The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Furious Dems Strike Back as GOP Freezes Up in Public
Date: September 14, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Overview

This episode spotlights a dramatic week in Congress, with Democratic representatives vocally challenging Republican efforts to obfuscate the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and related files. The Meiselas brothers highlight fiery exchanges on Capitol Hill, focusing on how Democrats are striking back against GOP maneuvers to protect Donald Trump and avoid transparency. The episode balances urgent discussion of justice, governmental accountability, and the victims of Epstein’s crimes with signature MeidasTouch commentary and humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Democrats Go on Offense Regarding Epstein Files

• Democrats, notably Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, are taking an aggressive stance, insisting that the Epstein investigation should not become a partisan issue.
• Rep. Crockett highlights her 15 years as a trial lawyer and why the case transcends partisanship, emphasizing systemic abuse of power and failures of major institutions.
• Crockett insists: “This literally is so big. As someone who practiced criminal law...I have never seen a case this big.” (04:37)

2. The Scale of Complicity

• Crockett outlines the widespread complicity: banks (JPMorgan Chase), corporations, fake marriages, and government actors all allegedly facilitated or ignored Epstein’s crimes.
• On the survivors’ silence: “Literally they would walk in and they would see these pictures of Epstein with all of these powerful people from all over the world, and then he would threaten them and say, if you say anything, just know I know everybody...” (06:04–07:35)
• The demand is clear: learn from mistakes, implement safeguards, and break the cycle.

3. Trump & the Republican Cover-Up

• Rep. Dan Goldman notes the GOP’s sudden silence after learning that Trump appears unfavorably in the Epstein files.
• Goldman: “Donald Trump is in the Epstein files. So now...the Republicans...are quiet.” (08:14)
• GOP committee chairs, especially James Comer and Jim Jordan, are accused of prioritizing Trump’s protection over actual oversight.
• Goldman spells it out: “They’re not asking for any of the evidence that might include Donald Trump. And rather than acknowledge that, you’re just trying to cover up for Donald Trump’s knowledge and involvement...you’re trying to accuse us of being interested.” (09:36)

4. The Signature Debacle & "Investigations"

• Rep. Jared Moskowitz satirically proposes forensic analysis of Trump’s signature in the Epstein birthday book, poking holes in GOP hypocrisy around evidence standards.
• “Let’s bring in a signature expert...swear them under oath, and let’s have the signature examined. Is it his or is it not his? We don’t have to play games.” (10:59–13:07)

5. The FBI Informant Claim

• Speaker Mike Johnson’s odd claim that Trump was an FBI informant is torn apart.
• Moskowitz: “The speaker of the House just said the President was an FBI informant. Huh? ...Did he mean agent? ...I don’t know another word that we use when we’re describing an FBI agent or FBI informant or undercover.” (14:49–17:35)

6. Double Standards and Democratic Resolve

• Crockett compares historic scandals to underline the severity: if a Democrat had made the informant claim, media (and the public) would demand answers.
• She insists on bipartisan support for Epstein’s survivors and a full release of the files: “I don’t care...red, blue, purple, orange, green, yellow, whatever. We should, on a bipartisan basis, want to help these survivors.” (17:39–18:52)

7. First Amendment, Threats, and Oaths

• Crockett rails against Trump’s suggestion that voting to release Epstein files is a “hostile act,” rebutting the idea as un-American and antithetical to congressional oaths.
• “We don’t swear to an orange king. Instead, we have sworn an oath to the Constitution and we were elected to represent the people that elected us.” (18:52–19:36)

8. MAGA Hypocrisy: “America Last”

• Crockett’s frustration with MAGA Republicans' policy priorities surfaces:
• “These people simply hate America. Nearly everything they have done makes Americans less safe and less healthy. The consequences...more children will die...will go hungry..." (21:42)
• Calls out GOP efforts to restrict social programs and democratic access as unpatriotic and devastating for families and children.

9. GOP Ridicule: The “Drama Queen” Comment

• James Comer dismisses Rep. Robert Garcia, the first openly gay ranking Democrat on the Oversight Committee, as a “drama queen.”
• The brothers and Crockett point out the homophobic undertones and the absurdity of Comer’s comment, especially given his own history of using questionable witnesses in GOP investigations.
• Comer: “Garcia...he’s just proven...to just be a real big drama queen because this is all about providing transparency...It’s not about scoring political points.” (24:05–25:21)
• Crockett: “When they’re exposed, they squeal the loudest.” (25:22)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett:
  “As American people, we should all be in unison no matter if you’re a Democrat, Republican or Independent, when it comes down to cracking down on something like this.” (04:37)

• Rep. Dan Goldman:
  “The irony of these Republicans accusing the Democrats now of only being interested in this for political purposes, is so thick that it is almost sucking us into the quicksand.” (08:14)

• Rep. Jared Moskowitz:
  “Let’s bring in a signature expert...we can solve this problem for the American people.” (10:59)
  (on Mike Johnson’s informant gaffe) “What is the misspeak for ‘informant’? I mean, I don’t know another word that we use...” (15:18)

• Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett:
  “We don’t swear to an orange king. Instead, we have sworn an oath to the Constitution...” (18:52) “These people simply hate America. Nearly everything they have done makes Americans less safe and less healthy.” (21:42)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:41 – Jasmine Crockett sets the tone: Dems are fighting back.
• 04:37 – Crockett on why the Epstein case is about justice, not partisanship.
• 06:04 – Crockett details the system-wide enablers of Epstein’s crimes.
• 08:14 – Dan Goldman: Republican silence after Trump surfaces in files.
• 10:59 – Jared Moskowitz calls for signature forensics on the Epstein birthday card.
• 14:49 – Exposing the absurdity of Mike Johnson’s “informant” claim.
• 18:52 – Crockett: Defending the constitutional oath versus Trump “king” loyalty.
• 21:42 – Critique of MAGA Republican attacks on social programs.
• 24:05 – Comer’s “drama queen” dig at Garcia.
• 25:22 – Crockett: “When they’re exposed, they squeal the loudest.”

Tone & Style Notes

• The Meidas Touch brothers deliver coverage with passionate advocacy for democracy, biting humor, and brotherly banter.
• Democratic lawmakers’ language is direct, sometimes fierce, never shying away from naming names or calling out perceived hypocrisy.
• The episode is both a rallying cry for action on the Epstein files and a pointed critique of GOP obstruction and deflection.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

If you haven’t listened, this episode is a must for understanding how Congressional Democrats are pushing back forcefully against GOP attempts to suppress or politicize the Epstein investigation. Expect unvarnished commentary, frequent quotable moments, and a strong call for accountability that transcends party lines.