Anti-Trump Podcast Wins Major Award

The MeidasTouch Podcast, a show critical of President Donald Trump, has won Podcast of the Year at the Webby Awards.

Ben Meiselas, co-founder of The MeidasTouch Podcast, said in an email shared with Newsweek: "We're honored to receive the top award for all podcasts at the Webbys—especially as an independent media network. It's a testament to the incredible community that rallied behind us and helped share the show with the world."

Why It Matters

The left-leaning MeidasTouch Podcast has been dominating the podcast charts since the beginning of Trump's second term in office, after overtaking popular podcasts including former No1 Joe Rogan. It has held firm as the country's most downloaded podcast, indicating a shift in what the American people want to hear.

What To Know

The 29th Webby Awards were held in New York last night, hosted by actress Ilana Glazer.

"The truth is golden," said Ben Meiselas, after journalist Molly Jong-Fast presented him with the award, adding in a press release it was "the honor of a lifetime."

Founded in 2020 by three brothers Ben, Brett and Jordy Meiselas, who describe the podcast as "a pro-democracy news network," the organization began by creating viral videos and political ads opposing Trump and supporting Democratic candidates.

In a press release shared on the MeidasTouch website, Ben Meiselas described the past year as having been "tough," but said they have "persevered against the odds to fight back."

In April, MeidasTouch topped the podcast charts for the third consecutive month of this year; with 107.3 million downloads in April, according to data from Podscribe. The Joe Rogan Experience received 49.3 million downloads. Candace Owens, received 28.9 million downloads, and The Ben Shapiro Show received 19.1 million downloads.

The podcast is also the fastest-growing political and political-adjacent YouTube channel by net new subscribers, according to YouTube data captured between January 1 and April 1.

The podcast's rise comes at a critical moment for Democrats.

Trump's sweeping victory in the 2024 presidential election, along with Republicans taking control of the House and Senate, has led to soul-searching in the Democratic Party over what went wrong, and the party has faced growing turmoil and scrutiny as they struggle to deliver a cohesive message, and pick a leader who resonates with voters.

Among voters, recent polling shows that confidence in Democratic leaders in Congress has reached an all-time low, 25 percent of respondents expressing confidence in Democratic congressional leadership.

Some members of Congress who have spoken out against Trump and his administration have seen support from voters. Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, have been traveling the country on a "Fighting Oligarchy" tour that has attracted thousands of attendees.

No Democratic politician has declared an intention to run in 2028, but analysts speculate that Ocasio-Cortez could be a contender, along with former Vice President Kamala Harris, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, California Governor Gavin Newsom and Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey.

What People Are Saying

The Webby Awards, in a press release shared by MeidasTouch: "The MeidasTouch Podcast has emerged as a defining voice in political media, blending sharp analysis, cultural awareness, and a fierce dedication to democratic values."

Jordy Meiselas, in a press release shared by MeidasTouch: "The Meidas Mighty showed the world that you don't need a billion-dollar media empire to make a difference—you just need passion, integrity, and the courage to speak out."

What Happens Next

In a previous interview with Newsweek Brett Meiselas said that their goal is to "compete with and beat Fox in viewership every single day—and be the country's leading source of information."

Update 5/14/25, 12:24 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Ben Meiselas.