Ben Meiselas (host)

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1,511 appearances 9 recordings 1 series first heard Sep 2025 last heard 2 Jun

Ben Meiselas (host)’s voice in public audio — every appearance, attributed to the second.

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Recordings per month over the last 12 months — 7 in all, peaking in Dec 2025 with 2.

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The MeidasTouch Podcast · Trump Ambassador Picks Collapse Under Cross-Exam at Hearing · 26 Oct 2025 podcast

But let me go on.

The whole issue of South Africa is not new to you.

And back in the 1980s, I happened to be a staff member on this committee when this committee passed the comprehensive anti-apartheid legislation, sanctions against South Africa.

As I look at your comments from that period, you were not supportive of that effort.

Is that a fair characterization of your statement?

I'm being very broad.

I'm not aware of what you did, Senator, but I can tell you what our position was as conservatives back in the 1980s.

ANC and Nelson Mandela at that time were aligned with the Soviet Union, which was the biggest threat to peace in the world and the mortal enemy of the United States.

As such, we were in opposition.

I think, Senator, at the same time, it's an extraordinary evolution that 10 years later, approximately, when the wall came down and that association ended, so too did the relationship that the conservative movement had with Nelson Mandela.

If I'm asked today, who do I think is the most revered person in South Africa?

Who do I have the most respect for?

It would be Nelson Mandela.

Okay.

Because you've criticized others for what you call sort of the glorification of Nelson Mandela, as you know.

So it's interesting to hear that statement today.

Let me just say in closing, I think at that time you worked with then Senator Jesse Helms to have a hearing that actually objected to the Reagan administration's decision to send an emissary to meet with the

ANC.

That was after this committee on a bipartisan basis, led by Senator Lugar, passed the sanctions bill.

I think you probably were very strongly opposed to that bill.

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