GOP in Utter Panic as Election Results Arrive Early

Summary

Podcast Summary: "GOP in Utter Panic as Election Results Arrive Early"

The MeidasTouch Podcast – November 3, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas, with featured clips from Barack Obama and Mikie Sherrill

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Overview

In this episode, the Meiselas brothers break down the GOP’s mounting anxiety as early voting and polling data in key states, particularly New Jersey, show surging Democratic momentum. With the gubernatorial race heating up, the brothers analyze the impacts of Donald Trump’s actions, Jack Ciattarelli’s unwavering MAGA loyalty, and the electrifying intervention of former President Barack Obama, who campaigned for Democrat Mikie Sherrill. The episode blends poll analysis, sharp political banter, and a series of powerful soundbites highlighting the stakes for American democracy and the Republican Party’s growing challenges.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Voting Data Signals GOP Trouble

• New Jersey’s Democratic Surge
  • Ben details unprecedented early in-person voting numbers among Democrats and independents, attributing much of the mobilization to backlash against Trump’s out-of-touch displays of wealth—“throwing a Great Gatsby Roaring twenties themed party while Americans are suffering” (01:46).
  • The University of Michigan voter account shows an approximate 14% lead in early voting for Democrats over Republicans in NJ by day eight.

2. Trump’s Unpopularity Drives Democratic Momentum

• Trump's priorities—“building himself golden ballrooms while ripping away SNAP benefits”—are contrasted against voter concerns, with polling indicating his administration “did not live up to expectations” on issues like the economy, cost of living, and middle-class support (01:46).
• NBC News poll: Democrats lead Republicans by 8 points on the congressional ballot, the largest such lead since 2018.

3. Barack Obama Rallies for Mikie Sherrill

• Obama’s speech at a New Jersey rally is featured in multiple clips, offering sharp critique of Mikie Sherrill’s opponent (Jack Ciattarelli) and underlining the necessity of principled governance (05:32, 07:50, 12:23, 12:57, 14:33):
  • Persistence with Limits:
    “Mikey's opponent has now run for governor three times in a row. I mean, I believe in persistence, but at a certain point...” (05:32)
  • On MAGA Endorsement:
    “Donald Trump called Mikey's opponent 100% MAGA. Ah, not a great endorsement... When he was asked to give the Trump administration a grade, Mikey's opponent said they deserved an A. Don't boo. I mean, I know there's been great inflation, but really, an A?”
  • Warning Against Booing, Urging Action
    “You can't boo. You gotta vote. They won't hear you if you're booing, but they'll hear your vote.” (07:50)
  • Democracy in Crisis
    Obama describes an administration fueled by “lawlessness and mean-spiritedness and just plain old craziness” (07:50), citing abuses of power, politicization of the Justice Department, and the use of ICE against American citizens.
  • Call to Action
    “We are being tested and what is remarkable about America is that it gives us the power as citizens to change this country...if you believe in that better story of America, you cannot sit this one out.” (12:57)

4. Mikie Sherrill’s Platform and Promise

• Sherrill promises immediate executive action on affordability:
  “So here's what I'll do on day one. I'm declaring a state of emergency on utility hikes. I'll freeze those rate hikes to lower your family's bills. ... I'm not writing a strongly worded letter. ... I am declaring a state of emergency.” (16:13)
• She frames her campaign as a direct response to constituent needs:
  “I'm fighting for Chuck, a small business owner in Gloucester getting crushed by tariffs... I'm fighting for Regina in Trenton who lost her son Trayvon to gun violence...” (17:06)

5. Jack Ciattarelli’s MAGA Loyalty & Evasive Answers

• Ciattarelli repeatedly praises Trump despite NJ’s significant losses under his administration:
  • “Right now? I'd certainly give the president A. I think he's right about everything that he's doing.” (18:13)
  • When pressed on Trump’s termination of critical infrastructure (the Gateway Tunnel project), Ciattarelli offers evasions and noncommittal answers:
    “He understands it's an important project to the region.” (19:12–19:42)

6. Further Evidence of Democratic Enthusiasm

• Voter registration in New York surges for Democrats—up by 146,000 since February—a trend Ben dubs the “Mom Donnie Effect” (20:07).
• SNAP funding cuts and the USDA’s prohibition on discounts for affected families highlight the human cost of the Trump administration’s policies (20:07).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ben (On Trump’s Out-of-Touch Parties):
  "Donald Trump has been focused on building himself golden ballrooms while ripping away SNAP benefits from the American people." (01:46)
• Barack Obama (On Ciattarelli):
  “I know there’s been great inflation, but really, an A? This is the best we could do?” (05:32)
• Obama (On Political Engagement):
  “You can't boo. You gotta vote. They won't hear you if you’re booing, but they'll hear your vote.” (07:50)
• Obama (On the State of Politics):
  “It's like every day is Halloween, except it's all tricks and no treats ever.” (10:56)
• Barack Obama (On Sherrill’s Resume):
  “I don't know many people who started their careers as a Navy helicopter pilot, then went to law school, then became a federal prosecutor ... I get tired just thinking about it.” (14:33)
• Mikie Sherrill (On Her Approach):
  "I am not playing. I am not writing a strongly worded letter. I am not starting up a working group. I am not doing a 10 year study. I am declaring a state of emergency." (16:13)
• Jack Ciattarelli (On Trump’s Performance):
  “Right now? I'd certainly give the president A. I think he's right about everything that he's doing.” (18:13)

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• GOP Panic, Early Voting Data – [01:46]
• Obama’s Humor and Critique of Ciattarelli – [05:32]
• Obama Speech: "You can't boo, you gotta vote" – [07:50]
• Obama Calls Out Lawlessness and Mean-Spiritedness – [07:50–10:56]
• Obama’s Lighter Moment with an Enthusiastic Supporter – [12:23]
• Obama's Final Rally Cry – [12:57]
• Sherrill’s Pledge and Constituent Focus – [16:13], [17:06]
• Ciattarelli's Trump Loyalty and Infrastructural Evasions – [18:13–19:42]
• NYC Voter Registration & SNAP Policy Fallout – [20:07]

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Tone and Style

The episode is charged with urgency and dry humor. The brothers’ dynamic keeps the conversation lively, with sharp jabs at GOP failures and enthusiastic amplification of Democratic positives. Obama’s clips inject both humor and gravity, speaking in his trademark accessible, plain-spoken style.

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Conclusion

In this episode, the Meiselas brothers lay out the daunting challenges facing the Republican Party as Democratic enthusiasm surges, centering New Jersey’s gubernatorial contest as a microcosm of the national battle for democracy. Featuring standout moments from Barack Obama and Mikie Sherrill, the podcast drives home the message that voting—and not just voicing complaints—is crucial as election season reaches its climax.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Talk about a gut punch. Donald Trump got a rude awakening in New Jersey where the early in person voting numbers from Democratic voters was unprecedented. Apparently Democratic voters and independent voters alike in New Jersey, and we're seeing this in other states as well, did not like that Donald Trump was throwing a Great Gatsby Roaring twenties themed party while Americans are suffering. That Donald Trump has been focused on building himself golden ballrooms while ripping away SNAP benefits from the American people. That Donald Trump talks more about a triumphal arch than what he's actually doing for the American people. And when he's actually talking about the American people, it's about ripping away healthcare from over 20 million Americans. And I don't think the voters in New Jersey, the Democratic base and independent voters, like to see Donald trump go on 60 minutes and say that ICE agents were not going far enough in their brutal assaults and disappearing of human beings in the United States, including American citizens. I mean, look at these numbers from New Jersey. Day 8 of the New Jersey early voting is now on the cards. The University of Michigan voter account post right here and you can see the Dem percentage over GOP percentage of voters. Take a look at the purple line right there. That just goes up, up, up. Do you see right there on day eight, like a 14% differentiation between the Democratic voters and the Republican in person early voting numbers? Let's just say the in person early voting numbers was kind to New Jersey Republicans. One of the other factors that we saw was over the weekend, former President Barack Obama was there with Mikey Sherrill, who's the Democratic candidate for governor. Um, and he gave an incredible speech. I'll share with you that in just a moment. And then on the other hand, you have the MAGA Republican candidate, Jack Chitterelli, who says that Donald Trump should get an A or an A plus for the way he's handling everything. And MAGA Republican Chittarel. Yeah, I'll just let Donald Trump do whatever the hell he wants to do with New Jersey. Get rid of our jobs, destroy the tunnel projects. I'll give Donald Trump an A as long as Donald Trump tells me to give him an A. There was other bad data from Donald Trump as well that I want to share with you before showing you what Obama said and what Mikey Sheryl said. We got the data over the weekend that Democrats lead Republicans in the fight for Congress by 8 points, 50% to 42%, the largest lead for either party on the congressional ballot in the NBC News poll since the 2018 midterms. And then when you look at this NBC poll, whether Trump administration, I call him a regime, has lived up to your expectations, or if it has fallen short on these issues. You look at inflation and the cost of living, looking out for the middle class and the economy, we're talking about 63 to 66%, approaching 70% says the Trump regime did not live up to expectations. And that's across the board independent voters as well. Um, here was Donald Trump partying with his Great Gatsby themed party. All right, let's show you what former President Obama said in New Jersey. He was there with Mikey Sheryl, Congresswoman, former helicopter pilot. I mean, talk about being accomplished prosecutor. You don't get much more accomplished than Mikey Sheryl's career. Um, here's what former President Obama said. You can feel the energy in this crowd. Take a look. Let's play this.

[C]

Clip her opponent, not so much. Mikey's opponent has now run for governor three times in a row. I mean, I believe in persistence, but at a certain point. So three times in a row. Other two times he lost. So this time his strategy is to suck up to the Republicans in Washington. So Donald Trump called Mikey's opponent 100% MAGA. Ah, not a great endorsement. When he was asked to give the Trump administration a grade, Mike, his opponents said they deserved an A. Don't boo. I mean, I know there's been great inflation, but really, an A. This is the best we could do. I mean, these are the same folks who put secret war plans in a group chat. You don't think there's anything they could be doing better? No room for improvement. Jersey. We don't need a governor who puts party and ideology ahead of the people that elected that governor. You deserve a governor who's going to think for herself and work for you. A governor who will create jobs and not cut them. A governor who will lower costs and not raise them. A governor who will bring people together and not divide them. A governor who will do right for the people of New Jersey no matter what anybody in Washington thinks. You deserve a governor like Mikey Sherrill.

[B]

More from former President Barack Obama. Energizing this PAC New Jersey crowd rallying support for the Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mikey Sherrill, just days before the election. Let's play it inspiration.

[C]

Because let's face it, our country and our politics are in a pretty dark place right now. It's hard to know where to start, because every day this White House offers up a fresh batch of lawlessness and carelessness and mean spiritedness and just plain old craziness. We've got a president who thinks it's okay to use the Justice System Department, just for example, to use the Justice Department to go after his political opponents. Wait, wait, wait. Here. Here's a rule. You can't boo. You gotta vote. They won't hear you if you're booing, but they'll hear your vote. So you've got a president who replaces career prosecutors with loyalists who will do his bidding. And now he's telling them to hand over millions of taxpayer dollars that he had to pay in expenses for previously violating the law. We've got a commander in chief who has fired decorated military officers because he thinks they might be more loyal to the Constitution than they are to him. Now, don't move. He's deployed the National Guard in American cities and claimed to be stopping crime waves that don't actually exist. We got masked ICE agents pulling in unmarked vans and grabbing people off the streets, including US Citizens Don't Vote Vote rubbing them on the suspicion that they don't look like real Americans. We've got Health and Human Services secretary who opposes proven science and then pedals quack medicine. We've got a top White House aide who calls Democrats the whole Democratic Party domestic extremists. And then we've got some poor labor economists who got fired for accurately reporting bad job numbers that Trump didn't like. It's like every day is Halloween, except it's all tricks and no treats ever.

[D]

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[B]

More from Obama Right here. Let's play this clip right here.

[C]

I love you but hold on. I heard you girl. Just, just settle down. I'm here to talk to everybody, not just you. I mean you look cute, but I am married. Michelle's fine too.

[B]

Another great clip from Obama. Let's play it.

[C]

We are being tested and what is remarkable about America is that it gives us the power as citizens to change this country. We all have more power than we sometimes imagine. We just got to use it. So if you believe in that better story of America, you cannot sit this one out. As citizens, you have to vote for Leaders like Mikey who believe in that story too. Leaders who care about your freedom, leaders who will fight for your rights, leaders who will go work every day to make your life a little bit better. Go get your friends, grab your family members, tell them to go out and vote. Because if you do that, New Jersey, if you meet this moment, if you believe change can happen, you will not just elect Mikey Sherrill, your next governor. You will not just put New Jersey on a path to a brighter future. You will set a glorious example for this nation. Let's get to work. Thank you, Newark. God bless.

[B]

I've got one more clip from Obama I want to share with you. Let's play it.

[C]

I don't know many people who started their careers as a Navy helicopter pilot, then went to law school, then became a federal prosecutor, keeping communities safe. And she's doing this while raising four kids. And then, because apparently that was a little bit too easy, she decides to run for Congress. I get tired just thinking about it. But. But I do know that it makes her the kind of leader who understands the mission, who knows who she is supposed to serve, who doesn't have a lot of time for excuses. And that is exactly what New Jersey needs right now. Mikey doesn't just say the right thing as your governor, she will do the right thing.

[B]

Now here is Mikey Cheryl, congresswoman, helicopter pilot, prosecutor. Here's what she has to say on day one. She's focusing on affordability and declaring a state of emergency on utility hikes. Here, play this clip.

[E]

So here's what I'll do on day one. I'm declaring a state of emergency on utility hikes. I'll freeze those rate hikes to lower your family's bills. New Jersey. I am not playing. I am not writing a strongly worded letter. I am not starting up a working group. I'm not doing a 10 year study. I am declaring a state of emergency.

[B]

More from Mikey Cheryl right here to tell you who she is fighting for and compare that to Jack Chitterelli who's like, what does ever. Whatever Donald Trump tells me to do, I'm going to do. Here's what. I'm not even sure what that accent was supposed to be. Um, here's what Mikey Sheryl has to say. Here, play this clip.

[E]

So I'm fighting. I'm fighting for Chuck, a small business owner in Gloucester getting crushed by tariffs. I'm fighting for Karina, a single mom here in Newark who isn't sure if she can afford to stay and raise her son in New Jersey. I'M fighting for Bob, a lot of us. I'm fighting for Bob, a veteran in Kate May who's worried about his data privacy. I'm fighting for Regina in Trenton who lost her son Trayvon to gun violence. And I'm fighting for Sequoia in Jersey city who pays 70% of her income and rent and can't get ahead. That's why I'm going to work every day as your governor to make sure you can afford to stay right here in New Jersey.

[B]

And just to remind you, this is where Jack Chitterelli, the MAGA Republican who ran for governor three times, he's like just he keeps running over and over and over again. When he was asked, what do you give Donald Trump so far? This was, by the way, this debate was three weeks ago. So just so you know, Cittarelli says I give Donald Trump an A. If I could give him an A plus, I'd one here, watch for yourself. Here, play this clip.

[E]

What grade would you give President Trump for a second term?

[F]

Right now? I'd certainly give the president A. I think he's right about everything that he's doing.

[B]

More from Cittarelli right here when he was asked on Fox so what are you going to do with all these things that Donald Trump's doing to destroy the state? Here's what Cittarelli says. Let's play this clip.

[E]

But last night he said on that telerally call he will be out campaigning for Jack. Do you expect to have the president and your state in these last few days?

[F]

We're looking to work with him in any way we can to help deliver a win here. I know he's very, very busy. We appreciate the teletown hall last night on which there were thousands. He's doing some robocalls for us. He's certainly posting on social media. All those things contribute.

[B]

And then Cittarelli still as of this past week in denial that Donald Trump is screwing New Jersey over and terminating the Gateway Tunnel project and just costing tens of thousands of jobs and just gutting the economy of New Jersey. Let's play this clip right here.

[E]

So when President Trump says it's terminated, do you think that's not true?

[F]

I think he's playing hardball negotiations. But as governor of New Jersey, I'm due right by the state. And by the way, it's important for the governor of New Jersey to have a relationship with the president. I do. We'll get things done for New Jersey.

[E]

Have you talked to him about this project yet?

[C]

I have.

[E]

And what did what was that conversation? How did that go?

[F]

He understands it's important to the region.

[E]

And did he commit to the federal government's part in it?

[F]

He understands it's important to the region.

[E]

What does that mean?

[F]

He understands it's a very important project to the region.

[E]

Did you get a commitment?

[F]

How you doing, Laura?

[E]

You're not going to tell me about your conversation with the president? That's okay. If the federal government did not come through on that, what do you do then?

[F]

I don't anticipate the federal government not coming through on that project. It's the quintessential federal infrastructure project. It's critically important to the region. It's critically important to the region's economy. And this region's economy is critically important to the national economy. That project's gonna get done.

[B]

And by the way, you take a look at the neighbor right there in New York City. New York voter registration is soaring for the Democrats. You take a look at the change from February right there. 146,000 more people have registered for the Democrats. I think you can call that the Mom Donnie effect. You could also just call it the fact that I think the public is seeing the suffering that Donald Trump is inflicting on we the people. I just want to show you this as well. Catherine Ramples, the first to post it. How the United States Department of Agriculture just sent an email to grocery stores telling them that they are prohibited from offering special discounts to customers affected by the SNAP funding lapse. And she's aware of multiple stores that had offered struggling customers a discount, then had to withdraw it because the usda, the United States government, said that they would attack these grocery stores if you helped out the SNAP beneficiary. So there's everything that's going on. Let me know what you think. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 6 million subscribers. We appreciate you, as always.

[D]

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