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The MeidasTouch Podcast, which is often critical of President Donald Trump, has surpassed popular podcaster Joe Rogan on YouTube.
Newsweek has contacted MeidasTouch and a representative for Rogan for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Podcast charts have long been dominated with conservative or pro-Trump voices—such as Rogan, Shawn Ryan and Ben Shapiro, who frequently appear in the top 10. Trump himself appeared on some of those podcasts during his 2024 bid for the presidency as he eschewed traditional media outlets.
However, since Trump returned to office in January, The MeidasTouch Podcast has consistently topped charts, emerging as one of the country’s most-listened-to shows. The success of MeidasTouch through the first six months of Trump’s administration indicates a potential shift in what resonates with Americans and what they want to listen to.
Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for The Webby Awards
What To Know
YouTube data for July 21 to 27 shows The MeidasTouch Podcast as the top podcast on the platform in the United States, with The Joe Rogan Experience in second place.
According to Podscribe data captured from June 7 to July 7, MeidasTouch was the No. 1 podcast by downloads and views per month.
Podscribe reported that MeidasTouch amassed 124 million views in that month. The same rankings had Rogan at No. 2, having amassed 39.2 million views in that period.
MeidasTouch was founded by three brothers: Ben, Brett and Jordy Meiselas. It is described on its website as a “Pro-democracy news network” and began with viral videos and political ads that opposed Trump and supported Democratic candidates.
In a previous interview with Newsweek, Brett Meiselas said that beating the likes of Joe Rogan and Ben Shapiro was great but that “what matters most is our impact.”
“We’re proving that pro-democracy voices are not just necessary but in demand,” he said in February. “The American people are rejecting the idea that MAGA is mainstream.”
Recently, prominent voices on the online right have criticized Trump over his administration’s policies or actions. That list includes Rogan and the likes of Tim Dillon and Andrew Schulz, who had previously been pillars of the president’s appeal to young, antiestablishment male voters.
A growing number of these figures, who belong to the so-called manosphere, have broken with Trump—be it over frustrations regarding him immigration policies or the administration’s handling of the Jeffery Epstein files.
Rogan is one of the most prominent voices in this group, and in the podcasting world more broadly. He recently said on his podcast that he was drawing a “line in the sand” with Trump over Epstein.
What People Are Saying
Ben Meiselas, a co-founder of the MeidasTouch Network, said in a news release on Wednesday: “We’re thrilled to see our audience continue to grow. It’s not just about the numbers. It’s about building a movement powered by truth, accountability, and the people. We are beyond grateful to our audience for pushing us to the top.”
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether The MeidasTouch Podcast will continue to top the charts.
