The MeidasTouch Podcast - LIGHTS ON: Former Trump Insider Announces NEW SHOW on MeidasTouch Network

Episode Date: March 15, 2023

Let’s turn the Lights On! In this special premiere episode of Lights On, MeidasTouch founder Ben Meiselas announces this exciting new show that’s been in the works! Hosted by Jessica Denson, Lights On will feature Jessica’s unique journey as a woman who escaped the mesmerism of right-wing propaganda and stepped out on her own to take on Trump, becoming the first and only to defeat his illegal NDA in court. Ben shares the outpouring of positive feedback from Jessica’s appearances on the MeidasTouch network that inspired her to start a podcast in the midst of her ongoing legal battles. Jessica will now speak out weekly on Fridays, shining a light on the real attacks on freedom we face, battles for justice and transparency worldwide, and most importantly, the power we each have when we stand in the light. Lights On is now on the MeidasTouch Network, all thanks to YOU! Subscribe to Lights On with Jessica Denson: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lights-on-with-jessica-denson/id1676844320 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/65koHBOzNaBpB4D47J2nIz?si=d2d5872d935048ea Others: https://pod.link/1676844320 About Lights On with Jessica Denson: Lights On! Jessica Denson is known for her pioneering legal work invalidating Trump’s infamous and illegal NDA in court. In the Lights On podcast, Jessica shares insight into her unique experience as a woman who escaped the mesmerism of right-wing propaganda and stepped out on her own to challenge the lawlessness of Donald Trump. She has made it her mission to expose the lies she once believed, and demand accountability for would-be dictators in America. With a combination of urgency and joy, Jessica shines a light on the real attacks on freedom we face, the hijacking of the Christianity platform, battles for justice and transparency worldwide, and most importantly, the power we each have when we stand in the light. Lights On brings a vivid and empowering perspective that you won’t find anywhere else.  Join Jessica Denson (and MeidasTouch founder Ben Meiselas) every Friday evening live on YouTube at 7pm ET/4pm PT. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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charge bet mgm operates pursuant to an operating agreement with iGaming ontario i'm ben mysellis from the Midas touch network and welcome to this edition of the mighty I am so excited to announce a new podcast here on the Midas Touch Network. It will get its own podcast feed, of course, but we first want to preview the podcast with you here exclusively on the Midas Touch podcast feed. The new podcast will be hosted by none other than Jessica Denson. You may know her as the NDA Killer, and the new podcast is called Lights On by Jessica Denson. So why is Jessica Denson called the NDA killer? Well, if you don't know, Jessica Denson once worked for a very short period of time within the Trump campaign. And

after experiencing retaliatory conduct and a horrible work environment. She immediately left the Trump campaign. She since went on to fight Donald Trump's oppressive and unlawful non-disclosure agreement. She began various legal battles against Donald Trump on her own. She eventually was able to assemble a legal team, but she spearheaded these legal initiatives by herself, showing the power of one person in the face of Donald Trump and his limitless resources. Donald Trump sued her and tried to retaliate against her, and Trump's team to this day continues to try to retaliate against her. And Trump's team to this day continues to try to retaliate against her. I met Jessica Denson about one year ago.

She appeared on the Midas Touch podcast. You may remember her appearance. She was absolutely incredible. That began an incredible friendship that I have had with Jessica Denson. She's appeared many times on our various coverages here on the Midas Touch Network. She's definitely a fan favorite, that is saying the least.

And I've gotten so many emails and messages and DMs from people saying, look, you got to give Jessica Denson her own podcast on the Midas Touch Network. And it was overwhelming. Jessica wanted to start her own podcast, wanted to tell her own story and share her breaking news and the breaking news of the day with you. And I think it's just going to be an incredible, incredible podcast. So right here on the Midas Touch podcast feed, we are going to debut the new Midas Touch podcast

on the Midas Touch network called Lights On with Jessica Denson. Now here's what I need you to do, though. We just created the podcast feed for Jessica Denson. So just search Lights On with Jessica Denson. Wherever you get your podcast, because you're listening to this right now, go and search Lights On with Jessica Denson. Search it and then make sure you subscribe to Lights On with Jessica Denson. And then we will have the new episodes drop every Friday. We're going to do a live show on YouTube on Friday and then drop the audio exclusively on the audio podcast or the exclusive audio on the audio podcast right after it goes live on YouTube. And so you can either watch it, you could listen to it, whatever you prefer, but make sure you are subscribed right now to the Jessica Denson

podcast. It's called Lights On with Jessica Denson. Search it now, subscribe, start leaving reviews there. And I'm so honored to share this with you. So without further ado, I'm going to play for you the first episode of Jessica Denson Lights On. And I introduced the first podcast there. So you're going to have to hear from me again for the intro, but then you get to hear from the real star, Jessica Denson. So thank you so much to all the Midas Mighty out there. Thank you for supporting this podcast channel. And I hope you enjoy Lights On with Jessica Denson. So thank you so much to all the Midas Mighty out there. Thank you for supporting this podcast channel, and I hope you enjoy Lights On with Jessica Denson. I'm Ben Mycelis from the Midas Touch Network. What's up to all the Midas Mighty out there? Do we have something

special for all of you? A new podcast that I have been waiting to launch for such a long time. And frankly, it's not just that I've wanted to launch it for such a long time, it's that all of you have wanted us to launch this for such a long time. Yes, I'm talking about an official podcast with Jessica Denson, the superstar, the NDA killer herself, Jessica Denson, who by far seeing me when they would meet me on the street and say, you know what you really need to do? You need to start a podcast with Jessica Denson. And so I spoke with Jessica and she said, you know what? I am ready to do this podcast. It's time that I can share my stories, my experience with the public, that I could really, really fight for the transparency we need in our democracy through the podcast medium. And so this will be the introduction to that podcast. The podcast is called Lights On with Jessica Denson because that is what we need. Sunlight, the biggest

disinfectant to corruption and fascism is turning the lights on and exposing the truth. That's what we do here at the Midas Touch Network and that is what we will be doing on Lights On. Now, Lights On will take place every Friday. We will be dropping new episodes. We will have a live show that will be at 4 p.m. Pacific on Fridays, live on YouTube. But don't you worry if you miss it live on YouTube. Of course, it'll be right here on the audio format as well. So wherever you are listening to this introduction episode, you will be able to get the audio as well. And we know we love our audio listeners and we appreciate you all so much. So it's kind of time for me to shut up and let's introduce the star of Lights On, Jessica Denson.

Jessica, welcome to your show, Lights On. How are you doing? I'm doing great, Ben, and I could not be happier to be doing this with anyone than with you and the Midas Touch Network, the Midas Touch family. You have done such a beautiful job of bringing my story to the American people and frankly people around the world. And I am so inspired by the feedback that I have gotten from the Midas Touch viewers. Like you were saying, those incredible, incredible messages, just asking me to speak more, fight more, you know, bring my message of urgency and possibility, really the power that is within each one of our hands to shine these lights and protect and defend our democracy. We are the ones living in this moment in history and how grateful we each one of us can be that

we have this opportunity. We're the ones to save our democracy, protect freedom for the future. And look, they call you the NDA killer because against all odds, you led a litigation first without any resources and without a legal team, and then ultimately with the great legal team as you demonstrated and led the way that this was a winnable case for you to take on Donald Trump's campaign for their discriminatory and harassing and despicable practices, but also their NDA challenging this pernicious nondisclosure agreement that the Trump administration and the campaign would have anybody affiliated with its sign. And, you know, I think as you were setting out on a path in politics for a very short period of time, you had some affiliation with the Trump campaign, but then quickly realized that this was certainly going in the wrong direction.

And so you were early money there and said, get me out. What in the world is this? And not only that, you've never stopped fighting ever since then and bringing transparency about what took place and making sure that nobody else who signed those ridiculous NDAs would have them enforced against them the way Trump was trying to do with you. So maybe if you can just describe that story a little bit for people who don't necessarily know your background, although I'm sure a lot of people do. As you said, Ben,

going on six years ago now, I had somewhat of an existential crisis as a woman, as an individual who just very blindly, ignorantly, without having done my research and having been brainwashed by the complete up is down authoritarian, let's be honest, Russian propaganda of networks like Fox News. Having been in that vortex, I went to help this Trump campaign in 2016 completely in ignorance and not listening to my better angels, poured my heart and soul into it and walked away in tatters, having had a very terrorizing, horrific, hostile workplace experience defamation slander you name it it was extremely frightening and I wanted more than anything more than anything I just wanted to walk away I just wanted to say this was a chapter in

my life that I should have known better than walking in this direction I I can learn from my own mistakes and I can move forward with my life in a new direction but I realized and this is the clin and I can move forward with my life in a new direction. But I realized, and this is the clincher, I realized that I could not move forward without handling what was on my plate at that moment, without handling that corruption, the illegal experience that I had on that campaign. And that's when in 2017, without a lawyer, without a legal team, without any money to start this fight, I sued the Trump campaign on my own. And through that initial action,

I have been in and out of court arbitration and have invalidated because of the retaliatory acts of the Trump campaign via their illegal non-disclosure agreement, I took on a fight to invalidate this illegal NDA that Trump has been using as a cudgel to assault, let's be clear, the free speech rights of American citizens and the members of his staff for, frankly, decades. This tactic goes way back for him. So I took on this legal journey. I first invalidated, set a court precedent where I invalidated that NDA in court, which was extraordinary, just getting to that point out of arbitration because these are arbitration agreements and have continued to fight in

a class action to invalidate this NDA for hundreds of campaign staffers that signed it in 2016. And we are on the cusp as we start this podcast, we are on the cusp of a massive settlement where the Trump campaign has conceded everything and has agreed to invalidate these NDAs for everyone that signed them in 2016. So that's a little bit of the background. Of course there's the whole legal journey and then there's my awakening from this Trump cult, from this authoritarian propaganda otherwise known as the right of American

politics in this country. Having experienced and woken up in the way that I have, I know that I absolutely must use my voice to help as many others as possible see the light to come to that place of understanding the GOP, the Trumps of the world, they're not protecting your freedom. Ron DeSantis is not protecting your freedom. Rhonda Santos is not protecting your freedom. They are following authoritarian dictator playbooks in the name of freedom. Nothing could be more dangerous, and we need all hands on deck to confront this and bring ourselves into the light. So I was just looking at the calendar, Jessica,

and did you know that we met each other exactly one year ago to this day. It's exactly one year when we met. We were introduced by a mutual friend who told me your story, and it was such a compelling story. I was so excited to have you on the Midas Touch podcast. You gave one of the most memorable interviews that we've ever done on the Midas Touch podcast, but gave one of the most memorable interviews that we've ever done on the Midas Touch podcast. But when we had a little bit of a pre-interview, it turned out that you and I were actually in the same class together at the George Washington University and that we were at some of the same events together and places together. We graduated the same year. I'm not sure we ever actually talked to each other

while we went to school, but it was just a funny coincidence that many, many, many years later, we won't say how many, many years. We will not be aging ourselves on the podcast. That's the only area where maybe less transparency, at least you get from your host. But that we knew each other back then. So it's just funny how life works sometimes and how paths cross. It's amazing. It's amazing. Yeah. I mean, I remember that conversation. Yeah, I was looking at the calendar too. I know we did the interview on March 14th, and it's almost exactly a year ago. So coincidental. I remember that first conversation I had with you on the phone and we were talking about freedom because that's been my mantra. When I realized

that all of this seemingly innocuous presentation that Fox News gives to its viewers under the banner of Christianity and freedom had really been what kept me in its grasp. And I told you, I said, we have to take back the freedom platform and you were so on that page with me. And I think Midas Such has done such an excellent job of reclaiming the real freedom platform, the real patriotism platform, showing what it really means and through exposing the really fascist efforts of the right that are completely anti-freedom. Yeah, it was wonderful to connect with you then, Ben, and to find out that we went to school together was a coincidence to say the least. So I want to read to you all of the statements that I get,

and I get these pretty much on a daily basis before launching this podcast. So this is from someone who writes, Jessica needs a podcast. Yeah. Get Jessica on. Ben, give Jessica her own show on Midas Touch. She's awesome. I want to hear more from Jessica. All in caps, Jess needs her own podcast. Can we get an amen? What a great interview with Jessica. Jessica, I hope you will be starting your own podcast on the subject of awakening on the Midas Touch podcast soon.

Jessica was great. I will watch it again. If anyone can strip this MAGA evangelical movement bare and embarrass them, it's Jessica. Give her her own podcast. Jessica Denson, I really enjoy listening to you on the show. You are a very knowledgeable lady. You're my favorite.

I love to listen to your conversations. You're the best. I can listen to her all day. I'm super impressed by Jessica. Smart, articulate, and very beautiful. I was glued to every word. I mean, I could keep going on, but y'all get the point. And so it was an obvious no-brainer to do this show to you. And this one was particularly touching. Let me just read this one message that I got, because

this one really, really made me emotional. And someone wrote the following message. They wrote, I hope you see this message because I want to tell you that I think you have a gift for speaking honestly from the heart. By the way, they're speaking about Jessica, not Ben. If anyone can inspire those who have fallen prey to Trumpism to believe in our country and democracy again. Of the danger Trump posed. I thought you conveyed urgency unlike others. I've seen you in other podcasts since, especially with the Midas Touch podcasters, and that is when I felt others need to hear your voice. You brought me to tears a few weeks ago when you spoke about relating to some of the people at the hearings. I hope you continue to speak up, but more, I'm glad you found your strength when you

found yourself alone and facing the dark, greedy, and evil power of the elite in this country who have been bleeding this country dry of its spirit for generations. Collectively, we all Americans will have to face the same evil as you did, have the strength to deny them any more of our spirit. I believe in this country. I believe in the good of our people. I only hope that we rise as proud Americans who recognize each other as allies, not enemies. I hope you continue inspiring others with your voice. So Jessica, when you hear statements like that, how does it make you feel? It's very, very moving, very moving. I think you almost brought me to tears again here.

But that is why I want everybody listening and watching to know that I am here because of you. Like I said, when I filed this lawsuit back in 2017, it was far from a convenient time for me. I really did not want to do it and would have liked to do it when things were much different in my life and in my experience. I would have liked to have a lot more comfort and convenience to bring it then. And I didn't, but I did it anyway. And look at the fruit that it has borne. I kind of have that same spirit with this podcast. This is not necessarily a convenient time for me to be launching a podcast, but I really feel like with this freedom that I have earned and won,

how can I not use my voice in this moment and seeing those letters, that unbelievable, you know, just look at the time that somebody put into writing that letter. There's so many of them. And I've felt so moved and inspired by these messages to just say, it's got to happen now. There's no time to waste. Each one of us has to get out of our comfort zone, raise our voices, and speak the truth, speak the light. Like Jamie Raskin said the other day in Congress, we have to reject this nihilism and this thought that the lies are just,

we can't break through them and awaken our society and save our democracy with truth, that there is a standard, there is a separation between what's really weaponization of federal government and this performative politics of the right that tries to confuse and mislead. We can do this and we need all of our truthful voices to do it. So yeah, I'm super moved and I am here because of you, each one of you. And look, you've taken on Trump, Trump's inner circle. They've tried to destroy you. They've sued you. They tried to get rid of you in all these different ways and bury you with legal papers. And you fought back. You've prevailed, but you're still battling them as well in other cases, which, you know, we're going to try to talk about as much as you can. Obviously, there are certain restrictions on what you can say and not say when you're in these legal cases. But what I love about what this show's going to be about is you have inside perspective on what the Trump world looks like. You also have the

track record of fighting back and winning. And so when you're able to discuss current events, when you're able to discuss the propaganda tactics experience that you had from a strategist perspective as well of how to maneuver successfully, but also being able to speak with the public at large about what they can do and how they can find their voice. So that's one of the things I'm really excited. Anything else that you think the public should know about the show? You know, I really want to bring to this show something that you're not getting in other places. And, you know, first, like you mentioned, I am litigating. Once the NDA, hopefully with the judge's approval, once that case wraps up, that case is a total victory. I still have my initial foundational discrimination and defamation

lawsuit against the Trump campaign, and we are in the throes of it right now. I mean, we've deposed Kellyanne Conway, Jeff DeWitt, Camillo Sandoval. We have a court order for Steve Bannon to sit for a deposition. He tried to avoid our subpoena like he did for Congress, but it appears that Steve Bannon is now going to sit for a deposition in my case as well. And I want to share pieces of that. So I'm definitely going to weave that into this show. And you're going to hear a lot of things about the Trump campaign that you have not heard before on this program. And I really, I just want to bring a perspective. I want to shine lights in places

where they're not being shown. And I feel like all of these comments that what people have recognized in me to bring a different kind of perspective, a perspective of my own personal awakening, of urgency, of the possibility of achieving justice. I mean, I went into this, believe me, with fear, with trepidation, with uncertainty,

but I had to overcome that without strategizing all over the place and thinking what happens if this, if that, I just knew it was the right idea. I had to stand with truth, and I have never moved from that standpoint, and that's why I've been victorious. So I think, especially with the God willing, let it happen now, oncoming indictments of Donald Trump, it is vitally important for us to keep the narrative straight. This is not a political prosecution. This is a healing for the nation. This is justice for the whole free world. That is the effect of justice, to bring healing.

And we're going to be in total, constant narrative correction mode when those indictments drop, so the American people and the free world can understand why this is levity. This is not retribution or political persecution, quite the opposite. Levity, justice, healing, peace. We're going to do this together. And because there is this ongoing fight in your legal case, if people do end up wanting to follow along with it, which I'm sure they're going to want to do, but actually want to help contribute to your legal efforts, they can go to Lights On Show, L-I-G-H-T-S-O-N-S-H-O-W.com slash donate. So lights on show dot com slash donate. That's one of the ways to support Jessica's ongoing efforts. And this show will be live on YouTube, as I said, Friday for Pacific Seven Eastern.

It will also, of course, be here on audio. Of course, sometimes the times will be adjusted if there's some current news, breaking news stories. Same thing with political beatdown that I co-host with Michael Cohen, where it is on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12 Pacific, 3 Eastern. But sometimes with breaking news, when you have people involved in actually the big events taking place like Michael and Jessica and others. Sometimes you got to move the show sometimes. So that's when the

live show is going to be. But look, you're all listening to this on audio. So make sure you're subscribed to this channel for those watching this or listening rather to this sample that we are also going to be dropping on the Midas Touch podcast channel. What you're going to want to do is you want to go search for Lights On with Jessica Denson and subscribe there so you can now be subscribed to all of Jessica Denson's show. And if you're listening to this on the Jessica Denson channel. Welcome. This is the right destination. This is the place where you will get all the updated episodes right here each and every week. Jessica, I'm so excited to launch the show with you. And for those saying, Ben, Ben, Ben, look, we hear you. It was too much

Ben. Be quiet. All good. I'm just going to be Jessica's sidekick for the first few episodes. No, no, no. What did I say, Ben? But Ben is not my sidekick. You're not my sidekick. That's very – Ben has a very – Assistant. Assistant.

Assistant. Well, I will be here. But look, this show is about Jessica. And Jessica is going to be doing an incredible, incredible show. And you will have to tolerate me for at least the first few episodes with Jessica. Because let's just face it, I have a lot of fun. I think that Ben, I just honestly think that Ben is lazy. He just doesn't work enough. I just don't think he does enough as a professor,

a media company owner, a YouTube blogger, a podcast host, civil rights litigator. I really just think he doesn't have enough on his plate. So we're not going to let Ben go for a little bit. Well, Jessica, I love what I do at the Midas Touch Network. And when I get to host or co-host or be a sidekick or an assistant or whatever my role is with people who I look up to, people who mean the world to me, it really brings me happiness. And I love sharing that happiness and that positivity that you bring to me and my life with all the Midas Mighty out there so they can hear the type of conversations that you and I have as well.

And we can share that with the world. So I'm excited to have this show with you. And I'm sure the Midas Mighty are as well so make sure you subscribe and Jessica I'll give you the final word. Lights are on here on the Midas Touch Network. Thank you so much Ben. We'll see you next time. Shout out to the Midas Mighty.