The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: GOP Leaders Suffer Bad in Public as Trump Loses All Control

Date: October 9, 2025

Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Meiselas brothers break down the recent chaos within the Republican leadership amid an ongoing government shutdown. They focus on GOP leaders' increasingly erratic public appearances, their willingness to admit unpopular policy goals, and how these actions tie directly to Donald Trump's influence and Project 2025 agenda. The brothers' signature blend of humor, fact-based analysis, and sharp criticism highlights the top stories surrounding the Trump-driven government crisis, health care policy battles, and the refusal to swear in Congresswoman-Elect Adelita Grijalva.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. GOP Meltdowns During Government Shutdown

• Main Theme: Republican leaders have been panicking on-air as public opinion turns against them for the government shutdown, with data showing Americans largely blame Trump and the MAGA wing.
  (00:59) Ben: "Republican leaders are quite literally losing their minds in public as they're making appearances on various TV shows. They're like panicking on air... which shows overwhelmingly the American people are blaming Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans for this Trump government shutdown, and rightfully so."
• The brothers analyze how GOP members inadvertently reveal their true intentions—including a desire for a shutdown to further Trump’s agenda, obscure the Epstein files, and shift funds away from health care.

2. GOP’s Plans to Gut Health Care

• Key Player: Congressman Jim Jordan appears on CNN, stating outright he'd never support extending Affordable Care Act subsidies, despite the potential for massive increases in insurance premiums.
  • (02:53) Jim Jordan: "Yeah, I think that's a, I think we should look for other ways to improve health care for Americans, for families and do it at a cheaper cost."
  • Hosts’ Commentary: Ben lays out the real-world consequences: unaffordable premiums, medical bankruptcies, loss of insurance, and preventable deaths.
• The hosts emphasize the lack of any concrete GOP health care plan—mocking promises that "a plan is coming," as Trump claimed for years.
  • (06:05-06:40) Kaitlan Collins v. Jim Jordan: Persistent questioning reveals the GOP has “no plan” if subsidies expire, just vague assertions about "empowering families."

3. MAGA Leaders’ Public Absurdities

• Mike Johnson’s Out-of-Touch Priorities: Instead of focusing on the shutdown, he's seen upset about Bad Bunny performing at the Super Bowl halftime show, preferring Trump-aligned Lee Greenwood.
  • (04:21) Mike Johnson: "Well, it sounds like he's not someone who appeals to a broader audience... I think in my view, you would have Lee Greenwood role models doing that. Not, not somebody like this."
• The Brothers’ Reaction: They mock these misplaced priorities as emblematic of a party that’s "lost all seriousness."

4. The Calculated Blocking of Adelita Grijalva’s Swearing-In

• Issue: House Republican leadership refuses to swear in Congresswoman-Elect Grijalva during the shutdown, unlike with Republican predecessors.
  • (13:02) Mike Johnson: "We will swear her in when everybody gets back. It's a ceremonial duty... We're in pro forma session because there is nothing for the House to do."
• Hosts’ Analysis: They allege this move is to avoid releasing Epstein files (a discharge petition for which Grijalva's signature would be key) and to disenfranchise Arizona’s 7th district constituents.
  • (13:25) Ben: "You swore in Republicans in something called pro forma sessions... Swear her in. It's so utterly despicable and so transparent."

5. GOP Debt & Shutdown Deflections

• GOP Argument: Jim Jordan pivots to blaming Democrats and the national debt, invoking exaggerated Trump claims about surpluses.
  • (10:49) Jim Jordan: "What are they supposed to do? $37 trillion debt. And the Democrats refuse to open the government. What are they supposed to do?"
• Host’s Rebuke: They point out GOP hypocrisy and Trump's actual record as the president who added the most debt.

6. Public Blame Shifts Decisively to Republicans

• Don Lemon’s On-the-Ground Reporting: Every person interviewed blamed Republicans for the shutdown.
  • (18:24-18:46) Various respondents: "Republicans... definitely... Republicans. They have the power. Republicans... Who else would be responsible?"
• Hosts’ Conclusion: The message to MAGA is clear—Americans aren’t fooled by leadership’s attempts to shift blame.

7. Notable Moments & Outrageous GOP Rhetoric

• Jesse Watters' Misogyny: The hosts showcase a Fox News segment where Watters makes sexist comments about AOC, further highlighting the debased tone of GOP-aligned media.
  • (19:15) Jesse Watters: "No, I think AOC wants to sleep with Miller."
  • Hosts’ Reaction: Disgusted, Ben calls it "misogyny. Disgusting, grotesque."

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On GOP Panic and Trump Influence
  • (00:59) Ben: "Overwhelmingly the American people are blaming Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans for this Trump government shutdown, and rightfully so."
• Jim Jordan on Health Care
  • (02:53) Jim Jordan: "Yeah, I think... we should look for other ways to improve health care for Americans... and do it at a cheaper cost."
  • (06:09) Jim Jordan: "And the Democrats position is to oh, we're going to extend it and expand it. I don't think that makes sense."
  • (07:34) Jim Jordan: "We are focused on getting the government back open right now. And Chuck Schumer is the impediment to doing that."
• Mike Johnson’s Priorities
  • (04:21) Mike Johnson: "I think in my view, you would have Lee Greenwood role models doing that. Not, not somebody like this."
  • (16:37) Mike Johnson: "I'm not read in on it and I haven't spoken to the White House about it."
• Ben on MAGA Tactics
  • (13:25) "It's so utterly despicable and so transparent that what you're doing here is covering up the Jeffrey Epstein files... loser mentality of MAGA through and through."
• Public Opinion
  • (18:24) Don Lemon interviews: "Who do they blame? Here, play this clip. Who's more responsible for the government shutdown, Democrats or Republicans? ... Republicans. Definitely."
• On GOP Media Outrage
  • (19:15) Jesse Watters: "No, I think AOC wants to sleep with Miller."
  • (19:17) Ben: "It is so obvious and I'm sorry. You can't have him. Miller is the best..."

Overall Tone & Takeaways

• The brothers deliver their analysis with trademark sarcasm and exasperation at the state of GOP leadership, calling out hypocrisy, lies, and gaffes.
• They repeatedly highlight the risk to millions of Americans if GOP plans succeed: people losing healthcare, and the broader dangers to U.S. democracy.
• The episode is a passionate plea for seriousness and transparency from elected officials, and for holding extremist leadership accountable.

For listeners seeking a sharp, funny, and uncompromising progressive recap of the GOP's government shutdown chaos, this episode delivers.