GOP Reps Lose It on Live TV as Trump Goes to War With LA

Summary

The MeidasTouch Podcast Summary Episode Title: GOP Reps Lose It on Live TV as Trump Goes to War With LA
Release Date: June 9, 2025
Host/Authors: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Podcast Description: The Meiselas brothers blend comedy, news coverage, and deep discussions to support democracy, attracting millions of supporters globally. Their podcast is a hub for political leaders seeking pivotal interviews, released bi-weekly with daily updates and live video sessions.

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Overview

In this episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, the Meiselas brothers dissect recent tumultuous events involving GOP representatives and former President Donald Trump’s controversial stance towards Los Angeles. The discussion is marked by sharp political critique, in-depth analysis, and the brothers' characteristic humor. Key topics include the potential deployment of active-duty Marines in LA, internal conflicts within Republican ranks, allegations against GOP senators, and the administration's handling of immigration and law enforcement policies.

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Key Discussions

1. Deployment of Marines in Los Angeles

• Incident Overview:
  The episode opens with the host criticizing MAGA Republican leaders for their recent television appearances, particularly focusing on MAGA Mike Johnson defending the potential use of Marines against American citizens in Los Angeles.

• Notable Quote:
  Host: "Peace through strength is sending the Marines against people inside America." ([00:33])

• Analysis:
  A political analyst guest debates the implications of using active-duty Marines domestically. While the official stance is to maintain peace through strength, the guest argues that deploying Marines within U.S. cities is excessive and could have a detrimental deterring effect.

  Guest: "Sending Marines into the streets of an American city is heavy handed. We have to be prepared to do what is necessary." ([00:33])

2. GOP Representative Gonzalez's Stance on Migrant Deportation

• Incident Overview:
  Congressman Gonzalez is highlighted for his controversial statements regarding the deportation of nonviolent migrants, suggesting it would lead to the downfall of Trump's administration.

• Notable Quote:
  Host: "You want to escalate to de-escalate. That's literally what you don't do." ([03:34])

• Analysis:
  The guest dissects Gonzalez's argument, emphasizing the humanitarian impact of deporting millions of asylum seekers who are not involved in criminal activities. He underscores the need to focus on convicted criminal illegal aliens to prevent civil conflict.

  Guest: "It's going to be very painful for us. What we'd like to do is focus on the convicted criminal illegal aliens." ([01:47])

3. Internal Conflicts and Public Incidents Among GOP Leaders

• Incident Overview:
  The podcast delves into a physical altercation between Elon Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Besant, criticized by Senator Mark Wayne Mullen as unprofessional.

• Notable Quote:
  Host: "Just act like grownups, act like adults. What are you talking about?" ([11:45])

• Analysis:
  The guest, drawing from military experience, condemns the behavior as unbecoming of national leaders, highlighting a lack of decorum and professionalism within the current administration.

  Guest: "They [leaders] are just freaking punching each other in the face. It's not normal." ([11:45])

4. Allegations Against Senator Rick Scott

• Incident Overview:
  Senator Rick Scott is accused of involvement in significant Medicare and Medicaid fraud, with claims of his repeated invocation of the Fifth Amendment to avoid scrutiny.

• Notable Quote:
  Host: "MAGA Mike Johnson was asked about the Epstein files." ([18:01])

• Analysis:
  The guest criticizes Scott's financial dealings and ethical standing, suggesting that his actions have led to immense personal gain at the public's expense.

  (Note: Specific quotes regarding Rick Scott's fraud allegations were not provided in the transcript.)

5. Immigration Policies and Due Process

• Incident Overview:
  The discussion covers the administration's stringent immigration policies, questioning the balance between law enforcement and constitutional rights.

• Notable Quote:
  Host: "The Constitution requires that there be a hearing, that there be process." ([06:12])

• Analysis:
  The guest debates the administration's approach to due process, differentiating between citizens and non-citizens while critiquing the swift deportation processes that disproportionately affect non-violent migrants.

  Guest: "An American citizen is different than someone who's not legally present in the country. It's a faster process." ([05:18])

6. Economic Policies and Tariffs

• Incident Overview:
  The podcast scrutinizes the administration's handling of tariffs, with Chief Economic Advisor Kevin Hassett affirming the continuation of tariffs despite potential revenue fluctuations.

• Notable Quote:
  Host: "Tariffs aren't going away. We're going to keep the tariffs." ([21:08])

• Analysis:
  The guest highlights the complexity and unpredictability of tariff negotiations, emphasizing the long-term fiscal impact and the administration's commitment to maintaining existing tariff structures.

  Guest: "Tariff revenue is not going away. That's what I'm saying." ([21:08])

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Conclusion and Host's Perspective

The hosts of The MeidasTouch Podcast maintain a critical stance throughout the episode, expressing deep dissatisfaction with GOP leaders' actions and the Trump administration's policies. They emphasize the need for accountability, adherence to constitutional principles, and humane treatment of migrants. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to subscribe and engage with the podcast's broader community.

Host: "We need to get to 5 million subscribers. Help us get to 5. Hit subscribe." ([22:12])

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Final Thoughts

This episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast offers a comprehensive critique of recent GOP actions and Trump’s controversial policies, blending serious analysis with the hosts' signature humor. It serves as a clarion call for democratic support and responsible governance, aiming to inform and mobilize its extensive listener base.

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Note: This summary is based solely on the provided transcript and podcast information. Any specific allegations or claims mentioned should be independently verified for accuracy.

Transcript

[Host or Commentator]

MAGA Republican sheep, I mean MAGA Republican leaders making total fools of themselves over the weekend on various TV appearance. For example, here you have MAGA Mike Johnson defending Donald Trump, potentially using the Marines against Americans. And MAGA Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House says that's peace through strength right there. That's how you do it. Peace through strength is sending the Marines against people inside America. Play this clip.

[Political Analyst or Guest]

Secretary Hegseth said that active duty Marines there at Camp Pendleton, there by San Diego are on high alert and could be mobilized. Could we really see active duty Marines on the streets of Los Angeles? You know, one of our core principles is maintaining, maintaining peace through strength. We do that on foreign affairs and domestic affairs as well. I don't think that's heavy handed. I think that's an important, sending Marines into the streets of an American city is heavy handed. We have to be prepared to do what is necessary. And I think the, the, the notice that that might happen might have the deterring effect.

[Host or Commentator]

Okay, peace through strength. Are you out of your mind? What kind of language is that attacking Americans with the Marines? Next I want to show you MAGA Republican Congress member Gonzalez. And here says great questioning by the host who asked Congressmember Gonzalez, you know, back in November, this is what you said to all of us. You said if Donald Trump starts going after migrants who are not engaged in crimes, then it's over for Donald Trump, that that is going to be the end of his administration if he starts to do that. Watch Congressmember Gonzalez squirm. Play this clip.

[Political Analyst or Guest]

You said back in November the administration would fail if it began going after nonviolent migrants. You said if the messages were here to deport your abuelita, this is not going to work. Well, you heard our reporting. People are getting arrested, going to court appearances, trying to abide by the law. We have these cases of, for example, a 19 year old high schooler on his way to volleyball team practice in Massachusetts arrested because his student visa had expired. An Afghan soldier in Houston who used to guard American soldiers at bases with eight kids to his name, arrested even though he entered this country with legal status. Are these people the worst of the worst? They're not. But when this is, what's going to happen is as these 400,000 asylum seekers that are in limbo, if you will start to get deported, Maria, who's 23 years old, that was from Honduras, that was told to come to the United States for a better life and has gotten married and has had children as she gets ripped from that life and gets sent back to Honduras. It's going to be very painful for us. What I'd like for us to do is focus on the convicted criminal illegal aliens. Last year I asked the administration how is that happening? Because right now it looks like they're trying to run up the numbers. Last year I asked the administration what that number was. It was 662,000. Last month I asked as of July of last year, last month, I asked Secretary Noem, under. Under oath, I asked her, has that number increased or has that number decreased? She responded that the number of convicted criminal illegal aliens has increased. So that means we have over 600,000. We should absolutely focus on that population, the worst of the worst, and make sure that those are the areas that get removed. Otherwise, it's to take us down this route of constant civil conflict.

[Host or Commentator]

And then here, Congressmember Gonzalez says, well, look, I support this escalation. This is what you need to do. You need to escalate right away and put that mob down as soon as possible. The hell are you talking about? You want to escalate to de escalate. That's literally what you don't do. Play this clip.

[Political Analyst or Guest]

It's tragic to see what's happening in LA. I spent 20 years in the military. I fought in two wars. I fought to give people the freedom to protest whatever the hell they want to. But what we're seeing in L. A are not advocates. We're seeing anarchists. And the President of the United States should absolutely put down the mob as soon as possible. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Are you comfortable with active duty Marines being put on high alert for possible deployment to quell a civil disturbance if need be. But, you know, you always want to escalate the will of the government. You always want to escalate to de escalate. But it first starts, we have to have local law enforcement get engaged. But if local law enforcement is removed and then you don't have the state law enforcement, then who is going to take care of the people? I want to.

[Host or Commentator]

And then you have MAGA Republican Senator Lankford, and here Kristen Welker from Meet the Press says, but aren't people in the United States, whether you're here as a citizen or not, shouldn't you get due process and shouldn't you get a hearing? And then Senator Lankford says, you know what? The moment you just say to people you violated the law, that's all that. That's called due process. That's all they. They don't Need a hearing. All you have to do is say you did it. And then I guess you get to send them to concentration camps in El Salvador or Libya or Djibouti or wherever the hell they're sending them. Here, play this clip.

[Political Analyst or Guest]

Well, it is worth noting the Constitution does say that all persons in the US Are entitled to due process. Doesn't make a distinction about citizenship. I do want to move on, though, to this extraordinary fight. But, but just, just one, just one quick, just one quick statement on the due process. As the court has ruled on, an American citizen is different than someone who's not legally present in the country. It's a faster process. Literally, reading to them the statute and saying this is what you violated does count as due process, depending on how they've actually entered into the country. But, I mean, the US has provided due process even to terrorists. Senator, you're saying that people who are here, who citizenship aren't ent to due process, even though the Fifth Amendment. No, I'm not. Not saying that at all because. Not. Not. Yeah, not saying that at all. I'm just saying the due process is different for a citizen and a non citizen. Okay. It's a much faster process for a non citizen. Okay, let's go.

[Host or Commentator]

Quite literally, the Constitution requires that there be a hearing, that there be process. Let me be very clear where I stand. If you are a criminal, if you are in, if you commit crimes in the United States, you need to be held accountable for those CR crimes. I'm a law and order person. You violate the law, throw the book at them. But that's not what's going on here at all. Donald Trump's regime is going after hardworking migrants who are working in factories, who are at the Home Depot parking lot, who are in restaurants and hotels, who are going to their court appearances. That's who they're targeting. They're going into neighborhoods where migrants have had their American dreams for decades. And they're ripping mothers apart from their children, fathers apart from their wives and kids they're torturing. They're trying to engage in terror. Terror. That's what they're inflicting. Then you've got maga, Republican senator from Florida, Rick Scott, who was, by the way, involved in the biggest Medicare fraud and Medicaid fraud scam fraud in American history. He invoked the Fifth Amendment over 75 times. He got a golden parachute from his company, which settled the largest fraud Medicare fraud case in history. That's how this guy got rich and went into politics. Here's what he has to say about rating your Medicaid and Medicare.

[Political Analyst or Guest]

Play this clip Alts without chronic illness, let's focus the program on what people need. But is there an acknowledgment and get people healthy again, keep people back to work. Is there an acknowledgment though, that under the current framework of this bill, people will be potentially millions of them, taken off of some of these programs? And I know the argument is that a lot of that is waste, fraud and abuse, but is there an acknowledgement that there will be millions of people who will be transitioned off these programs and a question about where they'll go next? Well, first off, the only way you're going to get off the program is if you say, if you say you do not want to work. Like I don't believe we ought to be providing free healthcare, free housing, free food. The people that are able bodied can work and just say, I don't want to work. No, get to work. This country, we got over 50 million people working, age, not working. We've got to get this country back to work. But if you don't want to work people that are physically unable or are caretakers of those who are unable, no. I watched what my mom's face was like when my brother, when she found out my brother had bone disease. I want these kids to get health care. I want people with chronic illness to get health care, but I don't want people gaming the system.

[Host or Commentator]

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[Political Analyst or Guest]

There was an argument earlier this year between Musk and the Treasury Secretary. Scott Bessant literally came to blows. It had to be broken up. Are the men leading our country letting their emotions get in the way of governing? Well, first of all, Dana, as a former professional fighter, I've learned a long time ago, don't get between two fighters.

[Host or Commentator]

Yeah, but you see, that's how MAGA behaves. And here you got the chief propagandist for the Trump regime, Caroline Levitt. He or she is being asked about that fight and you know, she's all, let's watch it. Play the clip.

[Political Analyst or Guest]

Now the President has said many times that his ultimate goal is to balance the budget. So we know where his heart is and where his priorities are. But you know, Caroline, the Washington Post reported after speaking with Steve Bannon that Elon Musk aggressively body checked Treasury Secretary Scott Besant in the White House. We're all trying to figure out how what happened here and how come this got to this level. What happened? Did he body check the Treasury Secretary in the White House? Well, look, when this story originally broke, I said from the podium that there have definitely been healthy disagreements amongst the cabinet and Elon Musk There were times in which they got frustrated with one another. But I think that really speaks to the heart of this cabinet and the President's team that they can have these robust disagreements and then still come together to do what's right for the people they are serving.

[Host or Commentator]

Watch. And I'm not even going to go there. You get it. Just you get it. While watching this, I don't even have to say it. The hell are we watching? The hell are we watching? So here you have the chief propagandist for the White House, Caroline Levitt, attack ABC because Terry Moran, one of its chief political contributors made a post critical of Stephen Miller and Donald Trump. He said that they have hate in their heart or words to those effects. That's being generous, right? They have hate in their heart. So then the Trump regime calls up abc, Disney and says you got to suspend the guy, you got to fire him. He was mean to Donald Trump and Stephen Miller. He was mean. How, how dare a newscaster be mean. And then Disney and ABC suspended Terry Moran. Here, watch this.

[Political Analyst or Guest]

Last night in a since deleted post, so called journalist Terry Moran went on a rampage against Stephen Miller. What happened Caroline? Well, ABC is going to have to answer for what their again so called journalists put out on Twitter in the wee hours of the night calling Stephen Miller vile. They said that President Trump is a world class hater. And this is again coming from someone who is supposed to be an unbiased and professional journalist. This is unacceptable and unhinged rhetoric coming from someone who works at a major television network. We have reached out to abc. They have said they will be taking action so we will see what they do.

[Host or Commentator]

And then you have Kristi Noem who seems to be hanging out at the same locations as Caroline Levitt. Kristi Noem on CBS says this is what she says about Donald Trump sending the National Guard and potentially the Marines against Americans in Los Angeles.

[Political Analyst or Guest]

Play this clip back to the question though of active duty troops different from the National Guard. What is your personal counsel here to the President? Because it's you, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Defense. We're going to have a lot of responsibility here in implementing some of this call to do this. Well, let me be clear about something. ICE and Homeland Security are running these operations right now. And the advice and counsel of the Attorney General of the Department of Defense are extremely important to the President of the United States. And we never discuss our personal conversations and advice to the President of the United States. He makes the decisions. He is the President that sits in that seat. And we are all very proud to work for him. So I'm grateful for the leadership of Pete Hegseth and Pam Bondi, and I get the chance to work with them. And as does their job today, we're thankful to have the partnership and the leadership of President Trump. Well, some Republican senators, like Senator Lankford have said active duty Marines are not going to be put into local law enforcement. So there are Republican lawmakers questioning this.

[Host or Commentator]

Here's what she says when she's asked about that. Donald Trump is going to wants to make it unlawful for protesters to wear masks, but make it obligatory for ICE officers to wear masks. And if you in any way try to photograph an ICE officer or let people know who they are who work for the government, then, you know, you get enhanced penalties or whatever, you're treated like a terrorist. Who the hell knows with this regime? Here's what she goes. She goes, the laws in this country are what we're doing. We're doing the laws. We're doing the laws. What are you talking about? Here, play this clip.

[Political Analyst or Guest]

Then Trump said masks will not be allowed to be worn at protest. Who's going to enforce that and how? And how can you justify it when law enforcement officials have their faces covered? You know, what I would say is that the law is going to be enforced and that what the laws are in this country is what we are doing and our ICE officers and our law enforcement officers out there that are in these situations where people have questioned why they have their faces covered, it's for the safety of those individuals or the work that they're doing as far as protecting their identity so they can continue to do investigative work. So, but are you tasking the National Guard soldiers with removing masks from protesters? I mean, are you trying to use them in that way? National Guard soldiers are there to provide security for operations and to make sure that we have peaceful protests. So that's what their work is. And I won't get more specific on that just because we never do. When it comes to law enforcement operations, we're doing the same standard procedures we always do and have for years in this country with our National Guard and with our, you know, law enforcement folks that are on the ground working with these communities.

[Host or Commentator]

I like this moment where MAGA Mike Johnson was asked about the Epstein files. Let's play this clip, by the way.

[Political Analyst or Guest]

What do you know what he's talking about with the Epstein files? I mean, what, what, what is and why haven't those files been released? Have you. I mean, some of your Members have said that they got to be released. As Cash said in the vignette earlier, he's a, that's not my lane. I don't know. I can tell you that I don't think we have no concern about President Trump or is involved in any of that. And in terms of this threat.

[Host or Commentator]

And here MAGA Mike Johnson was asked, so why did your budget bill focus on helping people who own tanning beds? Why'd you help the tanning bed? Was it because Mr. Orange, whatever you call them, Mango Mussolini, I think I was thinking about. Is that why you were, why are you giving. Why is your budget bill addressing tanning beds while screwing over the people? And Maga Mike's well, look, the tanning bed industry really needs a lot of help right now. Joe Biden did it. And then ABC host is like, no, he didn't. This was from 2010. Biden didn't do anything. Biden hurt. Biden hurt. These guys are such fools playing this clip.

[Political Analyst or Guest]

What about tanning beds? It eliminates a 10% tax on tanning beds. I mean, how did, how did that become a priority? Well, I, that, look, I think that was an unfair thing that the Biden administration put on an industry because they decided it was. Actually, it goes back to 2010. It's been around for 15. Yes, but the Biden administration enhanced it. And I, I, there be modifications probably to that in the final package as well, but, but we'll see how it comes out.

[Host or Commentator]

Okay, so Maga Mike, why was there a provision in the budget bill to remove all regulations from gun silencers? Why was that? Gun silencers. That's that one of the big beneficiaries. And then Maga Mike's like, well, yeah, the Second Amendment means gun silent guns, whatever you want, go bring them wherever. All good, all good. Play this clip.

[Political Analyst or Guest]

1. There is a provision that eliminates attacks on gun silencers. Now, this is a tax that has been on the books for about 100 years. Why are you suddenly cutting attacks on silencers? Well, there was a, there's a lot of thought and deliberation that went into that as well. The Second Amendment is a critical freedom in the Constitution, and there's no real rationale for silent, for adding taxes on, on these pieces of equipment. And we had the votes to do it. I think it was a long time overdue. I think we have to protect the fundamental freedoms of the American people. And there's, there's no rationale. The government should not be making money on something that you have a fundamental inalienable right to what about?

[Host or Commentator]

And then finally you have the chief economic guy at the White House, Kevin Hassett, who's asked, so are you. What are we doing with the idea? Are the deals negotiating down the tariffs? Is that what you're doing? What's the point of these? And then Kevin Hassett's like, tariffs aren't going away. We're going to keep the tariffs. Play this clip.

[Political Analyst or Guest]

You are saying tariffs are staying put, that this is a negotiating reciprocal. You've seen deals. Yes. And exactly where they are. We're working it out and we're opening up markets. This is where I'm stuck. Because deals is about negotiating down the tariffs. So that's a diminishing source of revenue over time. But are you saying that there will be blanket tariffs of last year? Last year before we got here, we were raising 80 billion a year in tariffs. Right now the CBO projects that we're going to get 2.8 trillion over the next 10 years. Exactly where the number ends up is going to depend on how much foreign countries open up their markets to our products and how much, how well they treat our farmers. So you don't know how much, but revenue revenue was 80 billion less year revenue. Tariff revenue is not going away. That's what I'm saying. But we. But we don't know what the tariffs are going to be. We're negotiating them on a country by country basis. We've got a whole bunch of trade deals. We've got a trade deal with the UK that's already. You can see what the trade deal with the UK is now. Right. So it's a fluctuating number. It's. It's not a constant.

[Host or Commentator]

Well, there you have it, folks. Ridiculous. I don't know how you want. And these are the worst humans. Like, just objectively the worst. Objectively, these are the worst people. Like, I can. I don't think you could find worse people. We would be so much better with no one. Just let the States go on. Like, put Biden's economy and Biden stuff just on cruise control. Autopilot. Do nothing. Like, we literally have the worst people possible in every single position whose job is to make things worse right now, tell me what you think. We need to get to 5 million subscribers. Help us get to 5. Hit subscribe. We're almost there. Thanks for watching. Can't get enough Midas? Check out the Midas plus substack for ad. Free articles, reports, podcasts, daily recaps from Ron Filipkowski and more. Sign up for free [e-mail].