MAGA Mike Gets Nightmare News as Plan Utterly Fails

Summary

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Podcast Summary: MAGA Mike Gets Nightmare News as Plan Utterly Fails

Podcast: The MeidasTouch Podcast
Date: August 31, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Featured Guests: Reps. Ro Khanna, Thomas Massie, Robert Garcia

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on Speaker Mike Johnson (“MAGA Mike”) and his recent handling of the ongoing Congressional battle over the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The hosts dissect a series of television interviews where Johnson appears evasive and visibly nervous under mounting bipartisan pressure to release documents relating to Epstein. The Meiselas brothers critique Johnson’s deflections, discuss behind-the-scenes maneuvers by both Democrats and Republicans, and highlight new developments, including the imminent release of the infamous Epstein “birthday book.” They also touch on unrelated topics like the unpopularity of Johnson’s budget bill, the national debate over crime rates, and the perennial “thoughts and prayers” versus gun reform debate.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mike Johnson’s "Nightmare": Epstein Files Pressure Mounts

• [00:57] The episode opens with Ben describing Johnson’s nervous TV appearances:

  “MAGA Mike, you thought that during the congressional recess that people were going to forget about the Epstein files. No, no, no. People just want him more now…”
  — Host / Political Commentator (00:57)

• Johnson claims the administration has delivered transparency by providing over 33,000 documents related to Epstein.
• The hosts point out Johnson’s visible unease—“licking his lips when he’s scared”—and play clips illustrating his discomfort.
• [02:52] Johnson on ABC tries to reassure the public:

  “We are for maximum transparency. We always have been. But we also have to be careful to protect the innocent victims… But everything we need to be out. We trust the American people to make their own decisions, and they will soon have all of that.”
  — Mike Johnson (02:52)

2. Claims vs. Reality: The Document Dump

• The hosts clarify that the 33,000 documents cited by Johnson were largely duplicates, not the actual “Epstein files.”

  “Just because you cite a big number doesn’t mean that you’re compliant with a subpoena.”
  — Host / Political Commentator (03:56)

• [06:57] Rep. Ro Khanna debunks Johnson’s claims:

  “…Our lawyers were up all night and we now have a fact that only 3% of the documents that were given to us were new. 97% were already in the public domain and less than 1% of the Epstein files have actually been released.”
  — Ro Khanna (06:57)

3. Bipartisan Pressure and the Discharge Petition

• House Democrats, led by Ro Khanna and joined by Republican Thomas Massie, maintain pressure for full transparency.
• [10:21] Massie explains their bipartisan approach:

  “…Ro Khanna and I are using a procedure in the House called a discharge petition, whereby if we get 218 votes and we’re well on our way to that 218 signatures, then we can force the vote.”
  — Thomas Massie (10:21)

• The pressure did not dissipate over the August recess and is, if anything, increasing.

4. The Epstein “Birthday Book” and Estate Subpoena

• The program spotlights the House Oversight Committee’s new subpoena targeting the “birthday book” reportedly containing a personal note from Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein.
• [11:28] Rep. Robert Garcia offers breaking news:

  “…We finally got word from the Epstein estate. They’re gonna be providing the actual Epstein book, that famous book where that note that Donald Trump drew and doodled to Jeffrey Epstein, his so-called best friend of 10 to 15 years... We’re gonna get those documents as we understand it now on September 8th.”
  — Robert Garcia (11:28)

5. Budget Bill Unpopularity and GOP Messaging

• Johnson claims the new budget bill is misunderstood and actually popular when individual provisions are explained.
• [13:20] Johnson blames negative polling on media/Democrats:

  “There’s been an all out assault and effort by Democrats and the mainstream media to frankly misinform people about what’s in the bill... When they take the same polls of the individual provisions... they’re wildly popular.”
  — Mike Johnson (13:20)

• The hosts dismiss this as spin and highlight the bill's broad unpopularity.

6. Crime, “Tough on Crime” Rhetoric, and Fox News

• Governor Newsom’s claim that Johnson’s Louisiana district has higher crime rates than California becomes a talking point.
• Johnson says:

  “Gavin Newsom will do anything for attention... We have crime in cities all across America and we’re against that everywhere… But we have to address it.”
  — Mike Johnson (14:46)

• Under questioning, Johnson concedes the possibility of needing the National Guard in his own district (Shreveport) but blames local Democratic officials.

7. Thoughts and Prayers: Gun Reform Dodge

• Johnson falls back on familiar Republican talking points after school shootings:

  “…Jen Psaki and Gavin Newsom and others would attack religion, diminish the faith of millions of Americans at a time of such great tragedy. There are a lot of common sense solutions... that do not involve taking away the constitutional rights of law abiding American citizens... The problem is not guns... It’s the human heart.”
  — Mike Johnson (17:37)

• The hosts criticize Republicans for using faith as a shield and rejecting common-sense reforms.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Host on Johnson’s evasions:

  “You can literally see him like swaying and licking his lips. Look how nervous he was during the CNN interview.” (00:57)

• Ro Khanna on document dump:

  “They’ve released less than 1% [of the Epstein files]... Bottom line, they’re still stonewalling and not releasing things.” (06:57)

• Robert Garcia on blockbuster subpoena:

  “Reporting it here for the first time. We’re gonna get those documents as we understand it now on September 8th... Let’s get to the truth.” (11:28)

• Host on Democratic pressure:

  “The victims want this release. So, in maga, Mike’s like, we’re doing this to protect the victims. We need prayer. No, the victims want to release, redact their names. But that should have been done in February.” (18:28)

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Key Timestamps

• 00:57: Opening—MAGA Mike’s nervous interviews about Epstein files
• 02:52: Johnson’s TV statements on document transparency
• 06:57: Ro Khanna’s breakdown: 97% of documents are duplicates
• 09:07: Wall Street Journal’s “birthday book” and new subpoena efforts
• 11:28: Rep. Robert Garcia: upcoming Epstein book release
• 13:20: Johnson spins budget bill unpopularity
• 14:46: California’s crime rate debate; Johnson’s Fox News appearance
• 17:37: Johnson pivots to religion and “thoughts and prayers” after tragedy
• 18:28: Hosts preview upcoming press conference with Epstein victims

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Tone & Takeaways

• Tone: Satirical, incredulous, and sharply critical of Speaker Johnson and the MAGA wing, with classic MeidasTouch brotherly banter and irreverence.
• Takeaway: MAGA Speaker Mike Johnson is under bipartisan and public pressure for transparency; his attempts to spin or deflect—over Epstein, the budget, or crime—are falling flat. The pressure for truth regarding the Epstein files is intensifying, led by both Democratic and (some) Republican lawmakers determined to deliver real transparency to the American people.

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This episode is a must-listen for anyone following Congressional dysfunction, the Epstein files saga, and the ongoing skirmishes between MAGA Republicans and pro-democracy coalitions on Capitol Hill.

Transcript

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[Host / Political Commentator]

18/ TNC supply MAGA Mike Johnson's nightmare has arrived. His big tell is when he does these interviews and he like licks his lips when he's scared. But Maga Mike, you thought that during the congressional recess that people were going to forget about the Epstein files. No, no, no. People just want him more now based on the COVID up. So Maga Mike Johnson did a series of TV interviews where he talked about how he and Donald Trump have the utmost transparency to get the American people all of the files. That's what's taken place since Congress was in recess. We're not stupid. Maga Mike. Let me show you what Maga Mike said and let's talk about the reality. And you can literally see him like swaying and like licking his lips. Look how nervous he was during the CNN interview. Here, play this clip.

[Republican Congressman Thomas Massie]

So the discharge prediction from Thomas Massie in Ro Khanna. I hope I'm using the right word. Will ripen soon.

[Republican Congressman Mike Johnson (MAGA Mike)]

Well, no, it's. I don't. I guess it would if they get the right signature.

[Republican Congressman Thomas Massie]

If they get the signature. If they get the signature right now.

[Republican Congressman Mike Johnson (MAGA Mike)]

It's an absolute point. It's not even necessary.

[Republican Congressman Thomas Massie]

I mean, you don't think it's going to happen.

[Republican Congressman Mike Johnson (MAGA Mike)]

There may be a floor vote of one measure or another. We have our own resolutions to do all this, but I don't. It's. It's sort of not necessary at the point, because the administration is already doing this. They're turning it over.

[Republican Congressman Thomas Massie]

So I don't think that Congressman Khanna and Massie think that yet, at least from what I've heard. And I don't know that the 218 people that they think they have as signatories of that think that either. If they do get the signatures, will you allow that to come to a vote on the floor?

[Republican Congressman Mike Johnson (MAGA Mike)]

We might not even wait for that. We have our own resolutions to affect the same thing. But the process is playing out as it should, and very soon the American people will have that information, and they should have had it all along. That's my view.

[Republican Congressman Thomas Massie]

But you can't guarantee there'll be a vote on the. On the discharge petition.

[Republican Congressman Mike Johnson (MAGA Mike)]

There probably will be a vote of some sense, but we've got to get everybody collected again and get bill consensus around that.

[Host / Political Commentator]

Okay, Maga Mike. And then he did another interview with abc. Let me show you this one, and let's talk about it both here.

[Republican Congressman Mike Johnson (MAGA Mike)]

Play this 100% consistent about this forever. What about a vote on the floor? If it's necessary, we will. I think what's happened over August, over the last few weeks has probably mooted that the necessity of legislation, because right now the administration is in full compliance with congressional subpoenas. They've submitted over 34,000 Epstein documents to Congress just in the last couple of weeks. And our Oversight Committee is going through the deliberative process. We are for maximum transparency. We always have been. But we also have to be careful to protect the innocent victims. And it takes time to do that, to redact necessary information. You don't want, for example, minors who are subjected to these unspeakable Epstein evils to go through another round of harm. And so that's the protective sort of lens that's being used for this. But everything we need to be out. We trust the American people to make their own decisions, and they will soon have all of that. So you wouldn't oppose a vote on the floor? No, we will move a vote if necessary. But I mean, right now that process is actually underway, and we're grateful to see it. I mean, I have been from the very beginning. Say we want all of it out, so long as we protect the innocent.

[Host / Political Commentator]

All right, Maga, Mike. So you say that you are in full compliance and that there may not even be a need for any additional vote on the House floor about the release of the Epstein files, because you say everything has been produced, 33,000 documents have been turned over you know, just because you cite a big number doesn't mean that you're compliant with a subpoena. So let's talk about the facts. Maga. Micah. Here's the subpoena that was issued by the House Oversight Committee to the Department of justice right here, August 19, 2025. If you take a look at the what was requested, it was all documents and communications relating or referring to Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and further relating or referring to human trafficking, exploitation of minors, sexual abuse or related activity. All documents and communications contained within the case file United States v. Jefferies and United States Vigilant Ghislaine Maxwell. All documents and communications contained within the file pertaining to the investigation of Epstein by the United States Attorney's United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida in 2007 relating to that non prosecution agreement. All documents and communications between the Executive Office of the President, including it says Joseph Biden, the Department of justice, referring to Epstein, the United States and the investigation of Epstein on all documents and communications relating to or referring to the death of Epstein. But that's not what you produced. What was produced by the Department of Justice was 33,000 documents that had already been turned over before. They weren't the Epstein files. What took place during the Congressional recess was the setup that you and Donald Trump attempted to pull, which backfired in your face. The interview with Ghislaine Maxwell. She was granted immunity by the Department of Justice. She was moved from the Tallahassee prison to the facility in the Bryan, Texas Camp Bryan, Texas, to the minimum security facility where she got a special waiver because she's a convicted sex trafficker who's serving a 20 year sentence and she wasn't allowed to be at Camp Bryan, Texas. We've seen the transcript of that interview by Donald Trump's former criminal defense attorney, Todd Blanche, who's now the number two at the Department of Justice. And we, we, we heard her say, oh, Epstein never did anything wrong. I've never really seen him do anything wrong. He liked young women, not even young girls. He liked, he liked to listen to their music. I, I've never seen anything untoward. I never see Donald Trump has always been a perfect gentleman. I was never involved in anything. All right, no one was buying that. And then the 33,000 documents that were turned over were not the Epstein files. They were documents that were turned over before that. Everybody had. I'll show you what Democratic Congressmember Ro Khanna said because he and the House Oversight Committee looked through all 33,000 documents and 97, 98% were duplicates of what was already turned over. Here's what Ro Khanna says here, play this clip.

[Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, good morning. Let me break some news. This morning our lawyers were up all night and we now have a fact that only 3% of the documents that were given to us were new. 97% were already in the public domain and less than 1% of the Epstein files have actually been released. The Epstein files are 300 gigabits. We know this because that's what the FBI has said. And they've released less than 1 gigabit, so they've released less than 1%. And of the less than 1% they've released, 97% is still in the public record. Bottom line, they're still stonewalling and not releasing things.

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[Host / Political Commentator]

And this was perfectly predicted as well by Republican Congressmember Thomas Massie from Kentucky. He said if Maga Mike thinks that the urgency and the pressure is just going to go away when Maga Mike called a recess, it ain't going away. Maga Mike, listen to what Thomas Massie had to say. That the pressure just was building over the August recess. Here, play this clip right here.

[Interviewer / Journalist]

There was this story in the Wall Street Journal about a birthday message that the Journal reports that Trump wrote to Epstein for his 50th birthday as part of a book of messages. Obviously the President denies that he did this. He's suing the Wall Street Journal over it. But would you support something that Congressman Khanna has been calling for, which is a pressing the estate of Jeffrey Epstein, subpoenaing the estate to turn that book over?

[Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, I think we should get a lot more than just the book. Let's get the financial records of the estate. Where's the follow the money as they say up here. We should look at the plea bargain, open that up, see what was the deal? What was the deal that was cut. I think there's a lot more than just that letter. But that letter is also sort of representative of something that's embarrassing but not illegal. That, you know, another reason why these files may be sealed and stay sealed. But we're going to, we're going to force a vote on this when we get back from the August recess. Ro Khanna and I are using a procedure in the House called a discharge petition, whereby if we get 218 votes and we're well on our way to that 218 signatures, then we can force the vote.

[Host / Political Commentator]

And indeed it did give give a hat tip to the Democrats in the House Oversight Committee now led by Congressmember Garcia. They've been keeping the pressure on Democratic Congress members like Ro Khanna working with Republican Congressmember Thomas Massie pushing forward. They've now subpoenaed that birthday book, you know, the Epstein birthday book with a Donald Trump sued the Wal Street Journal over which the Wall Street Journal reported that Donald Trump sent this letter to Epstein about like our secret enigmas together and like our secrets will always stay private together. And then Trump drew the photo according to the Wall Street Journal. Well, guess who has those, who has that book? The estate of Jeffrey Epstein has that book and the estate's lawyer is like a trustee. They said that they would turn over on that book now to the House Oversight Committee. And let's take a listen to a Democratic Congress member Robert Garcia has to say about the progress that's being made. Maybe that's why Maga Mike is licking his lips like that. Here, play this clip.

[Democratic Congressman Robert Garcia]

This upcoming week, we have actually many of the victims of Jeffrey Epstein coming to Capitol Hill. We're meeting with them. They're talking to lawmakers. We're going to highlight their stories. We've got to center these victims. And I'll just say one other piece of news actually just developed in the last couple hours is we finally got word from the Epstein estate. They're gonna be providing the actual Epstein book, that famous book where that note that Donald Trump drew and doodled to Jeffrey Epstein, his so called best friend of 10 to 15 years. The Epstein estate is actually going to actually now get us that book and a bunch of other documents that they have that's actually not been reported yet. Reporting it here for the first time. We're gonna get those documents as we understand it now on September 8th. And so that will continue our investigation. And again we asked the question, we where are the rest of the documents? What is Pam Bondi hiding? What is Donald Trump hiding? And the COVID up. Let's get to the truth.

[Host / Political Commentator]

So then Maga Mike tries to talk about a number of other issues as well, like Maga Mike wants to talk about and he thinks this is a good issue for him. He goes, you know what, I think that the budget bill is really liked. You know, I just think I blame the Democrats for defaming the bill. But the budget bill, people love it when they know everybody hates it. Maga Mike, watch him crumble during this interview here.

[Republican Congressman Thomas Massie]

Play this clip instrumental maybe crucial, maybe the singular most crucial person in passing, which is what the president was calling the big beautiful bill. But he said this week, I'm not going to use that term, great big beautiful bill. That was good for getting it approved. It's not good for explaining it to people. I guess my question is why is it hard to explain to people Our Harry Yetton who's a numbers guy, great numbers guy, I'm sure you've seen him, he put together some numbers and said it's among the most unpopular laws passed since 1990, less so than the Affordable Care act, the bank bailout and the Republican Tax Bill 2017. Why so hard?

[Republican Congressman Mike Johnson (MAGA Mike)]

I'm not surprised by these numbers at all because there's been an all out assault and effort by Democrats and the mainstream media to frankly misinform people about what's in the bill. When they take the same polls of the individual provisions of that giant piece of legislation, they're wildly popular. So what happened over the August district work period is Republicans fanned out Senate and House Republicans across the country to all their districts to go and explain exactly the extraordinary things that are in this bill. It's geared and written for lower and middle class earners. They're going to feel the effects of that. We restored American energy dominance, peace through strength, largest tax cuts in U.S. history. People are going to feel that before they vote in that midterm election. And I am very bullish on the outcome.

[Host / Political Commentator]

And then Maga Mike Johnson is asked on state regime media Fox to respond To California Governor Gavin Newsom calling MAGA Mike out for being in a district with far higher crime than in Los Angeles or anywhere in California. Here, watch this.

[Republican Congressman Mike Johnson (MAGA Mike)]

But he name dropped you personally yesterday. Essentially trying to say that crime is worse in Louisiana than it is in California. Take a listen. We'll get your thoughts.

[Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna]

If he is to invest in crime suppression, I hope the president states would look at the facts. Just consider Speaker Johnson's state and district. Just look at the murder rate that's nearly four times higher than California in Louisiana.

[Republican Congressman Mike Johnson (MAGA Mike)]

How about it again, Gavin Newsom will do anything for attention. He can name drop me all, all that he wants. He needs to go and govern his state and not be engaging in all of this. Look, we have crime in cities all across America and we're against that everywhere. And we need to bring policies to bear. My hometown is Shreveport, has done a great job of reducing crime gradually, but we've got to address it everywhere that it rears its ugly head. And I think every major city in the country, the residents of those cities are open to that and anxious to have it. And we're the, the policy. We're the party that's going to bring that forward. I look forward to that in the.

[Host / Political Commentator]

Day, principally then CNN grilled MAGA Mike. So when are you going to call in the National Guard to your congressional district? Because there's clearly more crime there than there is in the other areas where there's the National Guard and the military. Here, play this clip.

[Republican Congressman Mike Johnson (MAGA Mike)]

Sometimes local governance does not do the job and the oversight in D.C. is long overdue.

[Republican Congressman Thomas Massie]

I was going to ask when you might be calling for the National Guard in Shreveport, which is you have part of your district in Shreveport. The FBI statistics actually violent crime per 100,000 residents higher in Shreveport last year than Washington, D.C. there's a lot of.

[Republican Congressman Mike Johnson (MAGA Mike)]

Good work that's been done. There's a lot of reasons for that. But we have a Democrat DA there who has not been prosecuting crime as some other more aggressive DAs have around the country. Soros funded that individual to be elected. But I'll say that, you know, it's a, it's an urban area that has a lot of problems that are happening around the country, and we have to address it.

[Republican Congressman Thomas Massie]

So with the Guard help, if the Guard can help in D.C. president has said he wants to send the Guard to Chicago and other places. Why not Shreveport?

[Republican Congressman Mike Johnson (MAGA Mike)]

I don't know. That's not my call. It may be necessary. Well, I don't know. Let's take one city at a Time and see. We have to address the crime problem in any city where it's a problem like that. And in large cities like in Chicago, as you mentioned, that would be a big help there. I was there just two days ago and it's a serious, serious problem. They don't even report murders on the evening news in Chicago anymore because it's so common. And Democrat run cities typically have that problem because they have not been tough on crime. President Trump is one who believes in that and we do as well. And we've got to take every measure to make sure we're keeping American cities safe. It's common sense.

[Host / Political Commentator]

So then MAGA Mike tries to go to a familiar topic. This is where he always goes with his safe space. He tries to weaponize religion and prayer. And a lot of Democrats have been saying, look, it's, we need more than just thoughts and prayers when we have these school shootings. Thoughts and prayers are fine. But, but let's have common sense gun reform, please. Let's have common sense gun reform. To which MAGA Mike Johnson and all the MAGA Republicans were saying, well, Democrats hate prayer. That's not what Democrats think. Democrats are saying we need both, we need thoughts and prayers, which is fine. But then let's also have actual tangible results. Let's watch this here. Let's play this clip of what Mag and Mike said. Play the clip.

[Republican Congressman Mike Johnson (MAGA Mike)]

And you're thinking this morning. Well, it's incredible to me that Jen Psaki and Gavin Newsom and others would attack religion, diminish the faith of millions of Americans at a time of such great tragedy. There are a lot of common sense solutions, things that can be done to protect children at schools and in churches that do not involve taking away the constitutional rights of law abiding American citizens. This is not a time to politicize these issues. We mourn for the families, the community that's affected there. I don't know if you saw, I'm sure you guys saw the fathers remorse remarks yesterday for that little boy who was lost, Fletcher Merkel just, it's such a heart wrenching thing for all of us. And at the end of the day, the problem is not guns. Okay? Jen Psaki, the problem is the human heart. It's mental health. There are things that we can do, solutions that we can come together to handle. But this is not the time to do that.

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[Host / Political Commentator]

There you have it folks. We'll keep you posted every step of the way. But you see a very nervous, flustered bag of Mike, the pressure did not go away. And if anything, the pressures mounted. You have Democratic Congressmember Ro Khanna and Republican Congressmember Thomas Massie. They're actually holding a press conference with the victims of Epstein that will be held coming up on September 3rd. We're going to be showing that here on the Midas Touch Network. I want you to watch that. But that's what it's the victims want this release. So in maga, Mike's like, we're doing this to protect the victims. We need prayer. No, the victims want to release, redact their names. But that should have been done in February. That that could have been done. Instead, what I understand the MAGA Republicans did was redact Donald Trump's name and get rid of it everywhere. Anyway, let me know what you think. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 6 million. Thanks for watching. Love this video. Support independent media and unlock exclusive content, ad free videos and custom emoji by becoming a paid member of our YouTube channel today. You can also gift memberships to others. Let's keep growing together.