257 Comments
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Anonymous's avatar

I support democracy and I support MeidasTouch......but....I think you have a much better chance of growing if your headlines were accurate.

Today's headline is "They Are Trying to TAKE DOWN MeidasTouch…OMG!!!" and nowhere in your email do you mention anyone trying to take you down. You do say, however, that "People can smell inauthenticity", so pretty please remain authentic.

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Janet Walsh's avatar

Ben, I agree with Anonymous. Leave out the drama. Stick to the facts. We all get it. We're with you all the way. Don't worry.

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Sherri Easley's avatar

I came here to say this! Please no drama or hyperbole- if we wanted that, we would be MAGA- Thank you for what you do- Stay Real!

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Jul 8Edited
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Roberta Houle's avatar

Scammer troll. Please someone report and get this asshole removed. Mine doesn’t work. Thanks.

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Leah Baum's avatar

Looks like someone did it now says deleted.

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Roberta Houle's avatar

Thanks.

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jen's avatar

Am established substack follower(particularly 3 Substack 'podcasts/shows'), brand new to meidas ( paid subscriber) and immediately noticed what turns out to be exactly what folks here are describing (mostly kindly :>). So, yes, I hope meidas is able to maintain its authenticity. Best to all. j.

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Jul 8Edited
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Ronald M Pollack's avatar

GET THE FUCK OFF THIS SITE IMMEDIATELY UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS DISCUSSION!!!!!!!!!

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Barbara OConnor's avatar

You should be the first to go!

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christopher wilson's avatar

How fucking dare you? You’re not an admin? Go fuck yourself.

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Barbara Hopper's avatar

I agree. You gain nothing by making these dramatic statements that hold no authenticity. We look to Meidas for TRUTH, and this is below you, and belittles your readers.

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Bill Riley's avatar

I believe Ben’s headline today is pure sarcasm aimed at mainstream media to show them that MTN is NOT quaking in their boots as corporate news begins to imitate Meidas. “OMG!!!” Lions and tigers and bears—oh my!!!

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Neva Brown's avatar

Maybe, but I don't think so based on his many previous " like" headlines. Also, now is not the time for mixed messages or confusing headlines. Not to mention, the histrionic tone is fast becoming irritating.

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Charlene Arseneau Reid's avatar

I agree! But it does seem kind of gimmicky!

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Neil Gardner's avatar

Yes, Trump's goons have been threatening Mideas

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Amy MaryJane McFate's avatar

I hope not as sarcasm would be inappropriate in the circumstances. I think it is click bait but the motives are pure. This is not a personal attack. If it was, people would simply leave. People are starved for erudite truth

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Ed Garland's avatar

@Bill Riley ... I'm with you 100%

Excellent call, Sir.

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Neva Brown's avatar

I 100% agree about these headlines. They're becoming redundant and getting old. I rarely comment but decided to do so about this headline just to find that I'm not the only one who feels this way. I hope you take this constructive feedback into consideration. You're undermining your own authenticity.

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Greg's avatar

I love Meidas, love its mission, and have total respect for all the hard work you folks put into getting the straight skinny to all of us.

That being said, I honestly do find myself ignoring your headlines more often than not because I find them a bit ‘sensationalized’ frequently. Not that the content isn’t great, it’s just the headlines that cry ‘wolf’ that I don’t like.

Although it’s the pot calling the kettle black, I think inaccurate/misleading headlines also give MAGA dweebs something else to complain about. Don’t give them that.

Have to agree with the others who’ve commented. We’re here for the truth and the facts all around. You don’t need to embellish for us to support your great efforts. For which, I’ll take the opportunity to thank you again!

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Beth Ann's avatar

I agree with these comments as well. I always read your first post every morning. How about just calling it “Meidas Morning Message”? We can all use a pep talk each morning but we also all know things are crazy right now.

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Jewel's avatar

I agree with the majority of the comments about your titles being just “CLICK BATE”. I’m starting not to listen or read some of your posts and I don’t want to get that way because the content is really good just not the headlines. Thanks for making the change.

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Maicab's avatar

I agree, your sensational headlines are becoming click bait. We’ve got your back! Don’t worry, stick to being factual and authentic.

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Greg's avatar

I do the same, Beth Ann, and I like your suggestion!

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Barbara Hopper's avatar

It actually caused me a little bit of panic, as I fully do expect them to try everyway they can to take Meidas down and we need them so dearly. When I realized it was click bait, I got a little angry.

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Robin.shick@gmail.com's avatar

Great suggestion. I do hope your suggestion gets to the top. Love Meidas Touch! Total appreciation and respect. ✊

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Michelle Ponkutcat 060's avatar

I like your idea Beth. Something more toned down to get our day started would be welcomed.

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Mack's avatar
Jul 8Edited

I find myself clicking less and less on the videos because of the clickbait titles. If I do click and the video doesn't quickly match a title I then leave a like and close the video. I assume that Ben is trying to get new people to click the videos by having misleading titles. Maybe it works, but I agree it is annoying and lessens credibility.

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SBMcG's avatar

I mostly agree. I want us to "take down" the Trump regime and keep our convictions and state the truth.

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George Barnhart's avatar

I agree. Stop the clickbait.

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Christine's avatar

I agree totally with this comment.

It really irritates me when the podcasts I have put my faith and confidence into, start shuffling the cards and spin things that don’t depict the reality. Stay honest please!

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Elana Shinkle's avatar

Thanks, we’ll see what happens :-)

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Jim Bodine's avatar

I agree with this. There have definitely been a good amount of over the top headlines that are not reflected in the actual story. Also people on either side are allowed to have a change of heart on issues when they see first hand what damage is being done. It is entirely possible that Joe Rogan actually did flip sides on immigration. It’s also entirely possible it is just damage control. I don’t know what is in his head any more than anyone else. To be fair I am not always convinced that he does. The thing is In order for things to get better we need people to work together, and that means at least entertaining the possibility that some of these right wing extremists can and have changed their minds. We need every voice we can get to drown out all the propaganda and change things for the better, and the reality is it should never have been us against them to start with. That is the mentality that Trump amplified in the first place that got us here. We should be against evil in all forms, not people, that’s how we keep from joining the dark side.

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Roberta Houle's avatar

I really appreciate this. Well said.

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Scooterboi60's avatar

Just the fact that “they” are starting to call the chief moron out and criticising him is a danger to the growth of MTN and that is at the core of what Ben Meiselas meant when he wrote this.

Accurate headline.

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Jim Bodine's avatar

More people speaking truth will never be a danger to truth, it only adds perceived credibility when it’s repeated. That is another tool maga has been using since the beginning to get buy in. Amplified lies are perceived as truth. Amplified truth will be even more powerful…

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Ed Garland's avatar

BOOM!

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Chelle Graham's avatar

It’s an algorithm thing, those catchy dramatic headlines work in the environment we are in to get more traffic.

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Kristen's avatar

I’m a paid subscriber who’s never commented, and I appreciate all you’re doing very much, but the headlines are a weak point for me. They are sensational and ridiculous, and make all your excellent reporting look less serious, in my opinion.

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RJM's avatar
Jul 8Edited

Good point, Kristen. I wonder whether Substack could improve the coding so that subscribers don't get "Please subscribe" posts all the time?

(By the way, your subscriber status appears when you comment: it's the intertwined circles next to your icon.)

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CrannUsel ShihTzu's avatar

Ohh anonymous - you & your reply-ers are missing the point & the moment. Jeez you are thick! OF COURSE by right-wing babbles like Rogan & mainstream media are attacking MTN : they're faking empathy / sympathy fr MTN news topics to try to win back or hold on to audience- THIS IS A RATINGS WAR: TRUMPS PLAYGROUND IS A RATINGS WAR. Get with the programme & see the danger

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Ed Garland's avatar

BINGO!

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George Manaras's avatar

Who said “The truth will set you free”? Adhere to it not hyperbolic statements.

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Lila's avatar

Agree. Let THEM sensationalize. You don’t need to do it. Stay authentic. We’re still with you!

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Robert Goldbach's avatar

And please watch your language in your podcasts. It's hard to share with others when the phraseology is a turn-off. Otherwise, I admire what you've done and I know this work is needed and valued.

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Johnald Flump's avatar

Exactly. We need to recalibrate the headlines. It will get worse, and we do not want to be in a Peter Cried Wolf situation. I've already been ignoring sensationalized headlines, expecting them to just be more of the same content.

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Rewd Awakening's avatar

How many more lies will we survive?  Everything this heartless, cruel man has done is a criminal offense or a lie. His hair is a fucking lie for Christ sake. His education, crowd size all of it has been a lie or a grift to line his pockets with taxpayers money. His greed is shared by many people around him, lying to the American public daily and repeatedly. Young people are going to develop illness like we have never seen before and we are already seeing this. The mainstream media is part of this greed. These men and women are not journalists and have chosen to ignore us during these times and report nonsense. We are going to die if we don’t form a plan and rise up to this terrorist network kidnapping American citizens off the street and deporting them to foreign prisons without due process. This is terrorism. Look at the SCOTUS, cherry picking cases to invalidate your rights. We are under attack America. This won’t go away on its own and you are ignorant if you think it will. I’d like to remind you of 1/6/21. This greed wasn’t possible to achieve without using religion as a weapon and people as pawns. Many of these people need to make a very important distinction between true Christians and extremism. Maga is and will always be EXTREMISM. https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/10/new-apostolic-reformation-christian-nationalism/

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Daniel Solomon's avatar

They need an epiphany.

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Schmendryck's avatar

Or, more likely, in the Joycean sense, they'll continue to wank off.

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Katie Elliot's avatar

Everything you mentioned is true... Also, we should not lose sight of the fact that a powerful regime exists around trump...it also lies to him in order to use his presidential power to further their agendas and become even further embedded in our government at all levels, not just in Washington but also state by state. We see it happening on a daily basis from rewriting laws to extensive gerrymandering in order to keep the now defunct republican party in power. The abortion ban wasn't really about abortion for them. It was a tool used to divide the states. After a year in we started to identify the states as either "red states" or "blue states"... Now that's transferring to people.

This sending of the National Guard and Marines is NOT about enforcing immigration! It's sole purpose is to turn the American people against it's own military!!! And it's succeeding!!! Look at how the majority of Americans are NOW viewing the United States military as their enemy! THIS IS THE OBJECTIVE!!! I wish people would start learning the movements of this regime. When they execute a plan that leaves everyone's head scratching..and no one can quite understand why they're doing something....there will ALWAYS be an ulterior motive!!! And this one ..is a BIG ONE! People need to stop and think this through....look at the maneuvers they did yesterday at the park in LA... They did nothing but show their presence at a day camp! FULL MILITARY PRESENCE AT A CHILDS DAY CAMP!...Until the Mayor shut them down....the only reason the Mayor was able to do that was because they had NO real military purpose to be there... Other than to instill fear in people which then, breeds hate and animosity for the military!!!!!

The regime exists around trump and works in the background, getting him to issue orders he doesn't even understand. They use the fact that he loves corruption and they feed him all of that, all of the crooked money making schemes he can handle to appease him. They place phooney ads for him to watch...they write false briefings to be read to him...he's another perfect tool for the heritage foundation to use. But right now...the most pressing matter is for people to start talking about how the California military maneuvers are being done with the sole purpose of turning Americans against our own military! It was also "their" purpose for the military parade! NOT to celebrate trumps stupid birthday...but to anger more of the American people against the military.... like dividing the states, then dividing the people and now, dividing the people from their alignment and admiration for the United States military!!!! Period! Please... people.... Start talking about this. We CANNOT let them win this one! The consequences will be deadly for us!

We need a movement against their movement!

We need to start an "understanding and support campaign" for the National Guard troops and the Marines. Start protesting the "governments" abuse of our men and women in uniform by trying to use them against their own people.

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Janet E 🇨🇦's avatar

The Meidas Maple 🍁 or Maple Meidas 🍁know all to well what you mean. 🇨🇦

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Elyse LaForest's avatar

Please tone down the headlines and keep them factual. Because they go low, there is no need to go lower.

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EaB's avatar

Ben you’re truly wonderful but please ,please don’t stoop to the Natl Enquirer method of gaining attention with blaring headlines. People are reading you without that and you’re gaining followers and subscribers every day! It’s a learning curve

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Cyn B's avatar

Love you guys but can we please dispense with the 13 yr old melodramatics in headlines? It's so immature. OMG!!!

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Lisa Frackleton's avatar

As always Ben, thank you for your dedicated service to us, and our beloved country. We are all on the right side!

🇺🇸💪🩷🇺🇸

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sbchica's avatar

Meidas, "YOU DID THIS". Congratulations Meisalas Bros and staff; I will never stop my subscription to Meidas

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Jennifer Akdemir's avatar

Those of us who have been watching the whole time see these charlatans for who they are.

They are concerned about one thing and one thing only: ratings.

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CrannUsel ShihTzu's avatar

Bang on Jennifer... THIS IS A RATING WAR & MAINSTREAM 'CAPITULATED' MEDIA & RIGHT WING 'ARENT WE WEALTHY ON MAGA-RAGE & TRUMPS GASLIGHTING' ARE LOSING RATINGS - THEY WANT YHEM BACK & MTN SQUASHED!

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Jennifer Akdemir's avatar

Exactly that. It depressing how many are prepared to sell their souls out of pure greed.

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Trina Mason's avatar

We gotchu MTN💙✊🏽

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Schmendryck's avatar

You really need not descend to -baity titles & mere market-share pleadings. "Shrill" doesn't suit you. We need to cogitate upon ways to reach those who've been out-of-reach, sure, but the increasingly desperate- sounding posts actually work AGAINST you with that very same audience segment by playing into the very same mindset that you are trying to move them away from. I suggest you'd be well advised to try tailoring to those specifically who aren't in the loop yet, since we as the Mighty all have plenty in our circle(s) that we could forward such notes to, and it would be a far less inedible pill for them to swallow.

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Sandy Vaughn's avatar

This is very well said, thanks.

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W David Watkins's avatar

Although I simply cannot afford the $$$, I have tried to compensate by influencing a number of readers to join the ranks and actively participate. Keep up the good work and Thanks!

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Sylvia Arrowood's avatar

I am subscribed but can only afford so much.

Thank you for telling the truth and calling out the liars.

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Gene's avatar

I thought I was alone in thinking that your headlines were beginning to sound like supermarket tabloids. You don't need that kind of headline to draw us in. We're going to keep reading your newsletters and listening to your podcasts because we know where to find the truth. I'm also more likely to share articles that sound like serious journalism.

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ShelbyRae Lane's avatar

Some of us survive on less than $1,000 a month in Social Security Benefits, yet we're still here as free subscribers, still active, still doing whatever we can within our slim financial pickin's. We do regularly bring up MTN to our friends, families, and neighbors, and many who are better situated financially have become paid subscribers. Shout out to all the Meidas Mighty folks who can't afford afford a paid subscription, yet still support MTN and still resist the insanity in our current government. 👍♥️👍

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Susan Kramer's avatar

Thanks so much for what you do for democracy. I am a subscriber and have posted your request for subscriptions on facebook.

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Lloyd Henderson's avatar

Keep up the good work. I listen to MTN and your linked reporters and have for a number of years.

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