Loading summary
Rachel Maddow
Home to the Rachel Maddow Show, Morning Joe, the Briefing with Jen Psaki and more Voices you know and trust. Ms. Now is your source for news, opinion and the world. Our name is new, but you'll find the same commitment to justice, progress and the truth that you've relied on for decades. We'll continue to cover the day's news, ask the tough questions and explain how it impacts you. Ms. Now. Same mission, New name. Learn more at Ms. Now. If we knew more about our sleep, what would we do differently? Would we go to bed at a consistent time or take steps to reduce interruptions to our sleep? With the all new Sleep Score, Apple Watch measures your bedtime consistency, interruptions and sleep duration. Then every morning it combines these factors into an easy to understand score from 1 to 100 so you'll know how to take the quality of your sleep from good to excellent. Introducing the new Sleep Score ON Apple Watch iPhone 11 or later required this episode is brought to you by Netflix from the creator of Homeland. Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys star in the new Netflix series the Beast in Me as ruthless rivals whose shared darkness will set them on a collision course with fatal consequences. The Beast in Me is a riveting psychological cat and mouse story about guilt, justice and doubt. You will not want to miss this. The Beast in Me is now playing only on Netflix.
MAGA Mike Johnson
A massage chair might seem a bit extravagant, especially these days. Eight different settings, adjustable intensity, plus it's heated and it just feels so good. Yes, a massage chair might seem a bit extravagant, but when it can come with a car, suddenly it seems quite practical. The Volkswagen Tiguan, packed with premium features like available massaging front seats, it only feels extravagant.
Rachel Maddow
Running a business comes with a lot of what ifs, but luckily there's a simple answer to Shopify. It's the commerce platform behind millions of businesses including Thrive Cosmetics and Momofuku, and it'll help you with everything you need. From website design and marketing to boosting sales and expanding operations, Shopify can get the job done and make your dream a reality. Turn those what ifs into sign up for your $1 per month trial at shopify.com specialoffer these are 427.
Political Commentator / Narrator
The nays are 1/2 being in the affirmative. The rules are suspended, the bill is passed, and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the T. Oh Maga Mike 427 to 1. That was the final vote in the House of Representatives to to release the Epstein files. Maga Mike has been in utter terror he's been panicking in public. He had to pretend that he was voting in favor of the resolution to release the Epstein files so he can now try to figure out with Donald Trump a way to block it in the Senate. By the way, if you were wondering who is the one person who voted against the release of the Epstein files, it was MAGA Republican Congress member Clay Higgins. But before the vote was taken for 427 to 1, Maga Mike got up there and spoke. And MAGA Mike was speaking in the House chamber. And he goes, we really have a lot of national security concerns regarding classified information in those files. So we're going to have to work with the Senate after we pass it here, and we're going to have to make some major corrections. Watch MAGA Mike tremble on the floor. Highly classified information before the vote was taken. Here, play this clip.
MAGA Mike Johnson
It jeopardizes future of federal investigations. And we have national security concerns regarding classified information. We'll put this in the record because we need the legislative record to reflect what is the legislative intent behind this vote.
Political Commentator / Narrator
And then MAGA Mike wanted to make it very clear in his opinion on the floor that Donald Trump has absolutely nothing to hide. Nothing to hide. Just ignore that. MAGA Mike just right before that, talked about Horizon highly classified information. And that's why he's going to work with the Senate to try to block the resolution. But watch what MAGA Mike says on the floor about Donald Trump. Can you get any more pathetic than this? Here, play this clip.
MAGA Mike Johnson
They're using that as a political weapon to try to distract from their failures as a party and to try their best to try to tie President Trump somehow into this wretched scandal. The President had nothing to do with it. He's been very clear and he has nothing to hide. And that's why he's endorsed the vote today. I suspect this vote will be probably unanimous. But here's the important point that everybody needs to understand. We have been advocates of maximum transparency, but we have also insisted that the victims be carefully protected. The Oversight Committee has been doing extraordinary work. And we've got some of the most vigorous advocates on the Republican and Democrat side on the Oversight Committee. They've been working in earnest to deliver transparency for the American people and to do it in a responsible manner.
Political Commentator / Narrator
Now, before that vote was taken again, 427 to 1, to release the Epstein files, MAGA Mike held a press conference where he was surrounded by other MAGA Republican leaders. And he explained what he was doing. He goes, I'm Gonna go and move forward with the bill to release the Epstein files. But he goes, I'm gonna have to work with the Senate in order to correct everything. There's a lot of defects right here because. And lots of things that need correction. And he's like, we can't re. Victimize the victims. I mean, that's the major issue. We gotta protect the victims. Were there MAGA Mike and they said, release the files. This morning we were covering it live on the Midas Touch network. And then Maga Mike's like, and we're going to create new victims. And as sick as this is, he's referring to the wealthy men who are in the files. And Mag and Mike's like, calling them victims. Let me just show you what went down I. On the press conference before the vote. And MAGA Mike's just really giving away how he's going to try to work with the Senate to block the release by saying they need corrections. Here he is talking about, we need to correct the resolution. Here, play this clip.
MAGA Mike Johnson
Going to see that and understand it. I'm going to. I'm going to vote to move this forward. I think it could be close to a unanimous vote because everybody here, all the Republicans, want to go on record to show there for maximum transparency. But they also want to note that. That we're demanding that this stuff get corrected before it is ever moves through the process and is completed.
Political Commentator / Narrator
And while Maga Mike was holding that press conference, in the back of him, or in the back of him, there was a graphic which talked about what he says are the defects in the current discharge petition, unless there is an amendment, unless it is changed. In other words, he wants the Senate to put a poison pill in this discharge petition that will effectively kill the bill. It will kill the release of the Epstein files. And one of the things that Magna Mike has been saying is, is that it harms the privacy of victims, which we know to be false, because we heard from the victims today who said, release the damn files. Release the files. And then Maga Mike also says one of the issues is, is that it's going to create a new class of victims. And Maga Mike's referring to all these rich, wealthy men who. Who were implicated or involved or mentioned in the Epstein files. They will now become victims is essentially the disgusting implication here. And we'll create new victims. And he goes, we want to avoid creating new victims. Listen to what he says right here. Here, play this clip.
MAGA Mike Johnson
Do the discharge petition could create new victims, okay? Because it requires the DOJ to release information, even in cases where the DOJ or the FBI has already reviewed it and determined it is not credible, it is false information. Doing this and requiring this to come out could ruin the reputations of completely innocent people, such as those who may just have known Epstein but knew nothing of his crimes or whose names he exploited. Think of this. Innocent people whose names he exploited and used to try to get close to his intended victims. Their names may be in these files, and they had nothing to do with this. And so by just haphazardly releasing it, you're going to destroy their reputations. Releasing information containing the names of innocent people would subject those innocent people to a guilt by association. It would create an entirely new group of victims who have no means to clear their names. That's a concern of Congress, and it should be. Should be.
Political Commentator / Narrator
And then he talks about national security concerns, and he's like, one of the reasons we can't release these files is because we have to be very careful with the classified information and national security concerns here. And so that's one of the reasons we probably can't release these files. Do you see what he's setting up here? Do you see what he's doing here? Play this clip.
MAGA Mike Johnson
All right, number five. National security concerns. Okay. The discharge requires the Attorney General to release within 30 days, quote, classified information to the maximum, maximum extent possible. This ignores the principle that declassification should always rest and always has rested with the agency that originated the intelligence. Why? So that they can protect their critical sources and methods. It is incredibly dangerous to demand that officials or employees of the DOJ declassify materials that originated in other agencies and intelligence agencies.
Political Commentator / Narrator
And then Magamike thinks that, like, everybody's stupid, and he's like, but I do want to know that we, the Republican Party, we put this bill up for unanimous consent, and the Democrats were the ones who objected to the release of the Epstein files. We said, let's do it last week, and we wanted to do it through unanimous consent. And the Democrats said, no, no, no, slow it down. Like, we're not stupid. Maga Mike, we literally know that you and Donald Trump are the ones. And the Republicans are blocking the release. It wasn't the Democrats. You know, by the way, as the survivors were saying earlier in the day, they were like, stop attacking Democrats and stop making it about yourself. Just release the files. Here's where MAGA Mike claims that he put this to the floor for a vote, and Democrats objected. Here, play this clip.
MAGA Mike Johnson
Oh, by the way, I'll just tell you I put the bill on the floor of unanimous consent last Wednesday night and guess who objected to it? The Democrats. Okay, if they were so if this is so urgent and they were so concerned about getting this done and seeing justice be done and all that, they would not have blocked the request. Okay, this is about politics. They blocked our unanimous consent motion to expedite their bill and made us waste all this additional time. So they kept a show vote today. Republicans are ready to get the job done, to move forward so we can continue to get onto these important issues of dealing with what the American people demand and deserve for us to deal with.
SelectQuote Advertiser
If you're like me, instead of learning to skateboard, you wish you were learning to write code. Instead of scraping through college, you wish you bought Bitcoin at less than a cent or secured a few Nvidia shares before they boomed. We might be the FOMO generation, but don't miss out on protecting your future. For around the same price per month as one of your streaming services, you can break our generational cycle and secure your and your family's future by finding life insurance@SelectQuote.com if you're new to life insurance, you're not alone. Thankfully, I found Selectquote for over 40 years, Selectquote has helped more than 2 million Americans understand their options and get the coverage they need. Over $700 billion in coverage and counting. As a broker, their mission is simple to find you the right insurance policy at the best price. Selectquote takes the guesswork out of finding the right life insurance policy. You don't have to sort through dozens of confusing options on your own. Instead, one of their licensed agents will find the right policy at the right price for you. To Comparing plans from trusted top rated insurance companies to find a policy that fits your health, your lifestyle and your budget. And they work for you for free. You'll be covered faster than you think. Selectquote works with providers who offer same day coverage up to $2 million worth with no medical exam required. And you're not out of luck if you have a pre existing health condition because Selectquote partners with companies that offer policies for people with conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease. Selectquote makes life insurance simple even if this is your first time thinking about it. Head to selectquote.com and a licensed insurance agent will call you right away with the right policy for your life and your budget. Life insurance is never cheaper than it is today. Selectquote they shop, you save. Life insurance is never cheaper than it is today get the right life insurance for you for less and save more than 50%@SelectQuote.com Midas save more than 50% on term life insurance@SelectQuote.com Midas today to get started. That's SelectQuote.com Midas roll for Maga Mike.
Political Commentator / Narrator
Here where he says, look, I spoke to the Senate majority leader, John Thune, and I talked to him and I shared with him my deep concerns about this discharge petition that's been voted on. And we both agree that we're going to have to be very methodical. We're going to have to be very careful with what's in there and we're going to figure this out together. That's code word for, for. They're going to stick poison pills in this bill and they're going to kill it. They're going to try to slow it down. They're going to try to delay it for months and then years and as far as they can go, and then they're not going to release the files. This is what their next plan is. As MAGA Mike and Donald Trump realized that there was going to be an overwhelming number of Republicans joining with the Democrats to vote in favor of releasing the the Epstein files. So now again, they're pretending that they support the release, but now they're working with the Senate and saying, oh, we got to be methodical, we got to correct it, we got to fix it, which really is code for kill it. Here, play this clip like this.
MAGA Mike Johnson
I call my counterpart in the Senate, Leader Thune, and I talked him through this with him and shared our deep concerns. And of course, they share those concerns as well. And so I'm very confident that when this moves forward in the process, if and when it is processed in the Senate, which is no certainty, that that will be, that they will take the time methodically to do what we have not been allowed to do in the House, to amend this discharge petition and to make sure that these protections are there. The authors of the discharge did not allow us to do that here. That's the rules here. But in the Senate, they can correct it. So under that circumstance, because of that, we know there's serious deficiencies. We know that the work of our colleagues in the Senate can address that and will they're very conscientious and concerned as we are about all this. As we've insisted from the very beginning, Republicans are the only party trying to make a material difference in ensuring maximum transparency. Oh, by the way, I'll just tell.
Political Commentator / Narrator
You, and that's why I just want to, like, educate our audience. And I think you get it, right, But I want to show you the code words that they are using and how they're trying to be manipulative here. But I know you get it. I know you understand it. So then a reporter asks him, so you're voting for the discharge petition today. Isn't that a reversal on what you've been saying before? And why would you vote on it if you want to correct it? And then MAGA Mike just spews a bunch of word salad because the true answer is he knows he's going to lose the vote. They want to save face, and then they're going to try to go to the Senate and then work there to kill it to make sure it doesn't get a vote. Here, play this clip.
Rachel Maddow
Do you acknowledge that by voting for this dissertation today that that is a reversal for you, that you could have put this on the floor months ago, might not have even needed to have a discharge petition if you had supported it months ago?
MAGA Mike Johnson
No, it's not a reversal. As I just explained, we had big problems with the discharge from the moment it was filed. We talked with the authors. There was lots of people that went and pleaded with them to fix it so that everybody could be together because we've been for maximum transparency. But again, there's a reason you have rules and processes here to ensure that this is not done haphazardly. And.
Political Commentator / Narrator
And do they really think that we, the American people, are just gonna forget about it and go, okay, all right, Senate, go and change it. Go and correct it. There's nothing to be corrected. It just says, release the files and redact the names of the survivors. That's it. Redacting it. That's it. That's all it is.
MAGA Mike Johnson
But.
Political Commentator / Narrator
But MAGA Mike Johnson wants to let everybody know, but he's super serious here. Donald Trump has nothing to do with any of this. He wanted to make that clear as he wrapped up this bizarre presser here.
MAGA Mike Johnson
Play this clip trying to somehow tie President Trump to. To the scandal. President Trump has nothing to do with it. He has said himself he has nothing to hide. And that's clearly what they've been trying to do. They're trying to attack President Trump. This is what they've done. They weaponized the justice system over the last several years to go after him. And this is their latest attempt.
Political Commentator / Narrator
And this is what MAGA was trying to push all day. You had Harriet Hagman, maga, Republican congresswoman from Wyoming. She's like, it's the Democrats that were involved in this. The Democrats are the ones who were with Epstein. First off, what are you talking about? Second of all, just release the files. Release the. We know with Epstein's emails from the 2,300 email threads. Donald Trump's name was on more than half of those email threads. But go ahead, Hageman, here, play this clip.
Rachel Maddow
Perhaps you should look in the mirror. It is one of yours. It is one of yours. It is the Democrats that were the fixers and the attorneys for Jeffrey Epstein. So I guess that it's very difficult for me to take you seriously as you attempt to turn this into yet another attack and another way to get Donald Trump. This isn't about Donald Trump. This is about the Democrats who were aligned with Jeffrey Epstein.
Political Commentator / Narrator
One of the things that took place this morning as well and through the afternoon, which I think tells you a lot as well. So Maga, Mike and the Republican leadership in the House limited the debate and would not allow Republicans to even really debate the issue. And they tried to minimize the time that people can speak in favor of the resolution to release the Epstein files. As Democratic Congress member Jim McGovern, who heads the rules committee for the Democrats says, for months Republican leaders have stonewalled a bill to release the Epstein files. Now they're trying to limit debate. So I'm teaming up with Thomas Massie, Republican and Ro Khanna to start debate early and give this the time it deserves. The tune into the House floor soon. And then Republican Thomas Massie said we're starting debate on the Epstein legislation very soon. Tune in now. So the Democrats have a finite time to speak. The Republicans refused to let their people speak. So the Democrats lent their time to Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene so they could speak on the Democratic side. Massey and Marjorie Taylor Greene were speaking with the Democrats time on the Democrat side. How wild is that? Here's what Thomas Massie had to say. Play this clip.
MAGA Mike Johnson
Cades, that is wrong. Do not let the Senate muck this bill up. And if you are, if you're a party to that in the Senate, you are part of this cover up that we are trying to expose. I am sorry if one of your billionaire donors is going to get embarrassed because he went to Rape Island. That is what they have coming. In fact, they need to be on the other side of bars. A lot of them, some of them will be embarrassed, but some of them need to go to prison and the survivors know that. So how will we know if this bill has been successful? We will know when there are men, rich men in handcuffs being perp walked to the jail. And until then, this is still a cover up.
Political Commentator / Narrator
Here's what Marjorie Taylor Greene had to say. Play this clip.
Rachel Maddow
And this was a fight that we should have never had to wage. It should have been the easiest thing for every single member of Congress. It should have been the easiest thing for the speaker of the House. It should have been the easiest thing for the President of the United States to release all the information, every single file on behalf of these American women.
Political Commentator / Narrator
And while all of this was taking place, you had Donald Trump yelling at a female reporter and he, when he was in the Oval Office with mbs, the crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. And the reporter said, Mr. President, why are you even waiting to release the Epstein files from Congress? You have the power to release it now. And Donald Trump yells at the female reporter and goes, I don't like your attitude. I don't like your attitude. I want to take away your license. Here, play this clip.
MAGA Mike Johnson
That pretty good.
Political Commentator / Narrator
I don't know, Mr. President, why wait.
Rachel Maddow
For Congress to release the Epstein files? Why not just do it now?
MAGA Mike Johnson
It's not the question that I mind.
Political Commentator / Narrator
It's your attitude. I think you are a terrible reporter.
MAGA Mike Johnson
It's the way you ask these questions. You start off with a man who's highly respected asking him a horrible, insubordinate and just a terrible question.
Political Commentator / Narrator
And you could even ask that same exact question nicely. You're all psyched. Somebody psychs you over at abc, they're going to psych it. You're a terrible person and a terrible reporter. And this follows of course, Donald Trump on Air Force One calling another female reporter piggy. And he said, be quiet, piggy. Be quiet. That's how he's referring to female reporters now, calling them piggy. Here, play this clip. There you have it, folks. Let me know what you think. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 6 million together. Thank you so much for watching.
SelectQuote Advertiser
Love this video. Support independent media and unlock exclusive content ad free videos and custom emojis by becoming a paid member of our YouTube channel today. You can also gift memberships to others. Let's keep growing together.
MAGA Mike Johnson
Men need a store that has the.
Political Commentator / Narrator
Right thing for their thing. Like a Kenneth Cole suit made with Che fabric to keep them cool at their cousin in law's third wedding in the middle of July.
MAGA Mike Johnson
Whatever the thing, men's warehouse has the clothes for it.
Political Commentator / Narrator
Love the way you look. Men's warehouse.
Date: November 19, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas (MeidasTouch Network)
In this high-tension episode, the Meiselas brothers dissect the bombshell House vote to release the Epstein files (427–1) and the chaos it triggers for House Speaker Mike Johnson (“MAGA Mike”) and the MAGA Republicans. The hosts break down Johnson's desperate attempts to undermine, delay, or block the bill—even as he publicly claims to support it for “transparency.” They dive into Johnson’s contradictory public statements, Republican efforts to redefine “victims,” efforts in the Senate to insert “poison pills,” and attempts to deflect blame onto Democrats. Also featured are fiery moments from Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene, and a wild Trump outburst targeting a female reporter. The episode hammers home themes of accountability, hypocrisy, and the ongoing power struggle over transparency in the Epstein scandal.
"It jeopardizes future federal investigations. And we have national security concerns regarding classified information..."
— Mike Johnson [04:13]
Johnson claims Trump “has nothing to hide” and that the vote is all a political attack ([04:50]):
"They're using that as a political weapon... to tie President Trump somehow into this wretched scandal. The President had nothing to do with it. He's been very clear, and he has nothing to hide..."
— Mike Johnson [04:50]
The hosts point out the contradiction: Johnson supports releasing the files but insists on collaboration with the Senate to “correct” the bill—a veiled attempt to kill or delay it.
The brothers slam Johnson’s argument that releasing the files would "create new victims"—referring, they reveal, to wealthy men named in the files, not Epstein’s survivors:
"Doing this and requiring this to come out could ruin the reputations of completely innocent people, such as those who may just have known Epstein but knew nothing of his crimes..."
— Mike Johnson [08:09]
The narrative that “innocent” wealthy people will be unfairly smeared is called out as deflecting from the survivors’ demands for full disclosure.
Johnson invokes “national security concerns” ([09:29]) as justification for blocking or redacting files:
"It is incredibly dangerous to demand that officials or employees of the DOJ declassify materials that originated in other agencies and intelligence agencies..."
— Mike Johnson [09:29]
The hosts label this argument as a smokescreen and breakdown his coded language for stalling.
"I put the bill on the floor... and guess who objected to it? The Democrats..."
— Mike Johnson [10:55]
[14:33] Johnson reveals coordination with Senate Majority Leader John Thune to “methodically” amend or “correct” the bill:
"...they will take the time methodically to do what we have not been allowed to do in the House, to amend this discharge petition and to make sure these protections are there..."
— Mike Johnson [14:33]
The hosts decode this as an attempt to kill the bill through amendment or indefinite delay.
"...if you're a party to that in the Senate, you are part of this cover up... A lot of them need to go to prison... we will know when there are men, rich men in handcuffs..."
— Thomas Massie [19:57]
"It should have been the easiest thing... to release all the information, every single file on behalf of these American women."
— Marjorie Taylor Greene [20:45]
"It's not the question that I mind. It's your attitude. I think you are a terrible reporter."
— Donald Trump (imitated by show) [21:49]
Mike Johnson, shaking on the floor:
"It jeopardizes future federal investigations. And we have national security concerns regarding classified information..."
[04:13]
Mike Johnson defends Trump and spins a cover-up:
"They're using that as a political weapon... The President had nothing to do with it. He's been very clear and he has nothing to hide."
[04:50]
Deflection of blame:
"I put the bill on the floor of unanimous consent ... and guess who objected to it? The Democrats."
[10:55]
Thomas Massie, breaking ranks:
"If you're a party to that in the Senate, you are part of this cover up... we will know when there are men, rich men in handcuffs..."
[19:57]
Marjorie Taylor Greene, rare agreement:
"...it should have been the easiest thing for every single member of Congress ... to release all the information."
[20:45]
Trump, lashing out at a reporter:
"It's not the question that I mind. It's your attitude. I think you are a terrible reporter."
[21:49]
The episode is high-energy, irreverent, and righteous—combining insider legal analysis, political strategy breakdowns, and classic sibling banter. The MeidasTouch hosts’ tone is critical and relentless, but often laced with sarcasm and humor, especially when highlighting MAGA leaders’ hypocrisy and contradictions. They educate their audience on Congressional process and decode political doublespeak, all while rooting the discussion in the demands of Epstein's victims for truth and accountability.
This episode spotlights real-time political drama, Republican infighting, and escalating pressure for maximum transparency in the Epstein scandal. The MeidasTouch brothers call out attempts to shield elites and the powerful, highlight cracks in MAGA ranks, and rally their audience to insist on justice for victims—no matter how messy the politics get.