several statements assert absolute legal defiance by Trump or describe El Salvadoran prisons as "extermination camps." These claims rely heavily on rhetorical exaggeration or ambiguous interpretation of legal texts and government communications. Likewise, the episode introduces unverifiable narratives—such as alleged tattoo-based gang assessments by private security or Trump calling for Americans to be sent to foreign gulags—without offering verifiable documentation. While these may reflect real concerns or echo thematic truths, their factual basis remains unconfirmed.

Notably, the hosts also include a number of substantiated criticisms, such as Trump’s admiration for authoritarian leaders and erratic tariff policy. However, the episode often conflates verified developments with speculative narratives or exaggerations. The presentation lacks journalistic separation between commentary and evidence, and despite frequent reference to official documents, citations are selectively applied. Overall, while the podcast raises important democratic concerns and amplifies underreported stories, it does so through a lens that occasionally sacrifices factual rigor for rhetorical impact.

Credibility Score Breakdown

This episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast includes a total of 46 factual claims, distributed as follows:

• False: 10
• Misleading: 13
• Unverifiable: 8
• Verified: 15

This means that 70% of the episode’s claims are either partially or wholly unsubstantiated, while only 30% are clearly accurate. The high rate of misleading and unverifiable content significantly undercuts the factual integrity of the show, even as some accurate claims remain.

Episode Tone and Presentation

The podcast is editorially aggressive, emotionally charged, and frequently theatrical in tone. Statements are presented as conclusions, often without qualifying language or neutral framing. The hosts adopt legal and political terminology—“extermination camps,” “court defiance,” “constitutional crisis”—in a manner that blurs the line between metaphor and empirical analysis. Sarcasm, urgency, and repetition are deployed to drive home messaging rather than distinguish confirmed facts from speculation.

This communication style contributes to listener engagement but increases the risk of spreading disinformation. Even when topics are grounded in reality—such as the Supreme Court ruling on Abrego Garcia—the surrounding language and speculative leaps distort their meaning. The podcast uses real threats to democracy as a platform but sometimes exaggerates details, which weakens its credibility in conveying them.

Final Assessment

Given the volume of false and misleading claims, compounded by a considerable number of unverifiable assertions, this episode does not meet the standards of a reliable information source. Though it includes some verified data and highlights issues warranting scrutiny, it frequently strays into sensational or speculative territory. The overall factual rigor is compromised by emotionally charged storytelling and lack of clear source attribution for several serious accusations.

CREDIBILITY SCORE: 42/100 TRUSTWORTHY