MeidasTouch Needs Your Help on this HISTORIC DAY!!! MeidasTouch Network and Ben Meiselas Jun 19 By Ben Meiselas Hey folks, it’s Ben Meiselas. As you know, I am the co-founder of the MeidasTouch Network. I may get a little emotional in this post, so bear with me. Today we are about to hit a major milestone in the history of our network. Any minute now, I expect we will pass 5 million subscribers on YouTube. We are averaging 30 million views every 48 hours on YouTube. The dream has become a reality thanks to you, the Meidas Mighty. I want to thank all our subscribers to this Substack for supporting the independent journalism at the MeidasTouch Network and making us the most-watched news network in America, topping Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC. We hope anyone who has not subscribed to this Substack will subscribe now on this momentous day. We embarked on creating an independent media network when the idea of doing so was laughed at. It was viewed as impossible and a waste of time. We were mocked and attacked for focusing on digital distribution and starting video podcasts. We always knew that the survival of our democracy depended on independent media. We anticipated corporate news would support fascism and betray our country many years ago. When it happened—when Trump got elected—we were prepared for it. We had built the infrastructure brick by brick to replace corporate news. What makes me most proud is hearing how we inspired others to embark on their own independent media journey. We’ve always found it imperative that we use our platform to launch the networks of other pro-democracy champions moving into this space. We will keep ensuring that our platform helps encourage and promote others in this space. I’ve always said the MeidasTouch Network is more than just a “network.” It is a family, and it is a movement. Sure, we care about politics, but we care most about people and improving the human condition. When we focus on love and empathy and respect and equality and democracy, the political choices become easy. Because my brothers and I don’t come from political backgrounds, we’ve built this network on enduring principles and values—and we’ve listened to you every step of the way. The most important way we grew this network is by never forgetting who built this network: you. We’ve always listened to the issues you are confronted with and focused on how we can bring you the facts and the news and the solutions. This fight hasn’t been easy. It will get harder. From death threats. To hacks. To lawsuits. To harassment. You name it, they’ve thrown it at us. They will keep playing dangerous and dirty with us and try to shut us down. It won’t work. We will continue to grow and work harder and never stop fighting. I’ve always said this summer would be known as Democracy Summer. It’s sure shaping up that way with the MeidasTouch Network leading the way as the most-viewed news network in America. Let’s keep the momentum. Please subscribe today to the MeidasTouch Substack to help us make a big statement as we hit 5 million subscribers today. I want to send a message by increasing our subscriber count that we will never get complacent—and that we will seek to expand to get 10 million subscribers and 100 million views every 48 hours. Our growth depends a lot on our subscribers here, so if you can, subscribe now or gift a subscription to someone you know. Thanks as always! Meidas+ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

 

Trump Wants Meidas Ended…We Will Fight MeidasTouch Network Apr 28 By Ben Meiselas Your support has been incredible. As Trump attacks us. As Fox attacks. As Rogan and his supporters attack us. After all the death threats and harassment from MAGA. After the civil and criminal filings. Here we stand. Stronger than ever. Trump looks weaker than ever. We now approach 100 days of the most disastrous presidency in history this week. In 100 days, this community has accomplished so much as Trump is now imploding. A special thanks to our subscribers here (please subscribe today if you aren’t yet a subscriber). The protests are growing. Mass mobilization is accelerating. Shadow hearings are taking place. Americans are showing up to town halls. Nonprofits and legal groups have filed thousands of lawsuits that have Trump’s DOJ on the ropes. Trump is losing in the courts and in public opinion. An international resistance has formed. We have a huge election in Canada today. I am so proud of you all. When we defeat Trump and this MAGA plague, I see so much hope in the future. And we will win. Our role at the MeidasTouch Network is to meet the moment every day by reporting on the truth about what’s happening that the corporate news refuses to cover. That includes rapid response and going on the offense with fearless reporting. But also, we must ensure we are building a generational infrastructure to make sure the media doesn’t slip back into the decay and rot that spawned the grotesque, vile, felon beast that is Trump. A special shoutout to our subscribers here who helped us build this infrastructure. We are so grateful. I’ve spoken to a number of high-level sources who tell me they expect Trump will come after us very soon in more aggressive ways. The Trump regime sees what we have built and what we are building at the MeidasTouch Network, and it terrifies them. The Trump memo attacking sources used by the media seems like a tool the DOJ might use to come after independent media like us. We will see. This past weekend it was announced that Katie Phang will be working with us. I expect more announcements like this to drop soon. We’ve built the MeidasTouch Network with the help of our subscribers on this Substack. The Trump regime and Fox thought it was impossible to build a network brick by brick the way we did. They didn’t know the power of Substack. We not only lead all independent news media, but we get more views than all cable news, including Fox, with a fraction of a fraction of their budget. We are a network made up of some of the top lawyers in the country. We have a legal strategy planned for the moment Trump tries something. I have taken a lot of depositions in my past life as a litigator, such as when I deposed most of the NFL owners in my representation of Colin Kaepernick. I would love to take the deposition of Trump and play that cross-examination on our YouTube channel and this Substack for everyone to watch. Trump and his regime do not scare us at all. They are jealous and terrified of what we’ve built—an independent media network that uplifts the entire independent media ecosystem, that exposes Trump as we showcase the growing resistance. Trump has spent the past 100 days falling apart, and we’ve spent the past 100 days growing. (Add the MeidasTouch Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotifynow.) Get ready for democracy summer, folks. As Vanity Fair magazine proclaimed, “The resistance won’t be televised, it will be on the MeidasTouch Network.” The resistance has a platform that is not scared, that will never bow down and kiss the gangster ring, and that will approach the fight against the Trump regime with the dedication, diligence, and fearlessness that is required. With the Meidas Mighty by our side, Trump will never shut us down. Whatever he’s about to send our way—and unless we are ready for it— We will fight, and we will win! We will keep beating Fox and Rogan in the ratings. We will keep our coverage focused on the protests, the shadow hearings, the town halls, the press conferences, and the interviews you’ve come to expect from the MeidasTouch Network. Thank you for being a member of the Meidas Mighty. Thanks for subscribing to this Substack. We hope you feel we are meeting the moment every day. We’ve got a lot of work to do and a lot more building to do. Please consider subscribing to the MeidasTouch Substack today if you aren’t a subscriber yet. It goes a long way to help us grow. We’ve got great content here like Ron Filipkowski’s daily summaries and all my interviews, but by you subscribing, it also helps us grow our platforms. The subscriptions to this Substack have been a major factor in the growth you’ve seen of MeidasTouch. It’s why I keep emphasizing its importance. You can also gift subscriptions to others you know. Thanks so much, Meidas Mighty, and let’s win this week. Meidas+ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Today we stand tall

 

This is a free version of what’s included in our premium membership. Democracy Docket members always receive Marc’s exclusive analysis on the latest voting and democracy news of the day as well as four premium newsletters, invites to members-only live events and more. This is a day we did not want. At noon Donald Trump will take the presidential oath of office prescribed by the U.S. Constitution. I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Nearly every word he will say will be a lie. Being solemn requires having “deep sincerity,” something Trump utterly lacks. Trump will not be “faithful” in exercising the power of his office. Trump has contempt for the restraints on his power the U.S. Constitution represents. He has no intention of preserving, protecting or defending it. Starting this afternoon Trump will attempt to transform our country from a nation of laws into a dystopian authoritarian regime. Those of us who care about democracy must stand tall and resolute in preventing this from happening. Since the election, we have witnessed the guardrails of democracy fall aside with astonishing speed. The Republican Party has ceased to exist as an institution separate from the will and whim of Donald Trump. Speaker Johnson serves only at Trump’s pleasure. Senate Republicans have surrendered their right to advise and consent. Corporate titans and billionaires have been transformed into court jesters that Trump can summon for companionship and mock for amusement. They have paid for the privilege of being reduced to objects of ridicule and scorn. As Trump takes the Oval Office later today, Democracy Docket is recommitting itself to exposing his attacks on democracy by covering the hundreds of lawsuits that will be filed starting once he is sworn in. Upgrade to our premium membership to always be the first to know about these efforts and support our pro-democracy mission. The legacy media, that assured us it stood as a centurion of democracy, has largely gone AWOL — unwilling to confront Trump as confident protectors of press freedom and independence. Many of its most prominent voices have gone silent, others have suffered the humiliation of public capitulation. Shortly after the election, I wrote about the need for a new opposition movement based on winning elections and developing new institutions of power. I argued that it should be a big tent that is unafraid of good faith debates and differences. I also made clear that we need to nurture and support new, independent media outlets that are willing to embrace a pro-democracy ethos. Since then, there have been promising signs that an opposition movement is emerging. But the real test begins today. When Donald Trump walks off the podium and back into the Capitol, his term will begin. He has already promised scores of new executive orders and policies and loyalist officials ready to do his bidding. It will then be up to each of us to declare for ourselves how we will confront the reality of another four years of Trump. Some will choose to tune out and go about their lives. Others will bend and accommodate. I have made my choices known for myself and for Democracy Docket: Like others, I fear the threat of government retribution, political vengeance and an angry right-wing mob. But I know that giving into it will only strengthen Trump and undermine the future of our democracy. Trump wants us to be scared. He wants us to give up — gradually and then suddenly. As a lawyer, I will continue to fight for voting rights and democracy in court and to help build a strong opposition. As the founder of Democracy Docket, I can assure you it will become an ever more fearless voice for democracy. We will not bow down. We will stand tall. We will not obey. Starting at 12:01pm today, I hope you will join us for the next four years. Want to hear Marc’s thoughts and reactions to Trump’s inaugural address? Join him on Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. ET for a live, members-only call on what to expect in the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. Don’t miss out — upgrade now to join! UPGRADE NOW

Trump’s win was built on right-wing lies. Let’s build a media network that tells the truth.

 

There’s no sugar-coating it – the right-wing media handed Donald Trump this election. From Fox News and Sinclair to X and Joe Rogan, an entire network of right-wing influencers fueled a relentless cycle of fear-mongering and misinformation.

In the end, their propaganda machine didn’t just amplify Trump’s message—it set the agenda. They manufactured outrage, spun up economic panic, and shifted the national conversation, steering millions toward Trump.

We’ve seen enough to know it’s time to build a progressive, pro-democracy media network that’s powerful enough to counter these forces, and we’re asking for your help.

At COURIER, we’re doing what the traditional media won’t. We don’t chase profits or sensationalize—we’re dedicated to fact-based, community-centered reporting that holds power accountable and cuts through the far-right’s propaganda.

Here’s how COURIER is creating a progressive media network that can take on right-wing disinformation:

• Publishing local, values-driven news: Our 11 state-based newsrooms focus on the issues that matter to their communities, with pro-democracy, fact-driven reporting that counters right-wing narratives. In states like Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Michigan, we’re one of the most-followed local sources, bringing truth to the heart of these battlegrounds.
• We already reach millions: With 4.5 million followers and nearly 2 billion social media impressions in the 90 days before Election Day, COURIER’s message is reaching Americans where they are—with perspectives that challenge right-wing disinformation. We’re committed to making fact-based reporting accessible and free for all.
• News, right where people are: From TikTok to Twitter, our creators and social media experts are redefining what progressive news can be. We share our content directly in the online spaces where people actually get their news. This election cycle alone, our TikTok presence exploded, surpassing 1 million followers and amassing over a billion video views.

Right-wing media has had decades to build this power. Now it’s our turn.

If you believe in a media that stands for truth and democracy, please chip in $7.00 or anything you can to support COURIER's newsrooms.

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Every contribution helps us reach more communities, counter the lies, and bring people the news they deserve.

Thank you for standing with us,
COURIER

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PATRICK LAWRENCE: Hunter Biden’s Charge of Lying Under Oath

 

PATRICK LAWRENCE:
Hunter Biden’s Charge
of Lying Under Oath

The June 5 criminal referrals are indication enough that the Oversight and Judiciary committees are far from done, spent, or at a dead end. Read here...

THE AUTHOR, PATRICK LAWRENCE, HAS FAILED TO ADEQUATELY SCRUTINIZE THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED BY THE MAGA MORONS WHO HAVE PROMOTED RUMORS & GUESSES & SPECULATION.....that their 'WHISTLEBLOWERS' have been discredited & arrested should urge caution. 

THE GUARDIAN INVESTIGATED ALEXANDER SMIRNOV, THE LIAR THAT MAGA 

MORONS PRESENTED AS 'WHISTLEBLOWER,' NOT IMPRISONED. 

MAGA MORONS DISCREDITED THEMSELVES WITH THEIR RUSH TO EMBRACE LIES. 

THIS IS WHAT REAL JOURNALISM & INVESTIGATION LOOKS LIKE!

US firm that paid indicted FBI informant tied to Trump associates, records reveal

This article is more than 3 months old

Alexander Smirnov was paid $600,000 in 2020 – the same year he allegedly began lying to FBI about Bidens’ role in Ukraine business

THE GUARDIAN

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Chris Hedges: Nero’s Guests

Sadism by the powerful is the curse of the human condition. It was as prevalent in ancient Rome as it is in Gaza. Read here...

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Chris Hedges on Consortium News

One of the leading journalists’ of our age praises its “independence” and “courage”. Read here...

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You can make a donation to Consortium News by

 

credit card online  or by  mailing a check  to

 

Consortium for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
2200 Wilson Blvd.
Suite 102-231
Arlington, VA 22201

 

 

CIJ is a 501-c-3 tax-exempt organization, so your donations may be tax-deductible in the United States. (You also can direct donations to us through your company's charitible-giving programs.)

 

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The Comma That Erases Genocide

 

The Comma That Erases Genocide

Israel wants to muddy the waters — as it always does — so it can carry on with its genocide, writes Jonathan Cook. Here’s an example of how the Western media help it along. Read here...

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WATCH: Genocide Fuels
Anti-Establishment Politics

Independent and third parties are being driven by opposition to the Establishment’s unconditional support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Read here...

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Nearly Three Decades
of Independence

Consortium News was launched on Nov. 15, 1995 when the internet was in its infancy, blazing a trail for the explosion of independent media to follow. Read here...

_______________________________________________________________________________________

You can make a donation to Consortium News by

 

credit card online  or by  mailing a check  to

 

Consortium for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
2200 Wilson Blvd.
Suite 102-231
Arlington, VA 22201

 

 

CIJ is a 501-c-3 tax-exempt organization, so your donations may be tax-deductible in the United States. (You also can direct donations to us through your company's charitible-giving programs.)

 

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