GOP Gets Exposed Under Cross Exam at Shutdown Hearing

Summary

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

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

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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.

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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.”

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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.”

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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.

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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.

Transcript

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Again.

This was a masterclass as A former trial attorney chef's kiss is my review of this. Let me show you. Democratic Congress member Negus first. He's cross examining here, maga, Republican Congress member Cole on the Rules Committee. And Negus says, let me say this to you. You claim that Republicans were out there doing lots of work while MAGA Mike sent you on vacation. You said you were doing lots of work. Well, let's dig into it. Let's watch this.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

Let's talk about the last 54 days. So the speaker, he said something that was fascinating. I thought it was, it was a really interesting quote, if I can find it. Here we go. Yeah, that was interesting. So the quote is, House Republicans are doing some of the most meaningful work of their careers. They are in their districts. I don't want to pull them away from that. You agree with the Speaker's comments?

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

I don't speak for the speaker, but I don't disagree with him. Look, we're waiting for the.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

No, no, no, no. That's not the question. That's not the question. You answered it. You answered it. Okay, so Chairman, it sounds like you're saying that you agree that this with the Speaker. Republican members were, were doing some of the most, quote, meaningful work of their careers during that 54 days. I assume you were here in Washington and back in Oklahoma.

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

Yeah.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

Right. Did you have any in person town halls?

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

No.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

None. 54 days.

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

Did several teletown halls.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

Teletown halls? But you've done in person town halls before? I know that to be true. Why not? 54 days is a long time. Not one town hall?

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

Nope.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

Did you visit any of the federal facilities?

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

Oh, I've been in federal facilities. I've done multiple meetings with chambers of commerce, Rotary clubs. It's been highly visible.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

I don't know if you heard my colleague, Ms. Fishbox. She took great umbrage at this notion that, you know, that Republicans were somehow on vacation. Did you make it down to the Mar a Lago Halloween party?

[Narrator/Host]

No.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

You didn't get the invitation to the Gatsby invite? I don't know. It'll be interesting. I don't know if any of her colleagues here on the other side of the dais made it down there. I, I, it strikes me that it would be hard to Describe the last 54 days, at least from what I've seen as meaningful work on the part of my colleagues in the House Republican Conference. But, you know, again, those are, that's something you'll have to defend and folks will defend to their constituents.

[Narrator/Host]

Told you he was Good. Congressmember Negus. He's been on this show a lot. Incredible cross examination right there. Here's additional parts of that cross examination where Congressmember Negus examines Congressmember Cole and says, do you do realize that Steve Bannon and others in the Trump orbit are now referring to you as basically the Duma, the Russian Duma, who frankly, have worked even more thus far than this House under Maga. Mike Duma. Mike, here. Play this clip.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

12 days sound about right?

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

Something like that.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

I can represent to you that The House since August 3rd has been in session for a total of 12 days. I don't know if you're familiar with Steve Bannon. I suspect you are. Yes.

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

Never met him.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

Never met him. You know of him.

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

If you read the newspapers, you know of him.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

Yeah. I don't. It's not a trick question, you know, Steve Bannon exists. All right, so.

[Narrator/Host]

No, I'm sure.

I know he is.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

Okay. There was a report recently where Steve Bannon compared the US Congress under Speaker Johnson to the Duma, allegedly. You think that's an apt comparison?

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

No, I don't.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

No. Would it surprise you to know that the Duma has been in session longer this fall than the United States House of Representatives?

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

I don't know that the Duma sessions make very much difference.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

Well, I'm not so sure they make much difference here, given the way in which Republicans are capitulating to every demand that President Trump makes. I think it is shameful. Shameful that the House has been in session for 12 days since August 3rd. 54 days out of session. You cannot possibly. Chairman, you've been in Congress for some time. You can't possibly defend a 54 day recess, the second longest recess in the modern history of the Congress.

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

You would defend, probably direct, that sentiment toward the United States. Sentiment?

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

The Senate decides when the House is in session.

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

No, if you'll let me finish my.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

Well, no, because I don't.

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

My point is, we sent a bill in plenty of time over to the Senate to keep the government open, functioning. All these other issues you're concerned about could be addressed, could be debated.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

Why not pass these bills, whatever. Why not? Why not? Consider the bills on the floor.

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

We're waiting for the Senate to get back. Why wait? The Senate has now finally acted. Okay, Mr. Wasn't to the Republicans.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

Understand that. I understand you said that in response to Mr. McGovern. My question is, and this was what I think he was trying to glean from both you and the ranking member. There are plenty of appropriation bills that were passed out of committee the House could have met the last week of September, any week in October, last week, yesterday, any time over the last 54 days, the house could be convened to consider these appropriation bills. John Thune doesn't get to decide when the House of Representatives is in session. Mike Johnson does. And I'm trying to understand from you why you've decided to take this position.

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

I don't make these decisions.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

I'll finish and then I'll let you.

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

Okay, I'm sorry.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

Why you've taken this position that the House should effectively stay out of session. I mean, I guess this is your position that if the government is shut down, the House of Representatives should not convene. Is that your position?

[Narrator/Host]

All right, now let me show you Democratic Congressmember McGovern, the ranking member of the Rules Committee. Here's how he starts his cross exam. Welcome back. How was your vacation, everybody? MAGA Republicans here. Play this clip.

Well, hello, Madam Chair. Welcome back. Long time no see. I hardly recognize you guys. Where the hell have you been? It's good to see you back on Cap. Back in the Capitol building. We've been looking everywhere for you guys. I mean, seriously, we were worried. We actually started handing out missing person posters. Nobody has seen you for eight weeks. But, hey, I'm glad that you're okay. I'm glad that you survived your nice two month paid vacation while Democrats stayed in Washington to try to end this shutdown.

Then he goes and says, none of you who wants to step up? None of you have a health care plan. I challenge you. Show me your plan. It doesn't exist. You're all liars. You're all fraud. Odds. Here, watch this.

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. Or maybe it's simply just hiding behind the missing appropriation bills that this Republican majority hasn't passed. I don't know. But what I do know is this. Republicans have been in charge for 292 days. That's 292 days to do something, anything, to lower costs, to bring down prices, to make America more affordable, to do something about health care tariffs, grocery prices, rent or heating bills. And what did you do? You handed out tax breaks to billionaires and took the longest paid vacation in modern history.

And then he says, oh, you want to talk about the Affordable care Act subsidies? McGovern says you're subsidizing. You know who you're subsidizing Argentina. You're literally subsidizing an entirely different country. You're subsidizing Javier Malay or play this clip.

He shut down the airspace while regular travelers are stranded all over the country. The administration is funneling $40 billion to bail out Argentina. Republicans are literally subsidizing an entirely different country. Instead of keeping families in North Carolina or Minnesota or Texas or Indiana from going bankrupt if they face emergency hospital bills and then giving your donors a fancy new ballroom at the White House while moms and dads can't afford to put food on the table. And speaking of putting food on the table, Trump illegally withheld food assistance from 42 million Americans. Kids, veterans, seniors, working families. Two federal court orders demanded that he pay out these benefits in full. But he would rather appeal to the highest court in the land to starve people out than to simply provide them with the food assistance that he is legally obligated to send to American families. Like, who does that? I mean, that's the Republican policy position. We'll give you your food if you let us take away your health care.

Then you had Democratic Congresswoman Ansari look at the MAGA Republicans on the Rules Committee. Look, looked at Virginia Fox, who is the chair of that Rules Committee. And Congresswoman Ansari says, welcome back from your vacation. To which Virginia Fox freaks out and she's like, I was working. Watch what goes down. Here's how it's done. Here's how you forcibly push back.

[Congresswoman Ansari]

Great work.

[Narrator/Host]

To Congresswoman Ansari, let's play it.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

Ms. Ansari, you're recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. Welcome back from your eight weeks of taxpayer funded vacation. It's good to see you and I hope I'm going to interrupt you Republicans. I'm going to interrupt. Interrupt you please. I am sick and tired of hearing you all say we had an eight week vacation. That's exactly what happened. I worked every day.

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

I don't know about you. I don't want to hear.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

Every single day. And that's exactly what happened with. I'm taking. You're recognized. I hope that you all enjoyed yourselves while American families looked at their letters from their health insurance companies, terrified that their insurance premiums were going to double or triple while the House was out of session for 53 days. That is unacceptable, Madam Chair.

[Narrator/Host]

Okay, back to Democratic Congressmember Negus ripping this MAGA Republican Congress member coal to shreds. You almost feel a little bad for that MAGA Republican. And then you go, no, I don't feel bad for this guy at all. He's a MAGA Republican who hates America and wants to see American die. So you go, I don't feel bad for you. Get him, Negus, go get him. And Congressmember Negus does not disappoint. And he goes, okay, yeah. You've been here longer than I have. I guess so let's talk about your experience. Sir, you replay this clip.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

Is that affair?

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

I am comfortable doing my job and I've been here quite a bit, my friend.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

I understand but.

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

And working on these issues, quite frankly. But we didn't vote to shut down the government in the House.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

Okay, you mentioned you've been here.

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

To be fair, my Senate colleagues didn't vote to shut down the government and the majority of the United States members from your party.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

You've made your position clear.

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

I think the people that shut down the government, you said and take responsibility.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

As you said, you've been here a lot longer than I have and that's certainly true. I'm here for long. I found an article. This is from 2007. You've been in Congress for some time. The headline Cole quote, now is not the time for a vacation. End quote. This is when Democrats had the majority in 2007. Congress must work through Memorial Day recess to produce a clean funding bill. US Congressman Tom Cole today joined nearly every member of the Republican conference in sending a letter to then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling her to keep calling her to keep the House in session until Congress sends then President Bush a clean funding bill that he will sign into law. This was effectively. I'll just say the letter was sent to Speaker Pelosi eight days before Congress is scheduled to adjourn for the Memorial Day recess. Legislative business is not scheduled to resume until June 5th. I mean you all were clamoring demanding that the speaker reconvene the House and not take a 10 day recession. And now what? We're in week eight and we're finally here and you won't say a word of criticism about the Speaker's strategy in keeping all of us.

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

My criticism for the people that shut down the government of the United States shut down for 40 odd days. That it made sure snap people recipients didn't get it.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

Mr. Chairman, I think it's rich. And again, I would just simply say that if the shoe were on the other foot, I don't think, honestly I really, I don't think you would hesitate that you would hesitate to call the Speaker's actions disgraceful to keep us out of session for 54 days. But in any event, that's fine.

[Congresswoman Ansari]

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[Narrator/Host]

Chip Roy tried to get a little chirpy in this hearing. Negus was not having it. He doesn't like Chirpy Roy and he's like, listen up Chirpy Roy. I'm going to read a quote from you here. Play this clip.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

Before I ask you some questions, I have to address some of the comments made by the gentleman from Texas. I'm just going to read a quote and I do this because I actually don't think I could find a quote like this from Chairman Cole. So in some respects, although I disagree with, you know, much of his testimony, but he certainly has more clean hands than some of my other colleagues. Quote, let's not fund a government that's going to be exacting tyranny over our American brothers and sisters. Full length of the interview is available here and some key quotes are below. This is from the gentleman from Texas. Mr. Roy's website, November of 2021 should any Republican vote to fund an Executive branch. In other words, should Article 1 Congress, which has the power of the purse as the Founders gave us, should we give any dollars to the Executive branch or President Biden to issue unconstitutional and lawful mandates that are causing people to have to choose between their livelihoods and getting a Vaccine which they don't want. Let's stand united. Let's not do what these 13 Republicans did last Friday and go side with Nancy Pelosi. Let's not fund a government that's going to be exacting tyranny over our American brothers and sisters. This is for Mr. Roy. Spare me. Oh, no, Mr. Roy. It's my time. It's my time. You certainly made that clear with the Chairwoman. Spare us. Mr. Cole, perhaps, I think, as I said, can have some clean hands to talk to us about this particular set of circumstances we find ourselves in. You cannot. There might be other colleagues of yours, I think, who might share Mr. Cole's worldview, but I don't know. I thought I've heard everything in Congress. But to hear my colleague from Texas, his indignation about the government shutdown as he instigated, tried to instigate shutdown after shutdown just three years ago, four years ago. This is in distant memory, in any event.

[Narrator/Host]

I digress, Mr. Cole, back to Democratic Congressmember McGovern. Here he goes. This is when Chip Roy and others are like, getting very angry and very passionate. And Congressmember McGovern's like, all right, hold your horses there. Calm down. I wish you were this passionate about blocking $40 billion going to Argentina. Maybe you should be more supportive of America than Argentina, you idiot. Here, play this clip.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

That's literally what they were saying. It's not a solution. That's just printing more money while trying to go run campaign ads while you shut the government down for very clearly and obviously political purposes. I yield back, Madam Chairman.

[Narrator/Host]

Madam Chair. I wish the gentleman had that passion condemning the $40 billion bailout of Argentina, the right wing cuckoo clock in Argentina. I wish he wish. I wish he had the passion to condemn that.

Mr. McGovern, right now. Here was a moment, though, that I think I have to share with you. So Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries then says, you know what? Let me show you how it's done. I'm going to take the witness stand. Question me. I'm going to show you what it looks like when the facts, the people, transparency is on your side. Watch Congressmember McGovern, then question Jeffries about the facts. And none of these MAGA Republicans on the committee were even had the. The strength to try to cross examine Leader Jeffries because they were too scared to do it. Here, play this clip.

If I could go back to the issue of health care, just for the record. I mean, has Speaker Johnson promised a vote to extend the ACA tax credits to either of you.

[Congressmember Hakeem Jeffries]

It's extraordinary that he hasn't indicated that there will be a vote one way or the other to address the Republican health care crisis. Now, our colleague from the great state of Georgia, Marjorie Taylor Greene, found it laughable that there's a Republican health care plan. She said she couldn't find it. She can't find it because it doesn't exist. Now we know what the plan has been in the past in terms of the Affordable Care Act. Republicans have tried to repeal it more than 70 times over the last 15 years. And so we are just trying to get our Republican colleagues to take yes for an answer. We've said repeatedly, let's find a bipartisan path forward. Let's reopen the government, let's make life better for the American people. But let's address the health care crisis that our Republican colleagues have created. And we can start by extending the Affordable Care act tax credits.

[Narrator/Host]

More from Leader Jeffries right here who says, you know, look, I get it. Trump's very busy guy. He apparently has two jobs. One he's doing whatever he building ballrooms. He loves, he loves building his ballrooms. Everybody's great ballroom builder. And then the other is being the speaker of the House cuz Maga Mike is so feckless. Here, play this clip.

[Congressmember Hakeem Jeffries]

For seven plus weeks, House Republicans saw fit to be on a taxpayer funded vacation, missing in action, part of the witness protection program, doing nothing to make life better for the American people. That's extraordinary. And you got to wonder whether this was an order that was given by Donald Trump, who apparently has said that he's got two jobs. He's both the president and the speaker of the House. His words, not mine. Donald Trump apparently doesn't believe that there's an affordability crisis. Said it himself, there is no affordability crisis in the United States of America. That's what Donald Trump, top Republican in this country, says. So I guess it's no small wonder that the Republican chairman of the Appropriations Committee would say that there's nothing to do because Republicans apparently don't think that there are problems in this country that should be dealt with such that the House of Representatives should be in session. But as Democrats, our view is that we've got to lower the high cost of living. We've got to make life more affordable for everyday Americans who are suffering under crushing Republican policies. Costs haven't gone down. That was the day one promise. Costs have gone up.

[Narrator/Host]

More from Leader Jeffries right here saying, let's test you. We will Introduce an amendment right here, right now. Extend the Affordable Care act tax credits for a year, three years. Let's do it. Show the American people that you care and then let's negotiate. If you've got a plan, show the plan. But for now, let's just make this vote. Extend the Affordable Care act subsidies. Let's not take away health care from 20 million Americans. Please. Here, play this clip.

[Congressmember Hakeem Jeffries]

And we're hopeful that our Republican colleagues will join us and abandon the reckless policies that you all have pursued in creating this Republican health care crisis, including, but not limited to what Republicans did in your one big ugly bill. Largest cut to Medicaid in American history. Ripping health insurance away from at least 14 million people. Hospitals, nursing homes and community based health clinics all across the country, including in rural America, are closing because of Republican policies. And now because of the refusal to extend the Affordable Care act tax credits, tens of millions of people are going to suffer, will be unable to see a doctor when they need one in every single community in this country. And so we respectfully urge all of our colleagues to support this amendment to extend the Affordable Care act tax credits and support the American people.

[Narrator/Host]

Back to Democratic Congressmember Negus. This good, right? This good stuff. Here he is talking about how the Republican senators snuck into this resolution a $500,000 payment for themselves because in frivolous fashion, they claim that they were injured by Special Counsel Jack Smith issuing a subpoena that turned up their phone numbers, didn't wiretap them, didn't listen in on their calls, no eavesdropping, literally just their phone numbers in connection with making phone calls to the White House during the insurrection to build a timeline of what was going on. Just the phone number shows. But the Republican Senators say if our numbers showed up, the DOJ needs to pay the Republican senators $500,000. I'm not making this up. This literally in the legislation that they're paying that the Republican senators. The age of Trump, man. Grift fraud, grift fraud. It's like, like a boat. Grift fraud, grift fraud, grift fraud. Not sure what boat that is, but here played this clip.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

Far from haranguing the chairman, I'm given the opportunity for the chairman to explain the meaningful work that he's been engaged in. And I suspect that he welcomes and relishes that. So I want to talk to you about the provision that my colleague from Pennsylvania noted earlier. And this is the provision that essentially allows specifically eight Republican United States Senators to reap upwards of A half a million dollar payday with respect to the phone record notice provision that they've added into the bill. You support that provision?

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

I didn't have anything to do with it. Didn't have any knowledge of it.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

Not asking if you have knowledge of it. Do you support it?

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

Do I support the bill? Yes. Do I support every single provision in the bill?

[Narrator/Host]

No.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

You don't find this provision repugnant? I think most American people are going to find this.

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

I was surprised to see it in the bill. I was unaware of it. It was not.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

Why not work with us to remove it?

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

Let's see what you do.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

Well, we've got an amendment.

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

Tell you this. I am very concerned and actually Democratic senators said this, I think, particularly Senator Coons, I am very concerned that anybody, whether they're in the House or the Senate, is singled out and not notified that their records are being subpoenaed. That concerns me a great deal.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

And does that justice.

[Congressmember Tom Cole]

Now, did I know about this provision, the bill? No. Do I think it needs to be in a funding bill? Not particularly. But do I think getting the governments open is important? Yes, I do. But I was unaware of the provision, so.

[Congressmember Joe Negus]

Well, there's an amendment that will be introduced that. I'm not asking a question, Mr. Chairman. Not asking you a question. Let me finish my statement and then you'll have an opportunity. Yeah, it's. There will be an amendment proposed to remove what I think is a deeply insidious provision. I think it is outrageous, outrageous for these Republican senators to effectively guarantee themselves million dollar paydays retroactive. Retroactive provision in this bill that very clearly applies to them. The removal of all relevant immunity defenses on the part of the United States government. This is insanity. To allow this provision to go forward. And I would hope that my Republican colleagues would join us in supporting the removal of this provision. At a minimum, we ought to be able to find common ground on that. So with that, Madam Chair, I yield back.

[Narrator/Host]

Then finally Leader Jeffries talks about that $40 million Trump sent to Argentina. I guess it's Argentina first and I guess by the way it's other countries first. Because I've been showing this video and I'm sure you've seen it now it's gone ultra viral. We did lots of videos on it where Trump says that American workers, that USA workers, people here in America do not have the talent to work high skilled jobs. Thus we need H1B visas. We don't, we shouldn't even be training Americans because America's just don't have the talent. What Trump told Laura Ingraham just word for word is what he said. And she's like, why? We don't have the talent.

[Congresswoman Ansari]

Yes, we.

[Narrator/Host]

What do you mean? Like, nope, you don't. We don't have the talent.

[Congresswoman Ansari]

Anyway.

[Narrator/Host]

Watch Jeffries close it out. Jeffries, let's do it.

[Congressmember Hakeem Jeffries]

During the longest shutdown in American history, the Trump Republican shutdown, what we've seen repeatedly from our Republican colleagues who here in the House want a taxpayer funded vacation for more than seven weeks. Welcome back. Is that Donald Trump has done everything but try to actually make life better for the American people. He Somehow has found $40 billion to bail out his right wing wannabe dictator buddy in Argentina, putting Argentina first, but not the American people first. So Whip Clark and myself on behalf of the House Democratic Caucus believe that this amendment to extend the Affordable Care act tax credits for tens of millions of hardworking American taxpayers and is actually designed to put the American people first.

[Narrator/Host]

There you have it folks. Let me know what you think. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 6 million subscribers. Thanks for thanks for watching new Midas merch. Head to store.midastouch.com today and get yourself the best pro democracy gear and show your support. That's store.midas touch.com.