GOP Gets Immediately Ripped to Shreds in Hearings Upon Return

Summary

Podcast Summary: The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: GOP Gets Immediately Ripped to Shreds in Hearings Upon Return

Date: September 4, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Episode Overview

This episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast provides a comprehensive, sharply critical, and often humorous breakdown of recent congressional hearings in which Republicans—returning from recess—faced intense scrutiny and withering criticism from Democratic representatives. Central to the discussion is the spectacle surrounding far-right UK politician Nigel Farage's testimony on "free speech," the ongoing fight over releasing the Epstein files, and Republican leadership's responses to key issues such as the January 6th insurrection and gun violence in the U.S.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Congressional Hearings and Nigel Farage's Debacle

• Farage Testifies Before Congress: UK’s Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform Party and a pro-Brexit figure, is called as an expert on free speech by Republicans.
• Democratic Rebuttal: Democrats, particularly Rep. Jared Moskowitz and Rep. Jamie Raskin, systematically expose Farage’s hypocrisy and his ties to autocratic rhetoric, labeling him and his testimony as fundamentally anti-democratic and pro-Putin.
• Farage's Contradictions: Farage evades direct questions about the Epstein files and is confronted with his own public statements (see quotes below).
• Theatrical Exit: Farage hastily leaves to allegedly meet Trump, avoiding further questioning.

2. Free Speech, Authoritarianism, and Republican Hypocrisy

• Raskin’s Scathing Critique: Rep. Jamie Raskin forcefully criticizes Republican efforts to conflate actual free speech with hate speech, highlighting GOP attempts to amplify European far-right movements while ignoring real oppression in authoritarian regimes.
• Authoritarian Parallels: Raskin and others draw dire comparisons between Trump's actions scrutinizing public servants for "anti-Trump bias" and tactics used by dictators like Putin and Stalin.

3. The Epstein Files Controversy

• Refusal to Release Documents: GOP members are accused of blocking efforts to unseal the Epstein files, despite previously championing transparency.
• Survivors' Demands: Epstein victims and survivors rally outside Congress demanding the release of information and passage of the Massie-Khanna bill for mandated disclosure.
• Trump’s Dismissal: Trump calls the renewed focus on the files a "hoax," furthering the perception of a cover-up.

4. Republican Leadership and Accountability

• Rep. Mike Johnson’s Claims: Johnson attacks California Governor Gavin Newsom for “anti-Christian rhetoric” following Newsom’s call for action on gun reform.
• January 6th Plaque: Democrats slam the GOP for refusing to honor Capitol Police officers per legal mandate.
• GOP Inaction: Reps. Joe Neguse and Jim McGovern lambast Republicans for their continued focus on attacking Biden at the expense of addressing substantive issues (e.g., cost of living, energy policy).

5. Bipartisanship in Pursuit of Truth

• Rep. Thomas Massie’s Stand: Notably, Republican Rep. Massie (and Democratic ally Ro Khanna) push for the Epstein files’ release, directly criticizing Trump and GOP leadership.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Nigel Farage Confronted and Exposed

• Moskowitz Presses Farage on Epstein Files:
  Moskowitz: “Do you think the list should come out?... You think people in power should be held to account for these victims who have been sexually abused?...”
  Farage: “I have no opinion on it. I don’t know.”
  (01:46–02:31)
• Raskin Holds Up Farage's Past Statement:
  Raskin: “Were you aware that he has already called for the Epstein file to be released? It has been reported that he has called for it…”
  (02:35–02:45)

On Authoritarianism and GOP Tactics

• Jamie Raskin's Scathing Comparison:
  “When private comments made by federal employees are scrutinized for anti-Trump bias and they can lose their jobs because of it, then we've entered the realm not just of Vladimir Putin, but of Joseph Stalin.”
  (11:18–11:33)
• Raskin on Farage:
  “For a man who fashions himself as some kind of a free speech martyr, Mr. Farage seems most at home with the autocrats and dictators of the world who are crushing freedom on earth.”
  (08:02–09:14)

Republicans Block Epstein File Release

• Jim McGovern Calls Out GOP:
  “Every single Republican on the Rules Committee voted against releasing the Epstein files. Every single one… Now what do Republicans think of that? Donald Trump says this is all a hoax and if you want to release the files, you’re stupid.”
  (16:59–18:06)

Republicans Accused of Deflecting

• Joe Neguse Skewers GOP:
  “Every sentence from that side of the aisle: Biden, a verb, an adjective, and more coal. That’s essentially the sum total of every sentence.”
  (23:25–24:26)

Bipartisanship and Unusual Alliances

• Massie on Presidential Pressure:
  “I don’t know if that’s precedented in this country to have a president call legislators to say that they're engaged in a hostile act, particularly when [it’s] trying to get justice for people who've been victims of sex crimes.”
  (22:23–22:54)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------| | 00:28 | Recap of Republicans’ “bloodbath” at hearings | | 01:46 | Moskowitz cross-examines Farage—Epstein file exchange | | 03:34 | Farage evasive about meeting Trump; leaves hearing | | 05:18 | Raskin opening statement deconstructs Farage & GOP | | 11:18 | Raskin compares GOP tactics to Putin/Stalin | | 14:13 | McGovern: Trump, GOP block Epstein file release | | 16:59 | McGovern: GOP Rules Committee hypocrisy | | 19:57 | Massie/Khanna bipartisan push for Epstein files | | 23:25 | Neguse: GOP obsessed with attacking Biden | | 25:09 | Neguse: Republicans’ economic hypocrisy | | 26:47 | McGovern: GOP still blocks January 6th police plaque | | 27:31 | McGovern: Survivors’ stories, need for legislation | | 29:31 | Johnson: Attacks Newsom on religious grounds |

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Episode Tone & Style

The Meiselas brothers deliver this episode with their signature biting wit, brotherly banter, and unapologetic pro-democracy stance. Their critique is direct, at times caustic (“idiot,” “pathetic losers,” “orange blob dictator”), but consistently grounded in policy substance and a call for transparency and accountability.

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Summary for New Listeners

If you missed the episode, the MeidasTouch brothers dissect the Republican Party's mishandling of recent congressional hearings, focusing on the exposure of Nigel Farage’s hypocrisy, the GOP’s resistance to transparency around the Epstein investigation, and the wider culture of blame and distraction in the Republican caucus. Democratic representatives, often fiercely articulate, dominate the narrative, while a few Republicans (notably Rep. Massie) break ranks to demand accountability. The episode is a whirlwind tour of congressional dysfunction, spiced with sharp humor and an urgent plea for courage and credible governance.

Transcript

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[Political Commentator/Host]

Cancel contact T Mobile Republicans were ripped to shreds at the House of Representatives and in the Senate yesterday. It was a bloodbath. Republican witnesses ripped to shreds. Republican leaders like maga, Mike Johnson and James Comer obliterated. Let me show you what went down. So the Republicans in the House of Representatives brought on far right extremists from the United Kingdom. Nigel Farage, who leads the Reform Party. The so called Reform Party, a far right party that attacks Europe, responsible for Brexit. I could go on. And he shows up to try to lecture America about free speech when the type of speech he spews is hate speech, anti American speech, anti liberal democracy speech. So Democratic Congress member Jared Moskowitz puts him in his place, put corners him in a brutal cross examination. And Nigel Farage was like, I have no opinion about the Epstein file release. And then Moskowitz is like, really? Because you called for it to be released. So are you against yourself or do you agree with yourself? Idiot. Here, play this clip.

[Democratic Congressmember Jared Moskowitz]

You think the list should come out? You think we should know the people who. Who dealt with Mr. Epstein, Mr. Fresh.

[Nigel Farage]

I thought I was coming to a hearing on free speech, not process.

[Democratic Congressmember Jared Moskowitz]

Oh, well, listen, but here's the good.

[Nigel Farage]

Sounds like you're discussing process.

[Democratic Congressmember Jared Moskowitz]

No, no. Do you think the list should come out?

[Nigel Farage]

I have no opinion on it. I don't know.

[Democratic Congressmember Jared Moskowitz]

So we have victims that were sexually abused by potentially people in power and we don't know who's on the list.

[Nigel Farage]

Very happy.

[Democratic Congressmember Jared Moskowitz]

Hold on, Mr. Brush. We don't know who's on the list. We don't know. We don't know who's on the list. We don't know if the president is or is not. I'm not going to say he is or isn't. I'm just going to say these are weird behaviors. We don't know that there aren't other people in Congress that are on the list, Right. We have no idea. Do you think the list should come out? You think people in power should be held to account for these victims who. Who have been sexually abused and assaulted? You think the list should come out?

[Nigel Farage]

I think that I'm very happy to come to a different hearing where you talk about legal process.

[Democratic Congressmember Jamie Raskin]

Will the gentleman yield for a quick question? Were you aware that he has already called for the Epstein file to be released? It has been reported that he has called for it to be released.

[Democratic Congressmember Jared Moskowitz]

Oh, yeah, right here. Just to refresh your memory.

[Democratic Congressmember Jamie Raskin]

Yeah, but.

[Democratic Congressmember Jared Moskowitz]

Yeah, I happen to have this. But that's not random.

[Nigel Farage]

But that is not. Look, you can ask me if you like.

[Democratic Congressmember Jamie Raskin]

About.

[Nigel Farage]

About.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Do you agree with your policy?

[Democratic Congressmember Jared Moskowitz]

Do you agree with yourself?

[Nigel Farage]

Yeah. We are here to discuss free speech.

[Democratic Congressmember Jared Moskowitz]

Hold on. It's awkward for your lunch after this. Do you agree with yourself?

[Nigel Farage]

It isn't at all.

[Political Commentator/Host]

Okay, next up, Congressmember Moskowitz brutally exposes Nigel Farage, his intentions for the day, which was to go and meet surreptitiously with Donald Trump to plot about whatever the hell they want to do to attack liberal democracies. And Moskowitz is like, oh, got it. So just admit you're going to see Donald Trump, like we all know, and watch as Nigel Farage, like the pathetic little weak that he is, tries to go. Oh, I think it would be wholly inappropriate for me to tell you what my lunch plans are. Here, play this clip.

[Democratic Congressmember Jared Moskowitz]

Mr. Frouch, thanks for being here. Coming across the pond. I'm sorry to hear you're leaving the hearing early.

[Nigel Farage]

Well, it's not a question of leaving the hearing early, but I do have other things to do.

[Democratic Congressmember Jared Moskowitz]

Oh, where are you going?

[Nigel Farage]

I'm so sorry about that.

[Democratic Congressmember Jim McGovern]

It's okay.

[Democratic Congressmember Jared Moskowitz]

Where you going?

[Nigel Farage]

It's not lunch, I promise you.

[Democratic Congressmember Jared Moskowitz]

It's not lunch. You're not going to have lunch?

[Nigel Farage]

I don't think so.

[Political Commentator/Host]

No.

[Democratic Congressmember Jared Moskowitz]

No lunch.

[Nigel Farage]

Sad, isn't it?

[Democratic Congressmember Jared Moskowitz]

You're meeting with the president.

[Nigel Farage]

I can't remember what the schedule is.

[Democratic Congressmember Jared Moskowitz]

You can't remember if you're meeting with the president?

[Nigel Farage]

I'm being very polite, and I'm not going to tell you what I'm doing this afternoon, but I can assure you that.

[Democratic Congressmember Jared Moskowitz]

But there's the free speech hearing. You're not going to tell me what you're doing this afternoon?

[Nigel Farage]

Oh, there's. Free speech is one thing. Discretion is quite another, too.

[Democratic Congressmember Jared Moskowitz]

Okay.

[Democratic Congressmember Jim McGovern]

All right.

[Democratic Congressmember Jared Moskowitz]

So you're leaving to have. You're leaving to have lunch with the president, so.

[Political Commentator/Host]

And then Nigel Farage quite literally flees the hearing right ahead of Democratic Congressmember Dan Goldman's questioning because he was afraid Play this clip.

[Nigel Farage]

Well, I remember the Russia hoax very, very well. We had shades of it earlier on this morning, but that's what I was saying. But not much more than that, I'm pleased to say.

[Political Commentator/Host]

Well, thank you and Mr. Chairman, with that I'll yield back.

[Nigel Farage]

Thank you. And we're going to have to go, Mr. Chairman, but thank you very much, Mr. Farage.

[Democratic Congressmember Jamie Raskin]

You can blame it on me. One more oh, you're avoiding me, Mr. Farage.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Thank you.

[Democratic Congressmember Jamie Raskin]

The chair now recognizes the gentleman from.

[Republican Congressman Mike Johnson]

New York, Mr. Goldman.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I'm sorry to see you leave, Mr. Farage.

[Political Commentator/Host]

I actually had much that we agree.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Upon and was looking forward to your.

[Political Commentator/Host]

Testimony because it is, it's very nice and refreshing to hear from my GOP.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Colleagues that they are worried about authoritarianism.

[Political Commentator/Host]

But he was ripped to shreds, Nigel Farage, that is by Democratic Congressmember Jamie Raskin, who tore him to pieces. He here at Play this clip on.

[Democratic Congressmember Jamie Raskin]

Free speech in Hong Kong, Tibet, Xinjiang, or the persecution trial of Jimmy Lai. Or maybe a journalist about the Saudi Crown Prince's assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, the Washington Post writer who demanded freedom from religious persecution and oppression in Saudi Arabia. But no, the dictators of the world have got nothing to fear from this hearing. The Republicans called it to attack our democratic allies in Europe. The star witness is not a human rights leader like Navalny, but a far right pro Putin politician who leads the UK Reform Party, a party that is four members out of 650 members in the Parliament. He calls England an authoritarian regime while saying that Vladimir Putin is the world leader he admires the most. Well, this hearing mimics Vice President J.D. vance, who went to the Munich Security Conference in February. In the first two minutes of his speech whitewashed the world's leading autocratic regimes, proclaiming that the threat that worries him is not Russia, it's not China, he said, but rather it's our European allies. Amazing. Republicans are promoting far right parties in Europe like Alternative for Deutschland, Reform UK and Hasan Bliment National Francais and ignoring massive repression in Russia, China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and among all the autocrats of the world, Republicans are vilifying European liberal democracies simply for engaging in the kind of line drawing exercises that we Americans engage in under our First Amendment with respect to the epidemic of child pornography, protecting children from other harmful content, defamatory speech, online scams and false advertising, and speech inciting riots and imminent lawless action. All forms of speech that the First Amendment does not protect and whose tricky contours must still be drawn by law. We could have a meaningful hearing on this complicated subject, but this hearing is just a drive by hit against a strong democratic ally to benefit a Donald Trump sycophant and wannabe. But it's even worse than this. Not only are colleagues ignoring intensifying repression in the world's dictatorships, they're also trying to distract the world from the attack on freedom taking place right here in America every single day.

[Political Commentator/Host]

And take a look at just how uncomfortable Farage looks as Congressmember Jamie Raskin uses his opening statement to just absolutely demolish him. Watch what goes down here. Play this clip Protectors of free speech.

[Democratic Congressmember Jamie Raskin]

But they only want to protect speech they agree with in the UK Mr. Farage is openly promoting the abolition of the Human Rights act of 1998 to be replaced with a British Bill of Rights that limits the right of free speech to British citizens and legally sanctioned residents. He complains that racist threats against immigrants are not protected free speech while he proposes to strip migrants, tourists and perhaps even visiting American congresspeople of any free speech rights at all. I had my own close encounter with that when Mr. Farage and his team presented for more than an hour in a conversation we had about free speech, and after three minutes of talking he cut me off and terminated the meeting because he didn't like what I was saying. That's the kind of free speech he's committed to. There is a free speech crisis in America today, but there's no free speech crisis in Britain. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has not shut down GB News, where Mr. Farage has his own show. Just because Mr. Farage has used his airtime to call for banning peaceful protests that he disagrees with, no one has stopped him from going on Russian TV 17 times and saying also and repeating that the one world political leader he most admired was Vladimir Putin. Even though Vladimir Putin is a war criminal and a dictator who has regularly interfered in other countries democratic elections, no one has stopped Mr. Farage from parroting Putin's absurd talking points, like when Farage claimed that NATO, the US and Britain provoked this war in Ukraine. For a man who fashions himself as some kind of a free speech martyr, Mr. Farage seems most at home with the autocrats and dictators of the world who are crushing freedom on earth. Mr. Farage wants to get rid of the Online Safety act in his country, a law shepherded by the Conservative Party and implemented by the Labor Party, which bans child pornography online, protects children from harmful content, forbids non consensual pornography and other unlawful content. He should go and advance the positions he's taking here in Congress today in Parliament which is meeting today if he's serious about it. To the people of UK who think this Putin loving free speech imposter and Trump sycophant will protect freedom in your country that come on over to America and see what Trump and MAGA are doing to destroy our freedom, kidnap college students off the street, ban books from our libraries, militarize our police and unleash them against our communities, take over our universities, wreck our professional civil service and turn the government into a money making machine for Trump and his family. You might think twice before you let Mr. Farage make Britain great again. I yield.

[Political Commentator/Host]

Back then you had Congressmember Raskin also talk about how when private comments made by federal employees are scrutinized for anti Trump bias, we're now in the territory of Putin, Stalin, Kim Jong Un world. That's what Trump and Nigel Farages of the world and all this right wing blabber has turned the United States into. Here, play this clip or because they.

[Democratic Congressmember Jamie Raskin]

Honestly gave honest economic information and labor statistics to the public, these honorable civil servants are being fired because they won't be the political hacked Trump demands that they be. When private comments made by federal employees are scrutinized for anti Trump bias and they can lose their jobs because of it, then we've entered the realm not just of Vladimir Putin, but of Joseph Stalin. Now Mr. Trump and Mr. Farage both claim they're protectors of free speech to but they only want to protect speech they agree with in the UK Mr. Farage is openly promoting the abolition of the Human Rights act of 1998 to be replaced with a British Bill of Rights that limits the right of free speech to British citizens and legally sanctioned residents. He complains that racist threats against immigrants are not protected free speech. While he proposes to strip migrants, tourists and perhaps even visiting American congresspeople of any free speech rights at all. I had my own close encounter with that when Mr. Farage and his team presented for more than an hour in a conversation we had about free speech. And after three minutes of talking he cut me off and terminated the meeting because he didn't like what I was saying. That's the kind of free speech he's committed to. There is a free speech crisis in America today, but there's no free speech crisis in Britain. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is has not shut down GB News, where Mr. Farage has his own show. Just because Mr. Farage has used his airtime to call for banning peaceful protests that he disagrees with, no one has stopped him from going on Russian TV 17 times and saying also and repeating that the one world political leader he most admired was Vladimir Putin. Even though Vladimir Putin is a war criminal and a dictator who has regularly interfered in other countries democratic elections, no one has stopped Mr. Farage from parroting Putin's absurd talking points, like when Farage claimed that NATO, the US And Britain provoked this war in Ukraine. For a man who fashions himself as some kind of a free speech martyr, Mr. Farage seems most at home with the autocrats and dictators of the world who are crushing freedom on earth.

[Political Commentator/Host]

Now bringing you to the House floor, Democratic Congress member Jim McGovern pulls out his phone and shows do you realize that as the victims, or I should say survivors of Epstein and Ghislaine are courageously coming forward and they're demanding the release of the Epstein and Ghislaine and I should call them Trump files as well. Donald Trump is in the Oval Office saying that what's going on is a hoax. Look at the video right here. Trump's calling it a hoax. The Epstein victims, survivors want the Massie kind of bill passed and Trump's attacking them. Here, play this clip.

[Democratic Congressmember Jim McGovern]

It is shameful. And speaking about the Epstein files again, I'm looking at the video of a few minutes ago. Donald Trump speaking to reporters calling all this a hoax. All this the Epstein files a hoax. He's not talking about what we're doing here. And by the way, let me just say to the gentleman and anybody else who wants to know, listen to what the victims were asking for outside this capitol just a few minutes ago. The survivors, the survivors of Mr. Epstein and Ms. Maxwell, listen to what the survivors have been saying. They want the mass economy passed. They want something with teeth in it that will force this administration to comply because they don't trust.

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[Political Commentator/Host]

More from Democratic Congressmember McGovern on the House floor and he goes, you MAGA Republican, you are so pathetic. You're just pathetic people. You guys think you work for Trump. Every single Republican in the Rules Committee, all of you pathetic losers, voted against releasing the Epstein files. Oh, you've all said we want full transparency, but that's not true. You then vote against the Epstein files. You try to block the resolution, the discharge petition to release the files. You are all pathetic. Play this clip.

[Democratic Congressmember Jim McGovern]

This is all about the ego of the man who lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. You guys think you work for Trump. You're obsessed with him. It's pathetic. Republicans are ruining this institution, Mr. Speaker. Destroying this institution. Again, let me repeat. Every single Republican on the Rules Committee voted against releasing the Epstein files. Every single one. I mean, we heard last night that all Republicans want full transparency, but that's just not true. Let me read you a quote from the top Republican in this country, President Donald J. Trump. This is what he says about the Epstein files and I quote, it's all been a big hoax. It's perpetrated by the Democrats and some stupid Republicans, end quote. And at a press availability, just minutes ago, the President again said that this is all a hoax. Now what do Republicans think of that? Donald Trump says this is all a hoax and if you want to release the files, you're stupid. Now I'm not surprised. I'm not surprised that the guy who once called Epstein a quote, terrific guy and who Epstein considered his, quote, closest friend is not actually interested in getting to the truth. But, you know, when this clicked in for me, Mr. Speaker, and for a lot of people, it clicked after Trump won, and then the backtracking began. It clicked again yesterday. You know, it clicked. It clicked after Republicans. It clicked after the same Republican leaders who invited influence to the White House and then passed out binders about too soon to be released clientless suddenly changed their tune. And it clicked again yesterday when phase two of the binders came out. More information released that's already been released. 97% of it has already been released. It clicked when the same MAGA politicians who once pledged to release everything suddenly came up with more excuses, more delays, and more stalling tactics. And what is obvious to everyone is that someone is hiding something. And while all this stalling goes on, what happens? Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's partner in crime, winds up in a cushy country club prison, courtesy of Trump's political appointees. Not a word, not a word of outrage from this Republican majority. Not a whisper of accountability. Just silence. Now, let's not pretend that this is complicated. It's pretty obvious what's going on. The Trump administration has the power to release the Epstein files today. They could redact names to protect victims and survivors and deliver the truth, but they refused.

[Political Commentator/Host]

Even Republican Congressmember Thomas Massie is calling out his own party and calling out Donald Trump and Republican Congressmember Massey, who, by the way, has been a strong champion for the Epstein survivors and for the release here. I gotta give Massie credit for that. Um, and he's been working on a bipartisan basis with Democratic Congressmember Ro Khanna. And here Massie says, I don't think that there's a precedent in this country where the President of the United States calls legislators to say, you're engaging in a hostile act against me, against the presidency. If you support releasing files that expose a pedo sex trafficking ring. So Donald Trump saying it is a hostile act to try to get justice for the victims of sex trafficking. That's a first in the presidency. And this is coming from a Republican, Thomas Massie. And again, I don't care what side of the political aisle you're from. If you don't agree with what Thomas Massie say, you better look yourself in the mirror and say, something is seriously wrong with me. Here, play this clip.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Updates on the discharge petition. Do you think you'll get the number of signatures you need?

[Democratic Congressmember Ro Khanna]

I think we'll eventually get there. What people are waking up and discovering right now is the folks who stayed up all night to go through the 34,000 individual pages, have found that they're so redacted as to be useless and that many of them were already available.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Do you think this oversight tactic is releasing these documents? I mean, how do you actually read it? Clearly they're pushing for more transparency, but it seems like it's not enough for you.

[Democratic Congressmember Ro Khanna]

Well, I appreciate the effort that they've undertaken, but the scope of their investigation is to investigate the investigators. Like they don't ever intend to have any criminal referrals. There may be some notations from the oversight committee when this is done that oh, this FBI person didn't check this box or this person acted unethically or this person got too light of a sentence, but they're not going in and trying to identify who these perpetrators were of these heinous sexual abuse crimes.

[Narrator/Announcer]

I wanted to ask which Republicans you think will end up signing onto your discharge?

[Democratic Congressmember Ro Khanna]

Well, I made the mistake of getting 12 co sponsors and so the White House knew who to target. So I'm not going to name anybody who's thinking about joining.

[Narrator/Announcer]

But you're confident you'll get the speeches?

[Democratic Congressmember Ro Khanna]

I'm pretty sure. I mean there's, it's strong effort from the White House. They are literally calling it a hostile act to sign this discharge petition now. And I don't know if that's precedented in this country to have a president call legislators to say that they're engaged in a hostile act, particularly when the so called hostile act is trying to get justice for people who've been victims of sex crimes.

[Political Commentator/Host]

Now, one of my favorite Democratic Congress members, a true fighter, someone who absolutely crushes it on the Rules Committee. Democratic Congressmember Joe Negus, here he is on the floor and he's like, you Republicans, you just spend the whole day whining about Biden. We're like, September 4th, we're deep into September at this point. Are you just going to blame Biden? In 2028 and 2026, it's all Biden, verb, adjective. Here, play this clip.

[Narrator/Announcer]

My colleague from Minnesota, I think said the word Biden eight times. If I'm not mistaken. You couple that with references to the prior administration. That jumps up to 12 or 13. It's unclear to me when Republicans are going to stop complaining and actually do something to address the challenges that face our country. They spend more time talking about Joe Biden than they do about reducing costs. Every sentence from that side of the aisle, Biden a verb, an adjective and more coal. That's essentially the Sum total of every sentence. And by the way, my colleagues, I suspect, are watching from their offices. I know that more of my colleagues are going to come to the floor here to engage in debate on. I don't know how many cras are they putting on the floor today? Three, four, five? That's all we do around here is cras. So I encourage them as they're watching, please, when you come to the floor, maybe spend some time talking about your affirmative vision for the country and not so much time talking about the prior president.

[Political Commentator/Host]

So right there then, Democratic Congressmember Negu said, you know what? Facts do matter. The truth does matter. Under Donald Trump right now, Americans are paying far more for electricity. So spare me your fake tears, spare me your outrage y' all are causing. It's because of what you're doing by killing energy, wind, solar, going after Biden's crowning achievements, that that is one of the reasons that you're destroying energy. The Infrastructure Act, Inflation Reduction act, because you go, oh, green is too woke up. Windmills at work, you idiots. Here, play this clip.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. First and foremost, facts matter. Under President Trump, Americans are paying more for their electricity than ever before. Ever before. Energy costs right now are higher than they have ever been. They're increasing at twice the rate of inflation. So, you know, spare us lectures about energy costs as Republicans preside over an economy in which everything is getting more expensive health care, more expensive groceries, more expensive energy costs going through the roof. Seriously, their answer to all of this? More coal. That's it. That's the sum total of the Republican response to the cost of living crisis in the United States of America today, From Arkansas to Colorado to Minnesota and everywhere in between. More coal. That's their prescription. Mr. Speaker, I can tell you in Colorado, we certainly don't think that's a prudent approach.

[Political Commentator/Host]

Next up, Democratic Congressmember Jim McGovern says, Do you realize that the Republicans are still too cowardly to hang up this plaque honoring the officers that's required by law. There's a law that says this plaque goes up honoring the January 6th officers who gave their life and some who were seriously injured. You refused to hold the plaque because your orange blob dictator is anti the January 6th. Police pretends that the 2020 election was stolen. That's what you're doing here. Play this clip.

[Democratic Congressmember Jim McGovern]

And here's the kicker. This majority still hasn't even hung the plaque honoring those officers. A plaque required by law. Required by law. So instead of a sham committee, how about you get a screwdriver and hang the damn plaque. Because every day it sits in a box is another day Republicans dishonor the heroes who defended this place. But if they insist on this little circus, at least, at least investigate something real, like why Donald Trump pardon people who assaulted police officers.

[Political Commentator/Host]

More from Congressmember McGovern right here. Another powerful moment where McGovern says, Listen to the survivors. Listen to the survivors, and you'll see how pathetic Donald Trump is. Let's play it.

[Democratic Congressmember Jim McGovern]

You know, while he was going on that tirade, I went back and I listened to Donald Trump's press conference at the White House. And not only did he call move to release the Epstein files a, you know, a Democratic hoax, he said it was designed to get the American people to focus in on something that was irrelevant. Now, let that sink in. I mean, if you listen to the survivors that were in front of the Capitol just a few minutes ago, listen to their horror stories, that, that, that is, that's irrelevant. I mean, that's. That the President of the United States of America would say something like that is pathetic. And, you know, I mean, he could, you know, very easily put all this controversy to rest by just releasing the files. And that is why we need to pass the Mass Econna bill, because we could actually pass a bill that will compel him to do that. What you all did in the Rules Committee last night is a resolution that doesn't really mean anything. It's designed as cover.

[Political Commentator/Host]

Speaking of pathetic, then MAGA Mike Johnson accuses California Governor Gavin Newsom of anti Christian rhetoric because Governor Newsom said in response to the Minneapolis school shooting, the kids were literally praying. So spare me the thoughts and prayers alone. Thoughts and prayers are great, but we need common sense gun reform. We need action. We need to take guns off the street. We do also need mental health programs, which Republicans have all defunded. They defunded the program in Minneapolis and across the country. So, yes, thoughts and prayers. I'm fine with thoughts and prayers. I send thoughts and prayers. But what I also want to send is action. Action, like getting it done. Like common sense gun reform, like mental health programs. That's what I want. You heard MAGA Mike Johnson, what he has to say. Right. We played it.

[Republican Congressman Mike Johnson]

I just got a comment on Governor Newsom, his anti Christian rhetoric, anti religious rhetoric. Just one personal point here last week. I mean, he called me out personally a couple times and he shamelessly mocked the victims of Annunciation Catholic School for praying after the shooting, went online and did it in writing. I just I just found it reprehensible. I mean, it's really sick. In response to a video of Caroline Levitt discussing power of prayer amid great tragedy, the governor posted, quote, these children were literally praying as they got shot. I mean, what, like why would you do that? Why would you do that except that you were starving for attention? It's detestable. Two children were murdered, more than a dozen were hospitalized. And Gavin Newsom's response was to sneer and condemn those who seek out our Creator in our darkest moments. I just thought it was. I just thought it was evil. In fact, it's indicative of such a profound moral decay that really the only hope forecast prayer ironically, and we're told in scripture to do that. As people of faith, we believe in the strength of prayer and intercession. It's foundational to who we are as believers and by the way, who we are as Americans. It's woven into the fabric of our country, our deep Judeo Christian heritage. And it's something that we represent as the leader of the state, the largest Christian population in America. I will keep Gavin, Governor Newsom, and also the people of California in my prayers. And I think you ought to be called out and anybody, anybody who does that should be called out.

[Political Commentator/Host]

For next up, finally we have Republican Congressmember Massey telling his Republican colleagues, grow a freaking spine here, play this clip.

[Democratic Congressmember Ro Khanna]

I hope my colleagues are watching this press conference. I want them to think, what if this was your sister? What if this was your daughter? When these survivors speak. The Washington establishment is asking the American public to believe something that is not believable. They're asking you to believe that two individuals created hundreds of victims and they acted alone. And that the DOJ has no idea of who else might have been involved. That nobody else did anything that rose to a criminal enterprise. The American people know that's not true. Now the speaker of the House just offered a fig leaf to my colleagues. They're going to vote on a non binding resolution today that does absolutely nothing.

[Commercial Narrator]

There you have it folks.

[Political Commentator/Host]

Let me know what you think. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 6 million subscribers. Appreciate you love this video. Support independent media and unlock exclusive content ad free videos and custom emojis by becoming a paid member of our YouTube YouTube channel today. You can also gift memberships to others. Let's keep growing together.

[Democratic Congressmember Jamie Raskin]

If you know your party's Extension, press.

[Democratic Congressmember Jim McGovern]

Or say 1 to leave a message.

[Democratic Congressmember Jamie Raskin]

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[Democratic Congressmember Jim McGovern]

Press or say 2. Spoiler alert.

[Republican Congressman Mike Johnson]

It will be full.

[Narrator/Announcer]

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[Political Commentator/Host]

In that tone, speak to her.

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[Democratic Congressmember Jim McGovern]

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[Democratic Congressmember Jim McGovern]

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