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By Marni Rose McFall
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The MeidasTouch Podcast, a show critical of President Donald Trump, received nearly double the number of downloads as The Joe Rogan Experience podcast over the past month, according to Podscribe data.
Newsweek has reached out to a representative for Rogan for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Since the beginning of Trump's second term in office, the left-leaning MeidasTouch Podcast has topped the charts and is holding firm as the country's most-listened-to show, indicating a potential shift in what the American people want to hear.
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Rogan's podcast has long dominated the charts, but has remained in second place now for the second consecutive month.
What To Know
According to Podscribe Data, The MediasTouch Podcast received 125.6 million downloads in March, an increase of 126 per cent. Rogan's podcast received 65.4 million downloads.
MeidasTouch was founded by three brothers Ben, Brett and Jordy Meiselas, who describe it on the website as: "A pro-democracy news network." The organization started off by creating viral videos and political ads opposing Trump and supporting Democratic candidates.
In a previous interview with Newsweek, Brett Meiselas said that beating the likes of Joe Rogan and Ben Shapiro is "great," but noted that "what matters most is our impact."
"We're proving that pro-democracy voices are not just necessary but in demand. The American people are rejecting the idea that MAGA is mainstream."
The ascent of The MediasTouch Podcast comes after a period largely dominated by shows with a conservative or pro-Trump voice, and the likes of Joe Rogan, Shawn Ryan and Ben Shapiro have frequently appeared in the top 10.
Trump himself appeared on a number of these podcasts, eschewing traditional media outlets, as part of his successful bid for reelection in 2024.
Another podcast appearing in Podscribe's top five shows for March, which also signals a shift in tone, is Steven Bartlett's Diary of a CEO. Bartlett's show features interviews with high-profile successful figures, and the prominence this month was likely influenced by his highly popular interview with Mr Beast.
His podcast is a significant shift in tone from the likes of Shapiro and Rogan. A self-proclaimed feminist, he recently told British newspaper The Times that he wants to explore modern masculinity and offer an alternative to figures like Andrew Tate. "We need another model of what a man is—succeeding in whatever metric that men want to succeed, but in a way where they're being productive and healthy in society," he said.
What People Are Saying
Jordy Meiselas in an email shared with Newsweek: "It's been another strong month of growth for The MediasTouch Podcast as people are waking up to Trump's rug pull presidency and want to hear the truth."
What's Next
Whether show will continue to hold the top spot for a third month remains to be seen.
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