The Joy Reid Show

Episode: "Quiet, Piggy! Let's talk about how much Trump hates women"

Host: Joy-Ann Reid
Guests: Rep. Adelita Grijalva, Jennifer Welch, Jolanda Jones, Michael Fanone, Terry Moran
Date: November 20, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of The Joy Reid Show delves into Donald Trump's longstanding misogyny, his administration's cruelty toward women and immigrants, and the MAGA movement's dynamics—especially the roles and public postures of women like Marjorie Taylor Greene. Joy and her guests analyze the controversy around the release of Epstein files, Republican in-fighting, the plight of immigrants under draconian policies, systemic attacks on civil rights, and the disintegration of empathy in American political culture. The episode features deep dives, pointed critiques, and darkly humorous observations, all delivered in the show's signature irreverent, truth-telling tone.

Main Topics & Key Discussion Points

1. Epstein Files & Congressional Action

Timestamps: 00:45–17:36

• Background: Overwhelming bipartisan House vote to release the Epstein files, with only one Republican dissenting (Clay Higgins).
  • Quote, Joy Reid (05:07): "Only one Republican in the House voted to not release the files. Just one."
• Obstruction and Flip-Flopping: Speaker Mike Johnson's attempts to stall the vote and reversal under pressure from Trump.
  • Quote, Rep. Adelita Grijalva (09:41): "As soon as, you know, Trump gave permission to everyone to vote their conscience, then they did."
• Skepticism About Actual Release: Both Marjorie Taylor Greene and Grijalva voice doubts about whether the files will see daylight, criticizing performative transparency.
  • Quote, Marjorie Taylor Greene (11:00): “The only thing that will speak to the powerful, courageous women behind me is when action is actually taken to release these files and the American people won't tolerate any other bullshit.”
  • Quote, Grijalva (12:18): "If you abuse children and you raped women, then you deserve legal consequences. And all of these survivors need to be able to... see that justice happen."
• Survivor Advocacy: Highlighted as a shifting force, even within MAGA ranks.

2. MAGA Movement & Republican Women’s Power Struggles

Timestamps: 26:41–45:10

• Marjorie Taylor Greene’s "Rebrand": Positioning herself as an anti-Trump, female leadership contender within MAGA, challenging traditional misogyny in the movement.
  • Quote, MTG (27:35): "Let me tell you what a traitor is... A patriot is an American that serves the United States of America and Americans like the women standing behind me."
  • Quote, Jennifer Welch (29:42): "She is attacking Republicans from the gates... calling for a little more civility. And I think that's pretty savvy."
• Analysis of Republican Female Politicians: The unique hurdles and potential for right-wing women (MTG, Nikki Haley) to gain political power in a misogynist movement.
  • Quote, Welch (32:51): "One main focus of this regime has been the rise in misogyny... MAGA has a female problem—a massive, massive female problem."
• Trump’s Open Misogyny: Discussion of Trump’s documented history of demeaning women and the complicity of his base.
  • Montage at (38:32–41:47): Trump’s many sexist, belittling comments about female reporters, politicians, and public figures.
  • Quote, Joy Reid (41:46): "Trump keeps winning a majority of white women when that's who he is. Can you take us inside—why do you think that is?"
  • Quote, Jennifer Welch (44:18): "White evangelical Christian culture is inherently very patriarchal... there's a lot of internalized misogyny in white women."

3. Civil Rights, Immigration, & Government Cruelty

Timestamps: 17:36–26:41; 106:30–113:16

• Immigration System Breakdown: Rep. Grijalva highlights the climate of fear and family devastation among mixed-status families and the lack of Republican will to actually fix broken systems.
  • Quote, Grijalva (23:14): "They've lived here mostly their whole lives. And the threat of being deported is a very real one... our economy is tanking. So let's not pretend it was the immigrant community."
• ICE & Border Patrol Abuse: Michael Fanone, Joy, and Terry Moran discuss the normalization of paramilitary tactics and abuses, including ICE raids on churches and schools.
  • Quote, Fanone (84:39): "ICE and Customs and Border Patrol, the way they have gone about enforcing this administration's policies, defying the law, defying court orders... that has touched each and every American."
  • Quote, Moran (106:38): "I couldn't believe what I was seeing. And I couldn't believe... the whole country really, across the political spectrum, isn't defending the liberty that our forefathers and foremothers fought and died and struggled for."
  • Emotional moments (teachers, parents, and children in fear).

4. Attacks on Voting Rights & Section 2 of the VRA

Timestamps: 66:34–78:44

• Texas Redistricting Ruling: Temporary win for anti-gerrymandering advocates could be wiped out by a pending Supreme Court case (Kallas v. Louisiana), which may gut Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
  • Quote, Rep. Jolanda Jones (68:15): "Yesterday's El Paso ruling blocking Texas's racist 2025 congressional map is a major victory, but it may be short lived... If the Supreme Court determines that it's unconstitutional, then... Republicans can just go crack and pack all of our districts."
  • Broader implications for Black and Latino representation.

5. Media, Truth, & The Power of Narrative

Timestamps: 90:36–121:40

• Trump’s Abuse of Journalists: Detailed montage and discussion of how he uses insults ("quiet, piggy!", "fake news") and gendered bullying to control the press.
  • Quote, Joy (92:02): "The rudeness. That was like three minutes of just pure disgust."
• Media Ecosystem & Independence: Conversation about bias in legacy media, the limitations of corporate news in this political crisis, and the importance of independent journalism.
  • Quote, Terry Moran (119:24): "I believe to do that today you do need to use the words that describe what we're seeing, what we're experiencing. You can't duck it."
• Attempts to Silence Dissent: The Trump White House's public declaration that ABC is "not news," and its open disdain for factual reporting.
  • Quote, Terry Moran (116:42): "They want a story told to the American people that first, divides us, second, makes us stupider, and third, makes us subservient and submissive to him and his government."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump’s Performative Shifts:
  Rep. Grijalva (09:41): "For four months, he thought the best thing for him was to keep the files secret. And somebody convinced him that the best thing for him was to release the files."

• On MAGA’s Misogyny:
  Jennifer Welch (32:51): "You don't have to look far to find how serious these misogynists are around the Trump administration... the regime has a massive female problem."

• On Red States & Party Abandonment:
  Welch (46:57): "The best thing that the Democrats could do right now... is talk specifically to Christian voters and say, what this man has done to your faith is absolutely horrific."

• On Internalized Misogyny:
  Jennifer Welch (44:18): "White women are raised in very misogynistic households where the mother is every bit as misogynistic as the father..."

• On Government Cruelty:
  Terry Moran (106:38): "I couldn't believe what I was seeing... all gooned up and it is probably the saddest thing for me in this last nine months that more Americans... aren't as shocked and outraged."

• On Media & Power:
  Joy Reid (95:12): "The question is insubordinate. Insubordinate to who? Saying that ABC should lose their license. Excuse me. Excuse me. Excuse me. The rudeness. The rudeness."

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Epstein Files Vote & Discussion: 00:45–17:36
  • Rep. Grijalva, reactions from Trump, Johnson, Massie, Greene.
• Marjorie Taylor Greene & Republican Women: 26:41–46:20
  • MTG’s “traitor” speech, Greene vs. Trump, Welch’s analysis.
• Montage: Trump’s Misogyny: 38:32–41:47
• Welch on White Evangelical Women’s Politics: 41:47–46:20
• SNAP/EBT/Congress Funding Issues (with Grijalva): 18:07–21:17
• Texas Redistricting, VRA in Danger (with Jolanda Jones): 66:34–78:44
• ICE Raids, Immigration Cruelty: 106:30–113:16
• Montage: Trump verbally abusing women journalists: 90:36–95:12
• Terry Moran Interview (press freedom, reality under Trump): 100:18–121:40

Episode Tone & Style

• Direct, irreverent, and honest: Joy and guests avoid euphemism, tackle both policy consequences and the underlying societal sickness.
• Dark humor: Evident in segments on "Barbie doll MAGA women," Welch’s “favorite gay Republican scandal” bit, and Joy’s “heiferologist” moment of joy closure.
• Solidarity with survivors and marginalized groups: Centering the voices and experiences of women, immigrants, and minorities trapped in systems of cruelty.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Trump’s misogyny isn’t new—it’s foundational to his political and personal brand, and deeply entwined with MAGA’s culture.
• The fight within the GOP over the Epstein files revealed both performative politics and cracks in the MAGA coalition—especially as Republican women seize moments to challenge or re-align within the movement.
• Policy cruelty is not collateral damage—it’s the point, whether in immigration, reproductive rights, or voting rights.
• Media independence and confronting “bothsidesism” is more vital than ever, as the Trump movement seeks to suppress and delegitimize dissent and truthful reporting.
• The path forward requires resistance, storytelling, and, as Joy’s recurring guests emphasize, organizing at every level—including unlikely alliances and building empathy across divides.

Moment of Joy

Despite the heavy subject matter, Joy ends with a laugh: a segment featuring Ms. Maddie J, a “heiferologist,” reminding listeners that humor and community can endure even amidst darkness.

For Further Engagement

• Get involved: Visit removetheregime.com for protest info and upcoming events (86:45).
• Support independent journalism: Follow guests’ work on Substack, YouTube, and their respective channels.
• Merch & solidarity: Joy’s call to support, build community, and signal inclusion for every identity (“spicy white,” “proud Latino/a,” “blurred,” and more).
• Stay vigilant: Keep pressure on politicians to defend transparency, civil and voting rights, and resist normalization of cruelty.

Stay tuned for the next episode and keep the discussion going—both on- and offline. This is independent, unfiltered analysis and truth-telling for the current moment.