MAGA Mike Empties House and Force Shutdown!!

Summary

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The MeidasTouch Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode Title: MAGA Mike Empties House and Force Shutdown!!
Date: January 30, 2026
Hosted by: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas (MeidasTouch Network)

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Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast centers on the looming federal government shutdown, triggered by Speaker of the House "MAGA" Mike Johnson sending the House on vacation amid critical funding deadlines. The Meiselas brothers dissect the political maneuvers, especially Johnson’s actions, the role of MAGA Republicans, and the problematic negotiations over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding. The discussion is as much a critique as it is a passionate call for accountability, with an unapologetic pro-democracy stance.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Government Shutdown and Congressional Vacation

• [02:15] Ben sharply criticizes MAGA Mike Johnson for sending the House on vacation during funding negotiations, risking a government shutdown.
  • The House cannot reconvene by Saturday midnight, meaning a shutdown is almost certain for at least a day or two.
  • Senate is working on a compromised set of five funding bills, with DHS funding separated into a two-week “continuing resolution” due to controversy over ICE and Border Patrol funding.

2. The DHS Funding Compromise

• [03:30] The Senate’s compromise is to pass all but the DHS funding, extending that alone for two weeks while negotiations continue.

  • Democrats oppose extra funding for ICE and Border Patrol (described as “Gestapo” by Ben at [04:20]).
  • Ben expresses strong disappointment in even a temporary funding extension for these agencies.

  “You can’t compromise with authoritarians. ICE and Border Patrol need to be abolished...the individuals ...need to be impeached and prosecuted.” — Ben Meiselas, [05:13]

3. Internal MAGA Tensions and Electoral Schemes

• [05:55] MAGA Republicans like Anna Paulina Luna demand that all appropriations include the so-called SAVE Act—a plan, Ben alleges, to “federalize the elections in the midterms in order to manipulate it.”
  • Tension exists within the House over whether to go along with Donald Trump’s wishes or push a hardline agenda.

4. Shutdown Timeline and Uncertainty

• [07:00] Predictions that the shutdown will last at least 1–3 days, depending on House logistics.
  • House may return Sunday or Monday ([07:35]); shutdown starts at 12:01 AM Saturday.

5. Liberal Opposition to the Compromise

• [07:50] Progressive organizations like MoveOn voice strong opposition to the Schumer-led Senate compromise, citing community harm by ICE and Border Patrol.

  “Leader Schumer should ask the Minnesotans who are watching their neighbors get killed in cold blood if a deal with no plan to stop ICE is enough right now.” — MoveOn spokesperson Britt Jack, quoted at [08:09]

6. MAGA Mike’s Media Appearances and Dismissal of Accountability

• [10:09] The brothers mock Speaker Mike Johnson for “partying with Nicki Minaj” instead of governing.

  • When pressed by a reporter about calls for Minnesota investigations, Johnson dodges:

  “I’m not going to forecast that. That’s for the administration.” — Mike Johnson, [10:55]

  • The brothers lampoon Johnson’s lack of leadership and substance.

7. Johnson’s Self-Congratulatory Speech

• [11:57] The podcast features Mike Johnson boasting of the GOP’s accomplishments since taking Congress, blaming “Bidenomics” for economic woes, and claiming Republicans have fixed the country:

  “We are so grateful for that...those days are now behind us and we are soaring as a nation right now and everyone’s being wealthy…” — Mike Johnson, [12:59]

• His lighthearted joke about not wanting to follow Nicki Minaj on stage is replayed for comic relief.

8. Trump’s Outrageous Statements

• [13:21] Discussion shifts to Donald Trump’s public social media rants:

  • Threats to retaliate against Canada over aircraft certification: “We are hereby decertifying their Bombardier...charge Canada a 50% tariff...” [13:21]
  • Declares he wants to keep home prices high to benefit homeowners and rejects housing affordability as a political problem ([14:07], [14:57]).

  “We’re going to keep them wealthy. We’re going to keep those prices up. We’re not going to destroy the value of their homes so that somebody that didn’t work very hard can buy a home.” — Donald Trump, [14:07]

  “Affordability...you’re not hearing it so much anymore…we’re bringing down the lower [sic] prices.” — Donald Trump, [14:57]

9. Trump Administration’s Coal Boasting

• [15:13] Trump’s Energy Secretary claims “clean coal” saved “hundreds of American lives” during a cold spell by stopping the “killing” of coal, which the hosts mock as factually absurd and out of touch ([15:45]).

10. Surreal Law-and-Order Rhetoric in Minnesota

• [16:11] New video surfaces of Greg Bevino in Minnesota, allegedly before a violent incident, making aggressive statements: “This is our effing city. We run this.”
  • Dialogue described as militaristic and emblematic of paramilitary thinking.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ben Meiselas on the DHS compromise:
  “[ICE and Border Patrol] need to be abolished...They need to be impeached and prosecuted.” [05:13]

• On MoveOn’s criticism:
  “Leader Schumer should ask the Minnesotans who are watching their neighbors get killed in cold blood if a deal with no plan to stop ICE is enough right now.” [08:09]

• Mike Johnson punting on Minnesota investigation:
  “I’m not going to forecast that. That’s for the administration.” — Mike Johnson, [10:55]

• Mike Johnson about following Nicki Minaj on stage:
  “I did not want to follow Nicki Minaj...I almost wore that coat today.” — Mike Johnson, [13:05]

• Donald Trump on housing affordability:
  “We’re going to keep those prices up...I want to drive housing prices up for people that own their homes...” [14:07]

• Chris Wright, Trump Energy Secretary, on coal:
  “Coal was the MVP of the huge cold snap...hundreds of American lives have been saved because of your...revitalizing coal.” [15:45]

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Important Timestamps

• House leaves for vacation, shutdown risk explained: [02:15] – [05:30]
• DHS funding compromise details: [03:30] – [06:00]
• MAGA House hardliners & SAVE act discussion: [05:55] – [07:00]
• Shutdown logistics and timeline: [07:00] – [07:50]
• Liberal/progressive opposition: [07:50] – [08:24]
• Mike Johnson dodges Minnesota investigation: [10:50] – [11:00]
• Johnson’s self-praise and Nicki Minaj joke: [11:57], [13:05]
• Trump’s housing price rant: [14:07]
• Trump’s “affordability isn’t an issue” claim: [14:57]
• Trump official on “clean coal”: [15:13] – [15:48]
• Minnesota “law and order” rhetoric video: [16:11] – [16:37]

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Language & Tone

• Blunt, impassioned, and often sarcastic or incredulous—the brothers don’t hide their disdain for MAGA Republicans, and Ben especially is forceful in calling out what he sees as authoritarian tactics.
• Conversational and energetic, with frequent switches between laughter, exasperation, and righteous anger.

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For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode delivers an intense and irreverent breakdown of Congressional dysfunction, MAGA brinkmanship, and the downstream effects of Washington’s gridlock. It is a bracing listen for those frustrated by government shutdowns and the political showmanship that causes them, as well as for those invested in the fight for democracy.

The episode’s strength lies in the Meiselas brothers' willingness to name names, cite direct quotes, and inject humor alongside their unwavering support for progressive causes. It is both a recap and an argument against political complacency—served up with plenty of brotherly banter.

Transcript

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[MAGA Mike (Speaker of the House)]

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[Political Commentator]

Nice. You got nine out of a lot. Not too bad. Keep practicing by visiting Wayfair.com where you you can shop every style for every home. Wayfair Every style every home. Great work. Magamike Johnson it seems that the government is going to have yet another shutdown because Magamike sent the House of Representatives home for a vacation. And even though the Senate appears poised to enter into a horrible compromise to keep the government opened in order to pass this appropriations bill, which I'll talk about in a second because there are some alterations to the House Appropriations bill, the Senate bill has to get sent back to the House where they have to pass an identical copy of the Senate bill. But guess what? MAGA Mike's been too busy partying with Nicki Minaj and doing other things that have nothing to do with the American people that the House of Representatives is no LONGER In Washington D.C. they are on vacation yet again. So let's talk about what's going down now. MAGA Mike says, by the way, and he's going to call the House back and they're going to try to make it by Sunday, but lots of people are saying we can't make it back by Sunday. So I think the earliest day vote is going to take place on this compromise, which I'll talk about in a moment because I do not like this compromise would be putting it lightly. In fact, I despise it. But in any event, people won't get back Sunday or Monday and a shutdown will take place Saturday at 12:00am so here, here's what we believe is happening right now, that Senate GOP leaders have hotlined, as Andrew Desiderio says, have hotlined a new funding agreement. Five funding bills paired with a two week CR continuing resolution for the Department of Homeland Security. Amendment requests are now rolling in. So what does that mean? What MAGA Mike tried to do is do this minibus that put all of these different department fundings together in one, including the Department of Homeland Security which has additional funding for ICE and Border Patrol Gestapo. What the Senate said because the Democrats were opposing and rejecting additional funding to ICE and Border Patrol is let's remove the Department of Homeland Security funding in total. Since the Democrats opposed that, let's pass the five appropriations bills that don't involve Department of Homeland Security. So those five get passed, excise those, pass those, then separately do what's called a continuing resolution regarding the Department of Homeland Security just for a two week period so the rest gets passed and is funded for the appropriate period of time. The dhs, which funds Border Patrol and ice, that just gets funded for two more weeks while then the Democrats say we're going to in the Senate, Schumer and all the other people say then we're going to negotiate for the things that we want to do with respect to ICE and Border Patrol that you have to get rid of the masks of, of the Border Patrol agents and they have to wear body cams and better training in my view. You can't compromise with authoritarians. ICE and Border Patrol need to be abolished. The individuals who have been terrorizing and torturing communities need to be prosecuted at the level of Trump appointees and officials. They need to be impeached and prosecuted. So I don't want to see any compromising at all. But now that a compromise is going to happen and it's going to be a two week extension of dhs, which means Border Patrol and ICE get funded for another two weeks, I, I think they shouldn't be funded for another fricking day if you ask me. But now it goes to the House. But the House is nowhere to be found and now you have MAGA Republicans in the House like Anna Paulina, Luna and others saying every single appropriations bill that is voted out of the House and sent back to the Senate must have what they're calling the SAVE act attached to it, which basically is the plan to federalize the elections in the midterms in order to manipulate it is what the MAGA Republicans want to do. As Jake Sherman says, this is going to be a problem with DHS coming back to the House which is why the GOP leadership is so concerned. There are going to be many asks now because what's expected. Although I'm sure Donald Trump will call up Anna Paulina, Luna and others people and say don't do it. You have to listen to Donald, listen to what I say and then they'll fold. But we'll see what happens in the House. But it seems like there's going to be some issues in the House. So the shutdown to be clear, takes place Saturday 1201am basically at midnight on Friday we are in a shutdown. The House isn't going to be able to make it back on Friday. So here's what we know is happening. Jake Sherman reports the House Republican leadership is considering trying to bring the House back on Sunday if the Senate clears the six bills tonight. Unclear if they will be able to, but they'll have to make a decision very soon. They're getting members back will be tough Houses back Monday either way. So we'll have this shutdown for a day, two days, maybe three days or maybe more. Andrew Solander writes Liberal groups already broadcasting opposition to the Schumer deal move on spokesperson Britt Jack of it who I know well we had the move on folks to talk about the no Kings protest yesterday. Brit says the following leader Schumer should ask the Minnesotans who are watching their neighbors get killed in cold blood if a deal with no plan to stop ICE is enough right now. You think we want to do a deal with ICE and Border Patrol Gestapo right now? Literally a paramilitary group? There's no negotiating in good faith with these people at all and they're not going to agree to any compromises. They're Gestapo, their ss, they're paramilitary. What do you think they're going to do?

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[Political Commentator]

Donald Trump says that he would support a funding deal. Says he doesn't want another government shutdown right now. So he's trying to send a message to People like Anna Paulina in the House show back up, approve this thing and get this thing funded. Which is another reason that we should all realize that, that this is just funding his paramilitary. Like that's what this is about. In any event, Maga Mike screwed it all up by taking this vacation. Maga Mike himself, he's still in the House right now. He's been partying with Nicki Minaj. Maga Mike was asked by reporters, Nora McKee, a reporter, if he thinks there should be an independent investigation into what's been going on in Minnesota. Let's play this clip.

[Guest or Co-host]

Should there be an independent investigation into.

[Political Commentator]

What'S going on in Minnesota?

[MAGA Mike (Speaker of the House)]

I'm not going to forecast that. That's for the administration.

[Political Commentator]

So Maga Mike says that he will not forecast whether there should be an independent investigation. That's for the administration to look into. You don't have a position, Maga Mike, if independent investigations should take place, again, I don't care. What side of the political are you on? Democrat, independent, Republican. You're okay with Maga Mike saying he doesn't know? He, he can form his own opinion as the speaker of the House about whether there should be an independent investigation and that's for the administration to decide. But what has Maga Mike been doing while the MAGA Republicans have been on vacation? Well, Maga Mike has been giving speeches at events with Nicki Minaj and here he talks about how things are great and he makes this, this post on social media saying that we've been doing a great job and everything's going amazing and all of these bad days are behind and we're soaring as a nation right now and everyone's being wealthy in this nation. Here, play this clip.

[MAGA Mike (Speaker of the House)]

The Republican led Congress got right to work. We, we worked to steer this country of ours back toward common sense and to undo all of the damage that was really wrought by the four years of bidenomics. We, we had a lot to fix. As you know, we inherited a real mess. The unmitigated crisis at our border was the number one issue in the 2024 election because we had to correct that. But it was also the economy and decades high inflation was fueled by failures of Bidenomics. And it, it was a serious problem for all American families for long years. We had to endure that. The only solutions offered during that time were by the Biden administration. The Democrats in charge. They wanted another government program. They wanted another federal agency. They wanted more taxes and more government spending. And I am here to declare to you today what you have all seen demonstrated. Those days are now behind us and we are so grateful for that. Yes.

[Political Commentator]

And here's what MAGA Mike had to say about Nicki Minaj during his speech. Let's play this clip.

[MAGA Mike (Speaker of the House)]

So great to be with you all. I was delighted to come out, but I did not want to follow Nicki Minaj. Okay. I told her backstage I almost wore that coat today. And I'm so glad that I didn't. Really, it is such a great privilege to join you all today.

[Political Commentator]

Now, in addition, Donald Trump ranting and raving like a maniac. He says, based on the fact that Canada has wrongfully, illegally and steadfastly refused to Certify the Gulfstream 500, 600, 700 and 800 jets, we are hereby decertifying their Bombardier Global Express and all aircraft made in Canada. If for any reason the situation is not immediately corrected, I'm going to charge Canada in a 50% tariff on any and all aircraft sold into the United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this matter. More ranting and raving like a lunatic of Donald Trump. Earlier today, Donald Trump also said that I don't want to drive housing prices down at a Cabinet meeting was I don't want to lower housing prices. Here, play this clip again.

[Donald Trump]

Existing housing people that own their homes, we're going to keep them wealthy. We're going to keep those prices up. We're not going to destroy the value of their homes so that somebody that didn't work very hard can buy a home. We're going to get, we're going to make it easier to buy. We're going to get interest rates down. But I want to protect the people that for the first time in their lives feel good about themselves. They feel like they've, you know, that they're wealthy people. And I want them to understand that, you know, there's so much talk about, oh, we're going to drive housing prices down. I don't want to drive housing prices down. I want to drive housing prices up for people that own their homes and they can be assured that's what's going to happen.

[Political Commentator]

And this follows Donald Trump repeatedly saying that he believes affordability isn't an issue anymore. Remember a speech in Iowa where he said, I don't believe affordability is a problem for Americans. Let's play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

And they come up with this word, affordability. And I saw it even although you're not hearing it so much anymore. You know why? Because the prices are coming down so much. They don't want it to be an election based on lower prices, but we're bringing down the lower. I like that term better. It's a lower prices. We're bringing them down.

[Political Commentator]

And then you have Donald Trump's energy secretary Chris Wright say that Donald Trump by bringing back coal saved hundreds of lives during the recent cold weather throughout the United States. Play this clip. And coal production is growing again in the United States after years of decline. And this beautiful clean coal was the MVP of the huge cold snap we're in right now. I can say with some confidence hundreds of American lives have been saved because.

[Podcast Host]

Of your leaning in and stopping the.

[Political Commentator]

Killing of coal and revitalizing coal. And finally, new video is surfacing of Greg Bevino in Minnesota saying that this is our effing city. This is our effing city. We run this. We run this. This is Greg Bevino before the murder of Alex Pretty and Renee Nicole Good here. Play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

Irish inspire fucking city. Arrest as many people that touch you.

[Political Commentator]

As you want to.

[Donald Trump]

Those are the general orders all the way to the top.

[Political Commentator]

Everybody gets it if they touch you.

[Donald Trump]

You hear what I'm saying?

[Political Commentator]

Less lethals. We're going to look at shipping 20 tractor trailer loads of that in here. So you catch what I'm it's all about us now. It ain't about them. Professional, legal, ethical, moral.

[Donald Trump]

You know what we're talking about.

[Political Commentator]

Legal, ethical, moral. You're on camera. But other than that, it's what we do. Well, there you have it folks. Let's we'll keep you posted every step of the way. Let us know what you think. Hit subscribe Help us get to 6 million subscribers.

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