Podcast Summary: GOP Gets Exposed Under Cross Exam at Shutdown Hearing

The MeidasTouch Podcast – November 12, 2025
Host: MeidasTouch Network (Ben, Brett & Jordy Meiselas)

Overview:

This episode centers on Democratic lawmakers skillfully interrogating Republican colleagues during a pivotal committee hearing about the government shutdown and healthcare. The Meiselas brothers highlight the Democrats’ “masterclass” in cross-examination, exposing GOP members’ lack of legislative productivity, hypocrisy on time spent in session, and failure to produce a viable healthcare plan—all marked by the brothers’ energetic and unapologetically pro-democracy tone and sharp sense of humor.

The episode is a deep dive into the dysfunction surrounding the GOP-led Congress during a continuing resolution debate, with powerful audio from the House Rules Committee hearing. The discussion features memorable confrontations, insightful analysis, and underscores the Democrats’ strategy to contrast their policy efforts and work ethic with those of the GOP.

Key Discussion Points & Insights:

1. Democratic Cross-Examination: A “Masterclass”

• Host's Framing (02:54–03:28):
  • Ben, a former trial attorney, praises Representative Joe Negus’s approach, calling it a “chef’s kiss” of cross-examination.
  • Democrats seize the markup process to question MAGA Republicans on their legislative record and the lengthy Congressional recess.

2. Joe Negus Grills Rep. Tom Cole on GOP Productivity

• Challenge to “Meaningful Work” Claims (03:28–04:57):

  • Negus presses Cole on the assertion that Republicans used their 54 days out of session to do “meaningful” work.
    • Negus: “Did you have any in-person town halls?”
    • Cole: “No.”
    • Negus: “None. 54 days... Not one town hall?”
  • Negus sarcastically asks about attendance at the “Mar-a-Lago Halloween party.”

• Comparisons to Russian Duma & House Attendance (06:04–07:55):

  • Negus notes the House has only been in session 12 days since August 3rd—a historic low.
  • References Steve Bannon comparing the current House to the Russian Duma, pointing out, “The Duma has been in session longer this fall than the United States House of Representatives.”
    • Negus (06:54): “You cannot possibly…defend a 54 day recess, the second longest recess in the modern history of the Congress.”
  • Cole attempts to deflect by blaming the Senate; Negus rejects this, maintaining that House leadership sets the schedule.

• The Hypocrisy Exposed (14:01–15:55):

  • Negus reads Cole’s 2007 statement decrying recesses under a Democratic majority, highlighting the inconsistency in his stance now.
    • Negus (14:33): “I'm here for long. I found an article. This is from 2007...headline: Cole quote, ‘now is not the time for a vacation.’”

3. Rep. McGovern’s Scathing Rebuke of GOP Healthcare Failures

• Opening Salvo: The “Vacation” Dig (09:09–09:46):

  • McGovern: “Welcome back. Long time no see. I hardly recognize you guys. Where the hell have you been?...your nice two-month paid vacation while Democrats stayed in Washington to try to end this shutdown.”

• Challenge on Healthcare Policy (10:01–10:42):

  • McGovern: “You don't even have a health care plan. You've been promising one for over a decade, and we've never seen it because it doesn't exist…Republicans have been in charge for 292 days…handed out tax breaks to billionaires and took the longest paid vacation in modern history.”

• On Subsidies and Food Assistance Cuts (11:01–12:07):

  • Accuses Republicans of subsidizing Argentina rather than helping American families, and of withholding food assistance.
    • McGovern: “Trump illegally withheld food assistance from 42 million Americans…he would rather appeal to the highest court in the land to starve people out.”

4. Congresswoman Ansari & Pushback Against the “Vacation” Defense

• Fiery Back-and-Forth (12:32–13:25):
  • Ansari welcomes GOP members “back from your eight weeks of taxpayer funded vacation.”
  • Chair Virginia Foxx bristles at the accusation; Ansari persists, emphasizing the fear families faced over doubled health insurance premiums during the recess.

5. Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries Leads by Example

• Jeffries Takes the Stand (21:27–22:33):

  • Demonstrates transparency and factual command, answering tough questions about ACA tax credits and the GOP’s inaction.
    • Jeffries (21:27): “It's extraordinary that [Speaker Johnson] hasn't indicated there will be a vote…Our colleague Marjorie Taylor Greene…couldn’t find it [the GOP health plan] because it doesn’t exist.”
  • Highlights Republican efforts to repeal the ACA over 70 times.

• On Trump’s Influence and House Absences (22:54–24:16):

  • Jeffries: “You got to wonder whether this was an order given by Donald Trump, who apparently has said that he's got two jobs. He's both President and the Speaker of the House.”

• Demands for Action on ACA Tax Credits (24:45–25:51):

  • Jeffries calls for an immediate amendment to extend ACA tax credits, urging Republicans to demonstrate support for constituents’ healthcare.
    • Jeffries (24:45): “Let's not take away health care from 20 million Americans. Please.”

6. GOP Grift Accusations: The $500,000 Senate Payday Provision

• Negus Exposes “Insidious” Legislation (26:58–29:34):
  • A provision in the bill would pay 8 Senate Republicans $500,000 each—a response to their phone numbers being subpoenaed during the January 6th investigation.
    • Negus (28:33): “I think it is outrageous…for these Republican senators to effectively guarantee themselves million dollar paydays retroactive.”
    • Tom Cole claims ignorance of the provision, says it shouldn’t necessarily be in the bill but supports “getting governments open.”

7. Hypocrisy, Shutdowns, and Bailouts: The Democrats’ Closing Arguments

• More on the $40 Billion to Argentina (29:34–31:17):
  • Multiple Democrats, including Ansari and Jeffries, hammer the Trump-led GOP for directing funds to Argentina instead of helping Americans.
    • Jeffries (30:19): “Donald Trump has done everything but try to actually make life better for the American people…has found $40 billion to bail out his right wing wannabe dictator buddy in Argentina.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Joe Negus (to Tom Cole, pressing on the “vacation”)
  [03:56] “Did you have any in person town halls?”
  [04:22] “54 days is a long time. Not one town hall?”

• Negus on Congress’s productivity
  [06:54] “You cannot possibly…defend a 54 day recess, the second longest recess in the modern history of the Congress.”

• Negus reading Tom Cole’s 2007 anti-recess statement
  [14:33] “Cole quote, ‘now is not the time for a vacation.’…”

• McGovern mocking GOP’s absence
  [09:15] “We actually started handing out missing person posters. Nobody has seen you for eight weeks. But, hey, I'm glad that you're okay.”

• McGovern on GOP healthcare plan
  [10:01] “You've been promising one for over a decade, and we've never seen it because it doesn't exist.”

• Jeffries calling out Trump’s grip on Congress
  [22:54] “[Trump] has said that he's got two jobs. He's both the president and the speaker of the House. His words, not mine.”

• Jeffries challenging the GOP to help Americans
  [24:45] “Let's not take away health care from 20 million Americans. Please.”

• Negus exposing GOP self-dealing
  [28:33] “I think it is outrageous, outrageous, for these Republican senators to effectively guarantee themselves million dollar paydays retroactive.”

• Jeffries on Trump’s priorities (accusing him of putting Argentina first):
  [30:19] “Donald Trump…has found $40 billion to bail out his right wing wannabe dictator buddy in Argentina…putting Argentina first, but not the American people first.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:28–04:57] – Negus grills Cole about the long congressional recess.
• [06:04–07:55] – Negus compares House productivity to the Russian Duma, details GOP absence.
• [09:15–09:46] – McGovern lampoons Republican absence and “vacation.”
• [10:01–10:42] – McGovern calls out GOP for lack of healthcare plan.
• [12:32–13:25] – Congresswoman Ansari confronts Foxx on the “vacation”; heated exchange.
• [14:01–15:55] – Negus exposes Cole’s historical hypocrisy on recess.
• [21:27–22:33] – Jeffries details GOP’s repeated failure and lack of healthcare policy.
• [22:54–24:16] – Jeffries on Trump controlling the House, mocking GOP inaction.
• [24:45–25:51] – Jeffries challenges GOP: extend ACA tax credits now.
• [26:58–29:34] – Negus details the $500,000 Republican self-payday provision.
• [30:19–31:17] – Jeffries closes with remarks on Trump’s focus on Argentina.

Summary Conclusion

This episode puts a spotlight on the Democratic Party’s aggressive oversight and rhetorical strength in committee, exposing GOP lawmakers for inaction, self-dealing, and an inability to deliver on healthcare promises. Through expert use of cross-examination, representatives like Joe Negus, Jim McGovern, and Hakeem Jeffries dismantle Republican talking points and highlight glaring hypocrisy and policy failures. The MeidasTouch brothers wrap these moments in their distinctive, irreverent, and pro-democracy style, making the episode essential listening for anyone wanting an inside look at Congressional drama and party contrasts during a government funding crisis.