FED UP Republicans LOSE IT on Fox over Trump Picks

Summary

The MeidasTouch Podcast Summary Episode: "FED UP Republicans LOSE IT on Fox over Trump Picks" Release Date: November 16, 2024

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1. Introduction to the Episode

In this episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, hosts Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas delve into the turbulent political landscape surrounding former Congressman Matt Gaetz's nomination for Attorney General by Donald Trump. The discussion highlights the intense backlash from various Republican factions, media reactions, and the broader implications for the Republican Party and American democracy.

2. Trey Gowdy’s Critique of Matt Gaetz’s Nomination

The brothers begin by examining Trey Gowdy’s sharp criticism of Matt Gaetz's nomination, as showcased in his recent appearance on Fox News.

Quote:

Trey Gowdy [02:40]: "Yeah. The overwhelming majority of his picks will sail through because they were grand slam Picks. But to Molly's point, you don't root out corruption at the Department of Justice by picking a corrupt person to lead it."

Gowdy emphasizes the problematic nature of appointing someone under ethical scrutiny to the highest legal office, suggesting that it undermines efforts to combat corruption within the Department of Justice.

3. Analyzing Matt Gaetz’s Qualifications

The podcast hosts critically assess Matt Gaetz’s qualifications, questioning his legal expertise and ethical standing.

Quote:

Ben MeidasTouch: "Gates legal resume, it's a masterpiece. He practiced law for a grand total of about one year. He never took a case to trial. Did he ever even set foot inside a courtroom?"

Ben highlights the minimal and arguably unimpressive aspects of Gaetz's legal background, casting doubt on his capability to lead the Justice Department effectively.

4. Senate and Ethics Committee Reactions

The discussion moves to the Senate’s role and the House Ethics Committee’s findings regarding Gaetz.

Quote:

Amy Klobuchar [07:24]: "We have to have hearings. That's why we have to get to the bottom of this. ... I don't think I've heard ever before for a nominee. So clearly they would."

Amy Klobuchar underscores the necessity of Senate hearings to thoroughly investigate the allegations against Gaetz, emphasizing the Senate's responsibility in upholding checks and balances.

5. MAGA Republicans’ Defense of Matt Gaetz

The hosts explore the staunch support Matt Gaetz receives from certain MAGA Republicans, who vehemently defend his nomination despite the controversies.

Quote:

Ralph Norman [15:37]: "Matt Gaetz will be the left winging socialist's worst enemy... He has nothing to hide. Matt Gaetz is a true tremendous pick."

Ralph Norman praises Gaetz as a formidable opponent to liberal agendas, dismissing the ethical concerns as unfounded and portraying Gaetz as a resilient and principled choice.

6. Contrasting Perspectives and Media Portrayals

The podcast highlights the stark contrast between Republican defenders and Democratic critics, as well as the polarized media coverage that fuels the controversy.

Quote:

Amy Klobuchar [08:21]: "We need to know when this person would be overseeing an agency that does things like investigate fentanyl crimes, take on major sex trafficking rings."

Amy emphasizes the gravity of the role of Attorney General, arguing that unverified allegations against Gaetz make him unsuitable for such a critical position.

7. Implications for the Republican Party and Democracy

The hosts discuss the broader implications of Gaetz’s nomination for the GOP’s integrity and the health of American democracy.

Quote:

Brett MeidasTouch: "You can actually have both [character and competency] in a nominee. But Gates doesn't have both."

Brett asserts that Gaetz lacks the necessary character and competency, suggesting that his nomination could erode public trust in the Republican Party and its commitment to ethical governance.

8. Conclusion and Insights

Concluding the episode, the brothers reflect on the significance of holding political leaders accountable and the impact of internal party conflicts on democratic principles.

Quote:

Jordy MeidasTouch: "If you can do the mental gymnastics with ease that a Ralph Norman does... you could in your mind justify any atrocity at all."

Jordy critiques the rationalizations made by Gaetz’s supporters, warning of the dangers posed by such justifications to societal norms and ethical standards.

Key Takeaways

• Ethical Concerns: Matt Gaetz’s nomination raises serious ethical questions due to ongoing investigations into his conduct, which opponents argue disqualify him for the role of Attorney General.

• Party Division: The GOP is visibly split, with figures like Trey Gowdy and Amy Klobuchar criticizing the nomination, while MAGA Republicans staunchly defend it, highlighting a significant internal conflict.

• Media Influence: The polarized media landscape exacerbates the controversy, shaping public perception in ways that reinforce partisan divides.

• Democratic Implications: The episode underscores the importance of maintaining ethical standards in high office to preserve the integrity of democratic institutions and public trust.

Conclusion

The MeidasTouch Podcast provides a thorough and incisive analysis of the contentious nomination of Matt Gaetz as Attorney General, spotlighting the internal Republican struggles and the broader implications for American democracy. Through a blend of factual reporting and spirited commentary, the Meiselas brothers offer listeners a comprehensive understanding of the stakes involved and the critical need for accountability in political appointments.

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Transcript

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Fox and Trey Gowdy, the former Congress member Republican who led the Benghazi hearings against Hillary Clinton. That's saying something. And Matt Gaetz and Donald Trump appointing Matt Gaetz is setting even Fox off for most of their hosts and most of their panels. Here's Trey Gowdy on Fox referring to the fact that the House Ethics committee has completed an ethics report on Matt Gaetz, who Donald Trump has now nomin the Attorney General of the United States of America. And Trey Gowdy says, look, that report is going to come out. I know that the MAGA Republicans in the House want to try to bury it, but it's either going to come out one way or another. So let it come out right now. Let's know what the people said about Matt Gates and the underage girls who testified before the House Ethics the witnesses out there who were saying that Matt Gates was having sex with underage girls. Let's get it out. The public deserves to hear. This is on Fox. Here's what Trey Gowdy says on Fox Republican Play this clip.

[Trey Gowdy]

Yeah. The overwhelming majority of his picks will sail through because they were grand slam Picks. But to Molly's point, you don't root out corruption at the Department of Justice by picking a corrupt person to lead it. So Matt Gaetz, either the report comes out and he's not going to be the Attorney General, or the report doesn't come out and he's not going to be the Attorney General. The problem, Brett, is all picks. John Lee Radcliffe, Elise Stefanik, Lee Zeldin, Mike Walts, all the good picks. Nobody's talking about those right now. They're talking about this wild card pick of someone who had to get out of the House to avoid being sanctioned by the House Ethics Committee. That dumbfounding pick is just sucking the oxygen out of all the good ones he made.

[Unknown Speaker]

You are referring to the situation with the report in the House Ethics Committee, Johnson.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Here he is again on the Bret Baer show. And. And Gowdy says, I don't even think it's 50, 50amongst Republicans in terms of the support for Matt Gaetz. He goes, republicans don't support this guy in the Senate. That is now the House is a whole different story. But watch Trey Gowdy here play this clip.

[Unknown Speaker]

All right, let me ask this back to our Cabinet casino. If you have $100 in chips, this is an audible. What percentage of those chips are you putting down that at least one of these Cabinet nominees does not make it through? Trey.

[Trey Gowdy]

Can I get more than 100 of everything I have? I talk to senators all the time. One of them is not going to get through.

[Unknown Speaker]

Because you're confident that the headcount is not there.

[Trey Gowdy]

The head count is not even 50. 50 on one of them. One of them can't even get half the Republican senators. But I'll let you guess from our earlier discussion who that might be.

[Unknown Speaker]

I sense where that's going with you.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Okay, Molly, this line by Trey Gowdy is. It's not even a matter here of if you have to pick between someone who's competent but has low character. He's like Gates, lacks both competence and character. Here, play this clip.

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, we'll see. I think, like I said at the beginning, a lot of these senators want to get most of these through, if not all that they can. Trey, I'll give you last word on this about Molly's point about the. The DOJ not going forward, the FBI not going forward with charges against Gates.

[Trey Gowdy]

Yeah. With all due respect to Molly, I was there for it. If you want to give credit to somebody, give it to cash. Patel, Jim Jordan, John Radcliffe, James Comer. Don't give it to the guy that was out putting on makeup while other people were doing the investigation. He just picked Jay Clayton. He just picked Todd Blanche, both of whom would be fantastic. They would do exactly what you wanted done. You don't have to pick between character and competency. You can actually have both in a nominee. But Gates doesn't have both.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Known as a lawyer from California named Mitch Jackson says he goes, oh, brilliant move, America. Out of a country full of seasoned lawyers and judges, your guy is really going with Matt Gaetz for attorney general. The guy under investigation for, let's see, sexual misconduct, drug use and obstruction of justice. I mean, why not add in a circus act while we're at it? This is the high legal office in the nation, not amateur hour. Gates legal resume. And listen to this, because I know there's a lot of talk about, you know, Gates and of course, his potential criminal conduct, but Gates legal resume, it's a masterpiece. He practiced law for a grand total of about one year. He never took a case to trial. Did he ever even set foot inside a courtroom? His top three cases. Let me paint you a picture of what Gates was doing when he was a lawyer. He sued an elderly woman in a debt collection case because she couldn't pay a home care firm his dad just happened to own. Classy. He battled it over a beach volleyball net placement for a homeowners association. Legal, legal stuff right there. And my personal favorite, a lawsuit against two fishermen accused of swiping a promotional boat from a local restaurant. High stakes. So this is who your guy and the GOP are trusting with the entire Justice Department. Yeah, that'll go well. I wanted to share that one because I know a lot of time is spent talking about Gates and underage women and drug use, girls and a drug use. But I think that's his full legal resume right there as well, when he was a lawyer. Here is Senator Amy Klobuchar, and here's what she has to say about Gates. Play this clip.

[Amy Klobuchar]

Secondly, this is our job in the US Senate and how the founders of our country set this up with a system of checks and balances. That's why we have to have hearings. That's why we have to get to the bottom of this. And these are clearly allegations. While they may not have at the time risen to the level of criminal, these are allegations. We need to know when this person would be overseeing an agency that does things like investigate fentanyl crimes, take on major sex trafficking rings. I think we need to know this. And I just keep looking at like conservative commentators like Ben Dominic, who said that he considers Matt Gaetz vile. Okay, I don't know Matt Gaetz, but I have heard more negative things about him from the Republican side than I don't think I've heard ever before for a nominee. So clearly they would. They have to. It's going to be on them to make this decision.

[Unknown Speaker]

So Trump is here.

[Ryan Reynolds]

She is again with Jake Tapper. Let's play it.

[Unknown Speaker]

Let me just do a little Devil's Advocating here.

[Amy Klobuchar]

Okay, Jake.

[Unknown Speaker]

One, allegations and investigations are not convictions. The Justice Department did look into this case and they did not bring charges against Congress. Former Congressman Gates. And two, Speaker Johnson might say he's no longer a congressman. He resigned. And it is not the tradition of the House Ethics Committee to release reports on people who are no longer members of Congress.

[Amy Klobuchar]

Well, first of all, this has happened a number of times with a Republican senator. When he left for the good of the public, the report was released and a Democrat in the House of Representatives once left and the report was released after. So that's not true. These reports have been released.

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[Ryan Reynolds]

All right, well, what's MAGA Mike Johnson saying? I mean, these guys are the worst. Here's MAGA Mike Johnson saying, I'm strongly requesting that the Ethics Committee does not issue the report on Matt Gaetz. Play this clip. Request.

[Trey Gowdy]

I'm going to strongly request the Ethics Committee not issue.

[Ryan Reynolds]

That is not the way we do.

[Unknown Speaker]

Things in the House. And I think that would be a terrible precedent.

[Ryan Reynolds]

So did you hear him there? Why wouldn't you? How corrupt to your bone, to your core. Can you actually be where you go? You know what? There's a report out there that has detailed, credible information that the guy that Donald Trump appointed to be the Attorney General of the United States is a pedo, a drug user, a crook, a criminal. There's an obstructor of justice to lead the Justice Department. We have a report. But as the speaker of the House, I'm strongly urging do not release the report. If that doesn't make your blood boil, then I don't think you have blood because that should you off. On the other hand, the MAGA conduct speaks for itself. On that analogy I gave right there. Here's Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. And most parents would not trust or should not trust their daughters or kids around Gates. You're telling me that you're going to let this guy be entrusted with our entire Justice Department? Play the clip.

[Unknown Speaker]

No experience whatsoever with the Department of Justice other than being a subject of investigation for trafficking, sex trafficking, minors. I mean, that's his experience with the Department of Justice. And I mean, we're talking about someone who would be responsible for the entire system of justice, who has been investigated by the system of justice and has no other experience other than that it is an extreme, outrageous nomination and one that obviously I think should be defeated.

And let's talk about former Hawaii Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard to be director.

Sorry, let me just add something else. I mean, because this is an extremely important appointment. I mean, you wouldn't trust Matt Gaetz. Most parents wouldn't trust Matt Gaetz with their teenager, never mind with our entire system of justice.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And here, though, Nancy Mace, who used to be very anti Matt Gates until her district was gerrymandered so that it became full maga. And then she leaned in full MAGA and wore the MAGA hat and went to Trump Tower and said, I love you, Donald. I love you. So embarrassing. After Donald Trump insulted her and said horrible things about her. Love you. Take me back, Donald. That's like literally what she said. I've done other videos on that. She also did a video, local newspapers warned about this in South Carolina, where she was like, they were drinking shots of like vodka and vomiting in each other's mouths. It was like the grossest thing I've ever seen. I'm sorry I even shared that with you. But it's like a video from her days right before she ran from Congress and they were spitting vodka in each other's eye. It's gross. Don't Google it, don't watch it. You may want to. Just don't do it. Here she is right there talking about Matt Gaetz. Now, she's a big fan of Matt Gaetz. He's a champion of civil rights, she says. Play this, Clinton.

[Unknown Speaker]

I support all of Donald Trump's appointments that he is seeking, including Matt Gaetz. This is someone who's been very good on civil rights and civil liberty issues. He's good on cannabis issues, something that I'm very passionate about. He's someone that believes in the Constitution. And I think that's really important when you're looking at who's going to lead in that department. And also Trump is also appointing other folks, including attorneys as well, to support Matt Gaetz. And I support all of the individuals Trump is putting forward today. You know, curiously, on the one hand, you want to have the opportunity to ask questions and have people challenge for the sake of the American people's information in the vaccine space. But isn't there? You're kind of giving a carte blanche of sorts to Donald Trump. You don't have any questions about the process or concerns about any of the appointees? Well, there's a process of checks and balances. You showed earlier on the program tonight, the Senate majority Leonardo leader, Senator Thune, who said that there is a problem.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Just to show you what a clown. Show these Magazar as well. Here's MAGA Republican Ralph Norman saying, look, the best thing about Matt Gaetz is he triggers the libs. He owns the libs. And these leftists, these left wing socialists, they're afraid. Play this clip.

[Unknown Speaker]

As you know, Gates is Trump's pick for Attorney General. He was the subject of an Ethics committee investigation over whether he engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. The committee was supposed to vote on whether to release that report on Gates today, but now that Gates has resigned from Congress, the report has been scrapped. What are your thoughts on Matt Gaetz? Can he actually get confirmed or is it not? He's not getting confirmed and everybody knows that.

[Ralph Norman]

Look, Matt Gates is a brilliant legal mind. Matt Gaetz will. He will be the. The left winging socialist's worst enemy when he. I think he will get confirmed. Matt can handle himself. He has nothing to hide. The DOJ dismissed all the charges. The political witch hunt. And Matt knows this. The political witch hunt on the ethics reports have been done by House members and we know who pushed that against him. He pushed back. DOJ dismissed it. And so. But he has nothing to hide. Matt Gaetz is a true tremendous pick. You can trust what he does and he's a risk taker, which is good and is what, is what's needed in that position.

[Unknown Speaker]

Okay, that's. That's good to have to hear from you because I know some of your colleagues don't feel that way.

[Ryan Reynolds]

You know, how does that even happen? I guess greed, money, corruption. But how does that even happen? What we're watching there you are defending the indefensible, which shows you, though in a broader lesson, right, the depths of depravity. It has no floor with them. If you can do the mental gymnastics with ease that a Ralph Norman does or a Nancy Mace does, you could in your mind justify any atrocity at all, right? I mean, you can see how these people can justify literally the unthinkable with that same logic or illogic. Well, he's going to own the lip law. Y'all realize what you're supporting, right? So I just hope we the people take note of it. I give Trey Gowdy credit and that Fox segment credit for doing them telling the truth to the people, which they should. But then of course, you have this other kind of counter programming, if you will, that you see hit. Subscribe. Let's get to 4 million. Woosa. Woosah. Subscribe. Love this video. Make sure you stay up to date on the latest breaking news and all things Midas by signing up to the Midas Touch newsletter at Midas touch. Com newsletter.