Tuesday Afternoon Breaking News Updates with Ben — 1/20/26
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What breaking news is reported at the beginning of the episode?
Welcome to Breaking News with Ben Micellis. It's great to be here with everyone. Before we go into all the madness that's taking place right now in the Oval Office and the threats by Donald Trump against Greenland and the rest of the world, and what's taking place in Davos as we see Europe and the rest of the world standing up to Donald Trump in this regime. Let me just at the outset address, obviously, there's somebody missing on the show today. And while we put out a statement about it over the weekend and moved swiftly, even though our editor in chief, Ron Filipkowski, put out a statement as well on Substack, I know a lot of people just wanted to hear from me. So I will be brief and then we'll get into the news, which is what I want to focus on.
So I think obviously when certain statements were made about New York Attorney General Letitia James and District Attorney Alvin Bragg that didn't represent the values and principles of the Midas Touch Network or what I myself believe to be the truth about what happened. I just could no longer continue to do political beatdown and I can no longer continue to host the mea culpa show on this network. I personally know New York Attorney General Letitia James and District Attorney Alvin Bragg to be admirable people who conducted the prosecutions against Trump with the highest integrity. And statements to the contrary were not just things that I disagreed with, but strongly disagreed with. And I felt compromised the ability of the network if it continued to platform statements like that.
We acted swiftly within hours. Our editor in chief addressed it within hours.
What are the implications of Donald Trump's recent statements?
And I think that's important in terms of keeping the trust of this network that we heard you and we moved very, very quickly. OK, if you know me now for the past five to six years of hosting the show and being a part of this network, you know that I don't like to get into gossip. You know that I don't like to get into innuendo. You know that at a personal level. I sometimes will share my emotions. I'm not some, you know, stoic, detached newscaster who doesn't feel. And so, you know, to be doing a show with someone and not doing a show, obviously, you know, saddens me. But ultimately, you know, the Midas Touch is a network. that needs to be focused on a singular mission of protecting, preserving and defending democracy.
And I can't have the network be involved also in other distractions and in other areas and in other things that are centered around personalities. when I need this network to be centered around the survival of our democracy and our country and pushing back against fascism. And so if that mission is ever compromised, I'm going to take swift action. This network is going to take swift action, which is which is what took place. I want to be clear also that the Midas Touch Network is not about ben micellus it's not about brett micellus it's not about jordy micellus it's not about the brothers although we were part of becoming founders of this network of course with all of you who watch this this network is not about any specific host or any specific person
How does the Midas Touch Network respond to recent controversies?
This network is about the people. This network is about you. This network is about our country. This network is about the pro-democracy community in the world. And that is what is most important. And I want this network to live on far beyond me or my brothers. Every day, obviously, we have to address the news, the breaking news. the legal news, everything that's going on. That's what we do. But what is most important for me as well, and you know from listening to me on this network, is that I talk about principles and values, and I have to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. And generational, generational change is what is needed. And so what I am most proud about this network doing is inspiring a cadre of other independent media who I don't view as competitors.
As long as they're supporting and defending democracy, I welcome everybody into the space. And to see other YouTube channel starts, other sub stacks start.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What breaking news is reported at the beginning of the episode?
0:01–2:01
2
What are the implications of Donald Trump's recent statements?
2:01–4:08
3
How does the Midas Touch Network respond to recent controversies?
4:08–5:40
4
What concerns are raised about Trump's press conference?
5:40–7:33
5
What are the key points from Prime Minister Carney's speech in Davos?
7:33–9:14
6
How does the episode address the response to ICE and Border Patrol?
9:14–10:44
7
What updates are provided on the Epstein Transparency Act?
10:44–11:16
8
What closing thoughts does Ben Meiselas share about the future of the network?
11:16–1:00:07
Speakers
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