For years, the podcast charts have been a stronghold for conservative and pro-Trump voices — Joe Rogan, Ben Shapiro, Shawn Ryan. President Trump even leaned into this lane during his 2024 campaign, bypassing traditional media for appearances on these shows.
But something interesting is happening. In the first six months of Trump’s return to office, “The MeidasTouch Podcast” — a pro-democracy, anti-MAGA show hosted by the Meiselas brothers — has been ranked No. 1 a few times across major platforms.
On YouTube, from July 21 to 27, MeidasTouch topped the U.S. podcast chart. From June 7 to July 7, Podscribe clocked it at 124 million views — more than triple Rogan’s 39.2 million. Rogan has slipped to sixth so far in August — Meidas is still holding steady at the top.
That indicates to me a cultural turning point — one that reveals a growing hunger for alternatives to MAGA talking points, even among audiences that once leaned right.
And here’s where it gets interesting: The very voices that built up Trump’s online influence are turning on him. Rogan, Andrew Schulz, Tim Dillon — mainstays of the anti-establishment “manosphere” — have called out Trump’s recent policies. As Schultz put it, “I voted for none of this. He’s doing the exact opposite of everything I voted for. I want him to stop the wars — he’s funding them. I want him to shrink spending, reduce the budget — he’s increasing it.”
And let’s not forget his shady handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. Even Rogan said he’s drawing a “line in the sand, because there’s a lot of stuff … we thought Trump was going to come in and a lot would be resolved. We would drain the swamp and figure everything out. And when you have this one hardcore line in the sand that everybody had been talking about forever and they’re trying to gaslight you on that.”
Turns out, he’s not alone. A UMass Amherst poll found that 70 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of Epstein-related info. Nearly two-thirds think his administration is hiding something. This is a glaring vulnerability.
Here’s the opportunity: Democrats have been reportedly trying to manufacture their own “Rogan” in recent months — spending millions to find someone cool enough to break through. But that kind of voice isn’t made in a lab. It emerges organically when the message matches the moment.
Right now, the MeidasTouch brothers are meeting that moment. Their rise shows that pro-democracy, truth-telling voices can dominate the digital space — if they’re bold, consistent, and real.
So here’s the punchline: Trump isn’t just losing liberals — he’s irritating his base. And that disillusionment is Democrats’ biggest opening if they show up with substance. Not just vibes. Not just ads. Real policy. Real engagement.
It’s time for Democrats to stop trying to copy the culture and start shaping it — by supporting authentic platforms like The MeidasTouch Podcast and engaging with audiences across the aisle. Even Rogan went from Bernie to Trump. Voters can shift — if they’re given a reason to.
Lindsey Granger is a News Nation contributor and co-host of The Hill’s commentary show “Rising.” This column is an edited transcription of her on-air commentary.
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