Important Sunday Message from MeidasTouch Founder

Hey everybody, it’s Ben Meiselas, co-founder of the MeidasTouch Network.

As always, this Sunday post is something I look forward to all week. I’ve got my coffee here, sitting down with you, taking a moment to breathe and reflect. And I just want to start by saying how grateful I am for this community.

This has been a historic week for the MeidasTouch Network. The growth, the expansion, the energy—it’s been incredible to watch. And none of it happens without you.

So before anything else, make sure you’re subscribed to this Substack. We’re building something special here, and we’re just getting started.

You’ve seen the work. Scott MacFarlane has been absolutely phenomenal—his reporting, his presence, the way his platform is growing so quickly. The Katie Phang channel is taking off. Across the board, from Legal AF to Aaron Parnas, every part of the MeidasTouch Network is thriving.

And that’s not by accident. That’s because of this community. This is why independent media matters more than ever.

When I looked around at what was happening in media, the consolidation, the layoffs, the gutting of newsrooms, I knew this was a moment where we had to step up. Not just to grow our own network, but to become a platform, a resource, an engine for independent creators.

That’s our mission. That’s our responsibility. And that’s exactly what we’re going to keep doing, here in the United States and internationally.

And I want to hear from you—do you think we’ve been meeting the moment? Drop a comment and let me know. I read them.

Because right now, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Our coverage of Donald Trump’s war in Iran, his unlawful, reckless, and catastrophic actions, has been clear and direct. And we’re going to keep calling it what it is.

Let’s be honest about what we just witnessed.

There were supposed to be ceasefire negotiations in Islamabad. Trump claimed he agreed to a framework, terms that, whether you liked them or not, were the basis for talks. Iran showed up ready to negotiate within that framework.

And then what happened?

Trump didn’t even show up. Instead, he sent inexperienced representatives while he attended a UFC event. And when talks began, his team abandoned the agreed framework and issued threats instead: accept new demands or face destruction.

The talks collapsed as anyone paying attention knew they would.

At the same time, Trump escalated militarily, sending U.S. naval forces into the Strait of Hormuz, only to have them turned back. And then, unbelievably, his administration tried to spin it as a success.

Think about that. In the middle of sensitive negotiations, you provoke, you fail, and then you lie about it.

And now? He’s threatening a blockade of the Persian Gulf, while claiming he wants to open it.

It makes no sense. It’s reckless. It’s dangerous.

And here at home, the consequences are real. Rising oil prices. Inflation. More instability. The American people didn’t ask for this. People want affordable healthcare. They want housing. They want stability. They want to live their lives without chaos being manufactured at the top.

Instead, we get distractions. We get bizarre posts attacking musicians like Bruce Springsteen.

It would be absurd if it wasn’t so serious.

And that’s why what we do here matters.

The MeidasTouch Network is going to keep growing. We’re going to keep expanding. We’re going to keep investing in independent journalism and giving a platform to voices that deserve to be heard.

But I always come back to this moment, Sunday morning, coffee in hand, talking directly with you.

Because this isn’t just a network. This is a community.

And I’m so grateful for you.

If you’re reading this and you’re not yet a paid subscriber, consider joining right now. We’re on a mission to hit one million subscribers on Substack, and we can’t do it without you.

Tell your friends. Tell your family. Share this community.

We’re building something powerful together.

Alright, coffee’s finished.

Let’s keep going.

Subscribe now.