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Host/Narrator
Reggie, I just sold my car online.
Co-host/Commentator
Let's go, Grandpa. Wait, you did?
Host/Narrator
Yep, on Carvana. Just put in the license plate, answered a few questions, got an offer in minutes. Easier than setting up that new digital picture frame.
Co-host/Commentator
You don't say.
Host/Narrator
Yeah, they're even picking it up tomorrow. Talk about fast.
Co-host/Commentator
Wow.
Host/Narrator
Way to go.
Co-host/Commentator
So, about that picture frame.
Host/Narrator
Ah, forget about it. Until Carvana makes one, I'm not interested.
Co-host/Commentator
Car selling made easy on Carvana.
Host/Narrator
Pickup fees may apply. MAGA Republicans had a very bad day on Capitol Hill yesterday, as finally, Democrats in the House and in the Senate went on the offense in various hearings yesterday to expose the Trump regime to call out the MAGA Republicans and bring transparency to issues that the American people care about. So the Democrats in the House and the Senate, on a bicameral basis, conducted unofficial shadow hearings, as they're called, regarding ICE and Border Patrol terrorism across the country. They had to do these as shadow hearings because MAGA Republicans want to cover up Trump's ICE and Border Patrol forces engaging in these terroristic acts and these killings against people in this country. So Democrats in the House and the Senate brought witnesses who are survivors and victims of Trump's Border Patrol and ICE terrorism, and they gave some of the most compelling testimony. We'll talk about what went down there. Then in the House, MAGA Republicans wanted a whole day hearing on what they said is a major issue. Men playing female sports. And they wanted to further divide the country with their social and cultural war issues during an election year. I'll show you how Democrats flipped the script, neutralized what the MAGA Republicans were doing, and then went on the offense. Then in the Senate, there was a hearing where the NIH director, Dr. J. Bhattacharya, was called to testify. And you had senators like Bernie Sanders cross examining Bhattacharya and exposing him and RFK Jr. And the fatal consequences of the Trump regime's assault on vaccines and science and medicine. So let's go through what went down. So at the shadow hearings, you had the victims and survivors of ICE and Border Patrol terrorism testify. One of the witnesses was Miramar Martinez, who was shot five times by Border Patrol agents back on October 4, 2025. Border Patrol agents then made up a fabricated story that they feared for their life because they said Miriam Martinez attacked them with the vehic and she rear ended them and they had to shoot her. And that's what happened. They then tried to have her prosecuted federally. They wanted her to go to prison essentially for the rest of her life because they said she Attacked them. Then all of the videos and contemporaneous evidence showed that what the Border Patrol agents were saying was an utter lie, and the charges against Miramar Martinez were dismissed. But she still suffers as a result of being shot five times. Well, she testified before the shadow hearings before Democrats in the House and the Senate and Democratic Congress member Robert Garcia, who is the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee. He was questioning Miramar Martinez, and he brought out text messages during the questions which showed that the Border Patrol agents who shot her five times were sending text messages bragging about shooting her. And they would say things like, shot her five times and got seven holes. Great work, boys. That's how you do it, boys. Watch as Congressmember Garcia reads these text messages while Mirimar Martinez is testifying. This brought tears to my eyes. Let's play it. It's disgusting, shameful, and it gets worse. Ms. Martinez, these are images of texts sent by the agent who shot you. And they're actually disturbing to read, but I think it's important for the public to see this. The agent linked an article about your shooting and texted. Read it. Five shots, seven holes. I fired five rounds and she had seven holes. Put that in your book, boys. Oh, well, it is what it is. Shit happens. This is someone that works for the United States government. I fired five rounds and she had seven holes. Now, he was talking about you. And it's our understanding that he was actually bragging about his aim, shooting an unarmed American citizen. Is that right?
Witness/Testifier
Correct.
Host/Narrator
I'm so sorry. Ms. Martinez, DHS has allowed the agent who shot you to remove evidence and to potentially destroy it. Is that correct?
Witness/Testifier
Correct.
Host/Narrator
Next, I want to share with you what Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett had to say as she flipped the script when MAGA Republicans were trying to do their own hearing. Injecting culture war issues, Congresswoman Crockett brought things back into focus. Called out Donald Trump's appearance in The Epstein files 38,000 times. And she called out the real issues that are affecting our country. Here, play this clip right here.
Witness/Testifier
I don't understand why and where my colleagues are going on everything else. And now they want to be the protectors of girls and women. I didn't hear them screaming this. When Renee Goode was killed in the middle of the street in Minneapolis, I didn't hear any protection for Renee Good, a US citizen that was killed by the same people that the vast majority of you just voted to give more money to. I didn't hear the same thing. In fact, it was a lot of Crickets, including, specifically including the women as we were just lectured about what we need to do as women. When it came down to the Epstein files, I heard crickets. In fact, we could not get any signatures onto that discharge petition to the extent that we shut down the entire House and there was no business that was conducted in this entire country on behalf of our constituents. But let me be clear. The Republicans are going to protect girls and women because that's what this is all about. It's not about the report, because the amendment says it's about a report like Miss Me on being protectors. Just say that this is what you believe, this is what you doing. But don't come at us and tell us as women what we should be okay with, what we shouldn't be okay with. Because it's just kind of like the same thing where I should be telling a lot of women on the other side of the aisle. I don't know how it is that you are not protecting women as they need protections over their own bodies to make their own decisions.
Host/Narrator
And now I want to show you Senator Bernie Sanders cross examining NIH Director Bhattacharya. Let's watch this beautiful cross exam by Bernie Sanders here. Play this clip. We have to address the deep distrust that has developed over the last several years by the public of.
Co-host/Commentator
Regarding.
Host/Narrator
I'm sorry to interrupt you. I don't have a lot of time. You're right. There is deep mistrust. Do you think that deep mistrust now has something to do when you have an organization like the American Medical association.
Co-host/Commentator
Telling us that vaccines do not cause.
Host/Narrator
Autism, but you have a secretary of HHS who says the very opposite? Do you think that causes concern and mistrust among parents? Senator, in 2024, there was a study published into the Journal of the American Medical association that said that only about 40% of patients still trust their doctors. As someone who went to medical school myself is absolutely shocking. And that's before Secretary Kennedy took took office. We have to address this mistrust, but it has to be a bipartisan effort. Let me ask you a simple question. Tell the American people I appreciate your thoughts on measles.
Co-host/Commentator
Do vaccines cause autism?
Host/Narrator
Tell that to the American people. Yes. No, I do not believe that the measles vaccine causes autism.
Co-host/Commentator
No, I didn't ask measles, do vaccines cause autism?
Host/Narrator
I have not seen a study that suggests any single vaccine causes autism.
Co-host/Commentator
Okay, thank you.
Host/Narrator
Now I want to share with you Miramar Martinez's testimony. I thought this was so powerful and compelling. As Democrats brought forward people who survived the terrorism or family members of people who got killed by ICE and Border Patrol Gestapo. So Miramar Martinez and explains what happened to her. Someone who was born and raised in Chicago who on October 4, 2025 was shot five times by Border Patrol agents.
Witness/Testifier
Play this clip I come from a beautiful family full of immigrants. I am proud of my roots. I am born and raised in Chicago, Illinois where I learned the values of resilience, community, respect, love and hope. Those lessons have shaped me since childhood and continue to guide me through my adult life. On October 4, 2025, those values were tested when my life was nearly taken by my own government.
Host/Narrator
She then talks about driving past the Border Patrol agents and what happened.
Witness/Testifier
Play this clip Seemed like time stopped. I knew from watching the news coverage of other Border Patrol encounters in Chicago that I was in danger. I watched the vehicle of agent Border Patrol agent killing Silverio Villegas Gonzalez just three weeks prior. I knew I had to get to safety before I was dragged from my car and likely beaten or killed. I drove forward and went around the Border Patrol agents who jumped out of his car and pointed his gun at me. I moved to the far left lane striking the curve on the far left side of Katzee. The next thing I knew I felt a burning sensation in my arms, legs and that I had been shot by pepper balls which I which I also seen these agents fire at people in our community. As I continue to drive past the Border Patrol agents, I could hear my back passenger window shatter and I felt bullets continue to pierce my body. As I attempted to drive to a safe location, I began to feel lightheaded. I looked down and I noticed blood gushing out of my arms and legs and I realized I've been shot multiple times. As I became lightheaded, I became worried I will pass out and endanger other drivers on the road. I managed to drive a mile from where the incident happened and I pulled into a parking lot of a mechanic shop and I called 911. I told the 911 operator the border Patrol agents had just shot me and I needed help. I recall some of the workers from the shop sitting me down in a chair as I was waiting for help but I was losing this battle. I saw my life flash before me and slowly began to think this was the end for me. And before losing consciousness, the next thing I remember is the EMT putting me on a stretcher taking me to the hospital. At the hospital I remember seeing multiple agents standing around watching me be treated for my wounds. My Arms, legs and chest were all wrapped in bandages. I had seven bullet holes in my body. I remember the agents rushing the nurses to finish up so they could take me with them. I still felt dizzy. I was not able to fully process what had happened to me. After being at the hospital for less than three hours, I was discharged from the hospital and took custody of the FBI. As we left the hospital, I was escorted out through the back in a wheelchair.
Host/Narrator
She talks about being escorted out through the back in a wheelchair and how one of the agents took photographs of her. Play this clip.
Witness/Testifier
After being at the hospital for less than three hours, I was discharged from the hospital and took custody of the FBI. As we left the hospital, I was escorted out through the back in a wheelchair. I observed over dozens of border patrol agents waiting outside the hospital. One of the agents came up to me with his cell phone and took a photograph of me. It was the same agent who had previously kept coming in and out of my room and I had to repeatedly tell him to leave. I told him I did not consent for him to photograph me, but he did not care. It still haunts me that this agent has my photo on his phone. Was this the agent that shot me? Was this a trophy for him?
Host/Narrator
And she talks about being rushed out of the hospital. Let's play this clip right here.
Witness/Testifier
I was next taken to the FBI building for further processing. Because they rushed me out of the hospital so quickly, the blood started soaking through the bandages. I heard the agents talking about how the jail will not accept me in this current condition. I begged the agents to take me to a different hospital to give me proper medical care. Seeing me stand in a pool of my own blood, they were concerned about my health. One of the kind. FBI agents brought a bag of additional bandages and worked quickly to pull more dressings over my bloody bandages. The FBI agents agreed to take me to a different hospital where my wounds were treated again and I received additional medical care before being released back into law enforcement. Before being released back to law enforcement custody the following day.
Host/Narrator
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Witness/Testifier
Play this clip I pleaded for emergency medical care for over an hour after my vision had become blurry. My heart rate went through the roof and the pain in my neck and head became unbearable. It was denied. When I became unable to speak, my cellmate pleaded for me. The last sounds I remember before I blacked out on the cell floor were my cellmate banging on the door, pleading for a medic, and a voice outside saying we we don't want to step on ice's toes. When I opened my eyes at Hennepin County's emergency room, I learned I was brought there to be treated for assault. The impacts of DHS detention on my physical, mental and financial well being and safety have been very severe. But I do not deserve more humane treatment than anyone else US citizen or or not. And I am here today with a strong spirit and a duty to the many people who haven't had the privilege to tell their stories or see their loved ones come home. I am extremely distressed by the pattern that violence from law enforcement has been happening to black and indigenous communities for centuries and to DHS survivors for over 20 years. We call ourselves a civilized nation. But we lack rules and accountability around what a person claiming to be law enforcement is permitted to do to another human being. I am not afraid and I'm not afraid to keep working on this problem even after ICE is gone. Thank you for your time.
Host/Narrator
Now this next testimony brought tears to my eyes when I watched it live as well. You had Luke Ganger, brother of Renee Nicole Goode, share what his family has experienced right now, having lost Renee Nicole Goode, play this clip.
Co-host/Commentator
Thank you Ranking member Blumenthal and Ranking member Garcia and distinguished members of Congress. My name is Luke Ganger and I'm here with my brother Brent. Renee Goode is our sister. We're here on behalf of Nay's big family and those who loved her. We're here to ask for your help. I was Talking to my 4 year old last week when she noticed I was not doing well. I had to come here today and talk to some important people. She knows that her aunt died and that somebody caused it to happen. She told me that there are no bad people and that everyone makes mistakes. She has Nay's spirit. The deep distress our family feels because of Nay's losses in such a violent and unnecessary way is complicated by feelings of disbelief, distress and desperation for change. In the last few weeks, our family took some consolation, thinking that perhaps Nay's death would bring about change in our country. And it has not. The completely surreal scenes taking place on the streets of Minneapolis are beyond explanation. This is not just a bad day or a rough week or isolated incidents. These encounters with federal agents are changing the community and changing many lives, including ours, forever. And I still don't know how to explain to my 4 year old what these agents are doing when we pass by. Our family is deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support from the community in Minneapolis and from people across the country and around the world. The prayers and words of support have truly brought us comfort. And it is meaningful that these sentiments have come from people of all colors, faiths and ideals. That is a perfect reflection of Renee, who carried peace, patience and love for others wherever she went.
Host/Narrator
Here's Brett Ganger, another brother of Renee Goode. Here's what he has to say. Play this clip.
Co-host/Commentator
My name is Brent Ganger and I'd like to share some thoughts from the eulogy that I gave on my sister's behalf this past Saturday. When I think of Renee, I think of dandelions and sunlight. Dandelions don't ask permission to grow. They push through cracks in the sidewalk, through hard soil, through Places where you don't expect beauty. And suddenly there they are. Bright, alive, unapologetically, hopefully. That was Renee and sunlight. Warm, steady, life giving. Because when she walked in a room, things felt lighter. Even on cloudy days. Renee had a way of showing up in the world that made you believe things were going to be okay. Not because she ignored the hardship, but because she chose optimism anyway. She chose to look for what was good, what was possible, and what was worth loving. Nene loved fiercely, openly and without hesitation. As a mother, Renee poured herself into love. The kind of love that shows up every day, that sacrifices quietly, that cheers loudly, that believes deeply. Her children were and are her heart. Walking around outside her body. And she made sure they felt safe, valued and endlessly loved. As a sister, she was constant. Someone you could lean on, laugh with, or just sit in silence beside. She had a way of making you feel understood, even when you didn't have the words yet. She didn't just listen. She saw you. She believed in second chances. She believed tomorrow could be better than today. She believed that kindness mattered. And she lived that belief even when things were hard. Nay looked for the light. And if she couldn't find it, she became the light for somebody else. It was the excessively ordinary things that made Ney so beautiful. There are billions of people who now know her name, and it would be so easy to fall into the false belief. The great heroic things are required to overcome difficult things in the world. But as Tolkien wrote, it is the small, everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love. That's why the image of dandelions feels so right. People try to pull them up, overlook them, dismiss them, but they keep coming back, stronger, brighter, spreading seeds of hope everywhere they land. Renee planted those seeds in all of us. And her children, In her family, In friends, co workers, and people who maybe didn't even realize they needed her light at the time. In sunlight, sunlight doesn't ask for recognition, it just gives. It warms, it nurtures it, helps things grow. Rene did that for us. She helped us grow. She helped us believe in ourselves. She helped us see the good, even when life felt heavy. Renee is not gone from us. She's in the light that finds us on hard days. She's in the resilience we didn't know we had until we needed it. She's in the laughter, the memories, the love that continues to grow, like dandelions, like sunlight. And like Renee. Thank you.
Host/Narrator
And I just want to contrast that testimony that was elicited and that is what I think should be taking place at congressional hearings. Now contrast that to what MAGA Republicans were doing. So here you have MAGA Republican Senator Ted Cruz at another hearing that took place where they brought in Netflix executives. Here's what Ted Cruz had to say. Here, play this clip. Did either of y' all watch the Grammys this week? I did not. Just the tail end of it. One simple question. Are we right now on stolen land? I have no idea the history of this land, of this where we're sitting today. Nor do I, Senator. So that speaks volumes that neither of you are willing to say, hell no, we're not on stolen land. And I will say at the Grammys, when you see an entertainer sitting, say, nobody is illegal while we're on stolen land. And then you see entertainers leap to their feet clapping so excitedly at the notion that America's fundamentally illegitimate. And then going back to that House hearing where they tried to inject all these culture war issues about men and women's sports, here's what Harriet Hageman, MAGA Republican Congresswoman, had to say. Play this clip.
Witness/Testifier
Cisgender is a made up word. Cisgender is that means nothing. Do not call me cisgender. I am a woman. You, this gentleman sitting next to me, he is a man. That's who he is. That is what our title is. That is what we have been described throughout history. We're not. This bill does nothing to prohibit men from competing in men's sports. I will repeat, this bill does nothing to prohibit men from competing in men's sports. It does prohibit men from competing in women's sports. It is that simple. All we have to do is look at what happened during the Paris Olympics where we watched a dude beat the hell out of a woman in a boxing match. And we have people on the other side of the aisle who actually believe that that is okay. That man is not a woman. He has been tested repeatedly. That is a man. And he will not be allowed to compete against women in the future because he is a man. We do not want men beating up women.
Host/Narrator
I mean, do you see the difference right there in what the Democrats are focused on versus what the MAGA Republicans were focused on? Now, I want to share with you Democratic Senator Hassan's cross examination of NIH Director Bhattacharya. I thought this was a very powerful moment as well. Let's play this clip right here. I'm sorry. The patients had the resources they needed to get continuity of care. The commitment the NIH has to Funding cancer research is undiminished. Undiminished. Well, my question is, have you done a study to look at the impact, the harms that cancer patients have experienced if they haven't doing a good, objective scientific study will show that. But have you done a study? I mean the NIH fund studies. We don't conduct directly the studies. Let me just say very clearly, I do not believe that patients care was disrupted because I ordered if there was any disruptions at all that the patients would have continuity of care if there were disruptions. And it is the responsibility of the researchers that were managing the patients, not the nih. That is really an unacceptable and outrageous response. You all disrupted funding. You can make an edict from Washington D.C. oh, don't disrupt continuity of care. But that can be a very complicated thing. And I know that in my state there were disruptions in these studies that have really put patients at risk. And you all should be interested in that data and you should be working to find out whether it happened. Now, I'm going to move to another topic. No, I'm this. I've got only about a minute, 20 seconds, so I want to go to my next topic. Well, again, there you have it. And you could judge for yourself and let me know in the comments how you feel about it. But that shadow hearing on the ICE and border patrol terrorism held by the Democrats I thought was incredibly compelling to hear from people who have experiences that that's what should be going down in congressional hearings, not what Mag is doing. But you saw for yourself. So hit subscribe. Let's get to 6 million subscribers and thanks so much for watching. Love this video. Support independent media and unlock exclusive content ad free videos and custom emojis. By becoming a paid member of our YouTube channel today. You can also gift memberships to others. Let's keep growing together.
Episode Title: GOP Gets Quickly Outmaneuvered at Major Hearings
Date: February 4, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Main Theme:
This episode breaks down a pivotal moment in congressional hearings, where Democrats in the House and Senate took aggressive action to expose what they call "terroristic acts" by Trump-era ICE and Border Patrol agents, while countering the GOP’s attempts to steer the conversation toward culture war issues—especially debates over trans athletes in sports. The Meiselas brothers analyze the impact of survivor testimonies, pointed questioning from Democratic lawmakers, and how Republicans’ hearing strategies were quickly outmaneuvered and exposed. The episode features powerful, emotional testimony from victims and their families, as well as sharp Senate exchanges on science policy and culture war issues.
Democrats’ Offensive Tactic: In the face of GOP efforts to stonewall and cover up abuses, Democrats hold “shadow hearings” to give voice to survivors and victims’ families.
Miramar Martinez’s Story:
"Read it. Five shots, seven holes. I fired five rounds and she had seven holes. Put that in your book, boys. Oh well, it is what it is. Shit happens." – Rep. Garcia quoting agent texts (04:36)
Detailed Testimonies from the Stand:
"I am born and raised in Chicago, Illinois... On October 4, 2025, those values were tested when my life was nearly taken by my own government." (09:01)
“I didn't hear them screaming... when Renee Goode was killed... It was a lot of crickets... But let me be clear. The Republicans are going to protect girls and women because that's what this is all about." – Rep. Crockett (05:44)
Bernie Sanders vs. NIH Director Bhattacharya:
Sanders presses Bhattacharya to clearly debunk anti-vaccine myths, directly asking:
“Do vaccines cause autism?” – Sen. Bernie Sanders (08:13)
Sen. Maggie Hassan Grills Bhattacharya on Patient Care Disruptions:
Hassan confronts Bhattacharya about the NIH's responsibility in ensuring patient continuity during research funding pauses:
"That is really an unacceptable and outrageous response. ...You all disrupted funding... in my state there were disruptions in these studies that have really put patients at risk." – Sen. Hassan (29:27)
Aaliyah Rahman’s Experience: (16:11)
“The last sounds I remember before I blacked out on the cell floor were my cellmate banging on the door, pleading for a medic and a voice outside saying, ‘We don't want to step on ICE's toes.’” (16:19)
Family of Renee Nicole Goode: (18:12–25:59)
“When I think of Renee, I think of dandelions and sunlight. Dandelions don’t ask permission to grow. ...That was Renee. ...Renee poured herself into love... She helped us grow. ...Like dandelions, like sunlight. And like Renee.” – Brent Ganger (21:31–25:59)
“Cisgender is a made up word... That man is not a woman... We do not want men beating up women.” – Rep. Hageman (27:14)
"I fired five rounds and she had seven holes. Put that in your book, boys. Oh well, it is what it is. Shit happens." (04:36)
"It still haunts me that this agent has my photo on his phone. Was this the agent that shot me? Was this a trophy for him?" (12:23)
"When it came down to the Epstein files, I heard crickets..." (05:44)
"Do vaccines cause autism?" – Bernie Sanders (08:13)
"Renee is not gone from us. She's in the light that finds us on hard days... like dandelions, like sunlight. And like Renee." (25:50–25:59)
The episode is rich with emotional testimony and sharp political analysis, mixing the MeidasTouch brothers’ characteristic wit and outrage at GOP tactics with deep empathy for survivors and families of state violence. The show maintains high energy, sharp commentary, and offers listeners a clear ideological perspective grounded in advocacy for democracy and accountability.
Democrats seized the narrative in multiple hearings through real, raw survivor stories and unflinching oversight, in stark contrast to the GOP’s attempts to wage culture wars. This episode demonstrates the power of testimony to drive the conversation and underlines the MeidasTouch signature blend of activism, brotherly banter, and democratic values.