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Ben Meiselas
Shut down the government indefinitely and he's shut down Congress for 10 days. That's right. MAGA Republicans have said everybody gets to go home. Congress is in recess again for at least 10 days and isn't it just so obvious that the reason they're doing this as well as the walls close in on Donald Trump regarding the COVID up of the Epstein files child sex trafficking ring therein that Trump and the DOJ do not want to come out and people are learning the dark past of Donald Trump and all the others in this Epstein class. 10 days at least Congress has been sent home for this is utterly despicable by MAGA Mike Johnson, Republican speaker and John Thune, the MAGA Majority Leader in the Senate. There was a weird thing that went down before members of Congress went home. You had J.D. vance, vice president, break a tie regarding the SAVE Act. Uh, and it was just a procedural vote regarding the SAVE Act. This is where MAGA Republicans are trying to focus on disenfranchising American citizens under the pretext that they're trying to stop illegal immigrants, illegal Aliens, as they say. I hate that term. That's what they say from voting, which there's no evidence of anyway. And they want to make it so difficult. We're like, you have to get a passport if you want to vote or where you have to go through all these hoops and hurdles. And they're trying to chill actual people from voting because they also don't want to talk about the economy right now, which is terrible under Donald Trump and his regime, with inflation surging and being in a job recession right now. So the weird thing that happened was you had J.D. vance, like, he didn't want to have to show up. He thought he was going to be on a vacation. He shows up to the Senate and you'll see him right here, like, huffing and puffing, and he's out of breath and he looks sloppy. In order to break a tie on a procedural vote regarding the SAVE act, it's still going to be subject to a filibuster because it's in the Senate. And based on this tiebreaker, you'll see that there's only about 49 votes, or 50 votes, if you will, in favor of the SAVE act in the Senate, and it needs 60 in order for it to get a cloture vote and avoid a filibuster. But just watch what J.D. vance does. He's tired, he's exhausted. And then Congress shuts down right after this. Here, play this clip. 50. The nays are 50. The Senate being equally divided, the vice president votes. Affirmative, and the point of order is sustained. Gotta make sure. Now, we had maga. Mike, you know, the biggest tell. If you're like, Ben, you're getting conspiratorial and saying they're shutting down Congress for 10 days because they don't want to talk about the Epstein files. I mean, how. By the way, you have Republican Congress member Thomas Massie, who's one of the people who are responsible for the discharge petition. I mean, he's making posts right now like this. I'm not suicidal. I eat healthy food. The brakes on my car and truck are in good shape. I practice good trigger discipline and never point a gun at anyone, including myself. There are no deep pools of water on my farm, and I'm a pretty good swimmer. In other words, he's saying that he believes that somebody's going to kill him. And if it's suggested that he dies by suicide, that is not what actually happened. You know, and then we see some statements by Donald Trump's communication director, Stephen Chung, saying, Ro Khanna this is from Trump's communications director. This guy's in charge of comms communications at the White House. I hate to use the R word. I'm reading what the communications director said. Let me just preface it with that. He goes, this is Trump's communication director. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie are some of the dumbest ever to be in Congress. They knowingly and willfully ruin the lives of innocent people who had nothing to do with Epstein. The hell are you talking about, Chung? I mean, one thing he's referencing is that there were people who were in the Epstein files who were being redacted by the doj. The DOJ didn't have a privilege log, which they're required to do by law. And in naming lots of people, apparently there are four people who said we were misidentified originally by the DOJ 10 years ago. How would Masi and Khanna even know that? But setting that aside, we have like Sultan bin Salim talking about torture videos who was forced to resign from the main logistical company in the United Arab Emirates. I mean, you've got that guy. You've got, you got the former ambassador to the United States, you got the national security advisor in Slovakia, you've got the former prime minister of Norway. I mean, you have all these world leaders who are being toppled, business leaders who are being toppled. Transparency is being brought. The Trump regime is now attacking lawmakers such that they feel that they're going to be killed and this. And they're saying, I didn't die by suicide. And then you have Maga Mike Johnson. Let's take a look at what Maga Mike Johnson's even talking about here. He did a. He did an interview with state regime media, which calls itself Fox. And he said that the Bondi hearing, that Bondi was great. He said the issue was the Democrats turned it into a circus. I kid you not. Before Maga Mike sent Congress home, he said that Bondi did great. He said Bondi did great and the Democrats turned the hearing into a circus. I mean, again, Maga Mike, if you thought he couldn't be clown himself anymore, let me show you the height of be clowning. Play this clip.
Maga Mike Johnson
Obviously, Pam Bondi said it well, they turned it into a circus. These are unserious people. And they demonstrate that with their antics in the committee hearings now, which have really turned into theatrics, as she said.
Ben Meiselas
Then you have Maga Mike saying, oh, the reason we have. It's like the same. Isn't this feel like deja vu with Maga Mike and he's like, the reason that we're in a shutdown is because for Democrats, this is political theater about why they don't want to fund the Department of Homeland Security. It's political theater for them. Hey, this is what you said, Mag and Mike, about health care. It's political theory. What are you telling the tens of millions of Americans right now who don't have health care and who are just praying they don't get sick this year because they will die and many of them have already died. What are you telling them? Was that just political theater? Maga Mike. And then Maga Mike says it's political theater right now that Democrats what Don't want. I. First off, let me be clear about my position. Midas touch position I can't speak for. This is my position leading the network. ICE and Border Patrol need to be abolished in its current form. And those responsible for terrorizing and torturing people need to be prosecuted full stop. You don't give them a penny. You take the money away from them because they're a bunch of terrorists, Gestapo and ss. That's how I feel. I don't mince words. The Midas mighty knows that. By the way, hit subscribe. Help us get to 6 million subscribers. We're almost at 6 million. Help us get to 6 million. Maybe this weekend. But in any event, sorry, I digress, but Democrats are saying, here's what we want. Know it. No fake warrants. Do real warrants, like under the Fourth Amendment, judicial warrants make ICE agents where take off their masks. No more wearing masks, and make them wear body cams. Pretty simple requests. But for maga, they're like, oh, no, they're going to get doxed. They have to wear masks to kidnap people. And they can't use judicial warrants. They need administrative warrants after court, after court, after court. I said, you're violating the civil rights of people in this country. You're terrorizing people. So here's what Mag and Mike says. This is political theater. Here, play this clip.
Maga Mike Johnson
It looks like, I mean, you know, we got 11 of the 12 appropriations bills done and through the process signed into law. We're spending less money. We're acting as better stewards of taxpayer dollars. We're making the federal government work more efficiently and effectively for the people. And the one bill that was left on the table is Department of Homeland Security. That funding measure, which, by the way, covers all the agencies that keep the American people safe. Fema, tsa, the Coast Guard, the Secret Service, and ice, of course. And the Customs and Border Patrol. And the Democrats don't want to fund it because it's political for them. And it looks like they're pushing us into another partial government shutdown for no reason whatsoever. And they're going to make the American people less safe because they're trying to score political points and make a point. And I think it's going to backfire. They're going to shut down the country.
Ben Meiselas
Hey, everybody, Ben Meiselas here from the Midas Touch Network. I wanted to let you know about my podcast partner Michael Popak's new law firm. It's called the Popak Firm. Michael Popox pursuing his dream of starting his own law firm, really based on the popular demand by all the Midas mighty and legal af'ers who are approaching Michael Popak with their cases and saying, can you help us? And at that time, Popak was not able to. So he went out on his own. He started the Popoc Firm where he is now handling catastrophic injury cases like car accident cases, trucking cases, malpractice cases, big negligence cases, wrongful death cases. So if you or someone you know have a case like this, the consultation with Popo's firm is free. Give him a call. See if you have a case. It's the Popoc Firm.com the Popoc Firm.com or you can call 877-popak-af- P O P O K A F. So 1-877-p-o P O K A F. Give Michael Popak a call. And I'm really proud of you, Popo. Thanks for all the hard work you're putting in. But then Maga Mike says, look, he says we're doing great here as Republicans and we're gonna gain seats in the House of Representatives is what he said. We're gonna gain seats here. Play this clip.
Maga Mike Johnson
They really do. And that's one of the reasons we' confident about this midterm election coming up. We are going to make history. We're going to grow the majority for the Republican Party because we have an extraordinary record to run on. And they have an outrageous record that they have produced with their votes. And we're going to continue to put them on record, Sean, and make sure that people know exactly what they stand for. This is an insurgent left party. This is not your father's Democrat party anymore. They're not serious people. They have an absolute Marxist, far left socialist ideology. And that is what you will get if you elect Democrats to Congress. You've just seen it on display tonight. So this is a, an important Election for all the reasons we know, all the marbles. And I believe Republicans are going to over perform in this election and we're going to keep the majority and keep the Trump agenda, the America first agenda going for four full years, which is fascinating.
Ben Meiselas
Maga Mike, because Lindsey Graham as part of the House and Senate on recess indefinitely. Apparently no one works in our government. But Lindsey Graham is having a good old dandy old time in, in Munich at the security conference where he says that he believes that the Republicans will lose the House. Here's what Lindsey Graham had to say. Play this clip.
Lindsey Graham
You're missing a lot going on. I like you. Let's talk about.
Ben Meiselas
But you can convince everybody, you can.
Elizabeth Warren
Assure Americans and others that it will go.
Lindsey Graham
The only people worried about us not having elections you can put in a phone booth, okay, we're going to have an election and you know what? Republicans could win. But we got to up our game right now. Looks like we'll lose the House, maybe keep the senate. Then in 28 we'll have another election and we'll have another one. And another one. Another one.
Ben Meiselas
So as I mentioned folks, we're now officially in a government shutdown. Today the Department of Homeland Security, a partial government shutdown. The Homeland Security is shut down. Other aspects of the government are not shut down. Homeland Security is shut down for ten days. Um, you've got members of Congress feeling like they're going to be unalived because they're exposing the Epstein files like Massey and Ro khanna. You've got J.D. vance out of breath. And can I just show you the good work that people like Senator Elizabeth Warren are doing before the Senate and Congress and the House went into recess. I thought this was. This does not get enough attention. Here's Senator Warner right here. Senator Warren right here. Senator from Massachusetts. And here she's cross examining leaders in our military about the privatization of the barracks where our service members live and how private companies are making people who live in the privatized housing in the military sign NDAs so they can't report to their supervisors issues like asbestos and mold and other other improper living conditions and that they have to sign NDAs. Did you even know that they're making our Service members sign NDAs? This is why we need. This is the type of questioning we need. Before the Senate was shut down and Congress was shut down, here's what Senator Warren had to say. Here, play this clip right here.
Elizabeth Warren
So I'm just going to ask a question of all of you. Does anyone here believe that it is appropriate for a housing company to prohibit service members from reporting to their commander or to congressional representatives that a company has failed to remove toxic mold in their room for over 10 months. I'll just take a simple yes or no if you think it's okay to do that. I'll start down at this end.
Ben Meiselas
I think service members should always have the access to their commanders to be.
Personal Testimonial Speaker
Able to report problems. Ma'.
Maga Mike Johnson
Am. Okay.
Elizabeth Warren
And be able to tell Congress this is part of what oversight is about, right?
Ben Meiselas
Yes, ma'.
Personal Testimonial Speaker
Am.
Elizabeth Warren
Just want to make sure we're clear. Sergeant Major, Ranking member.
Sergeant Major / Military Official
That chain of command should be well aware of everything that's going on in that situation that you just declared.
Elizabeth Warren
Okay, so you are not in favor of these non disclosure agreements?
Sergeant Major / Military Official
I'm in favor of taking care of the family in that situation. Ranking member.
Elizabeth Warren
Wait, are you wobbling here on me on whether or not those non disclosure agreements are should be permitted?
Sergeant Major / Military Official
I don't think a family should be put in a box where they cannot have accountability and be taken care of. Ranking member. I don't. I've lived in houses. I don't quite understand how a family gets put in a corner for a non disclosure. I have to do some more research on that. But that scenario, that 10 month scenario, there should be a chain of command that knows everything that's going on in that before anybody.
Elizabeth Warren
Sergeant Major, I don't understand where you're trying to parse words here. The question is, as part of getting a repair, should any housing operator that's working for the United States government and getting paid by the United States government be able to say to a service member, I'm only doing the repair after you sign an agreement that you won't tell anybody in your chain of command or you won't tell any congressional oversight committee about what this place was like that right there.
Personal Testimonial Speaker
Ranking member.
Sergeant Major / Military Official
They should not be able to do it.
Elizabeth Warren
We're clear.
Ben Meiselas
Ranking member.
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Maga Mike Johnson
Okay.
Personal Testimonial Speaker
No.
Ben Meiselas
Ranking member. Warren. Absolutely not.
Personal Testimonial Speaker
Good.
Ben Meiselas
No. They wish not be forced to do that. Good.
Elizabeth Warren
I appreciate this. You know, this may seem like a little side point until it's a family that has been put in a box, as you rightly put it, and they got nowhere to go. Our job is to make sure that our service members are taken care of. And I hear each one of you saying that. But we got to make this work on the ground. And I just start with something as essential as housing and letting these private housing outfits come in and do a lousy job of keeping the housing operational. And then Refuse to repair it unless people promise to be silent, agree to be muzzled on it, is just flat wrong. And I enlist your help in beating that out of our operations at the housing level. So thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and we'll keep working on this.
Ben Meiselas
And speaking of the fact that the Department of Homeland Security is not being funded right now and it's in a partial government shutdown, here's what Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had to say. Let's play this clip. Well, what I. And then as Congress has retreated, here's what's going on on state regime media. You have Kaylee McEnany talking about CO and she says, you know, like, AOC and Newsome don't have cojones. Like, like Trump's got cojones. Oh, okay. Gailey McEnany, Trump's got co. These are weird humans, man. These are some weird humans here. Play this clip.
Kaylee McEnany
But let me say this. Whether it's aoc, Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, you name it. Amy Klobuchar, none of them have the fortitude, the strength, the bravery President Trump had. None of them would have bombed Fordo, none of them would have captured Maduro. None of them would have used tariffs and leverage great deals for the United States. None of them would have had an armada encircling Iran and bringing Iran to its knees. None of them could do that. President Trump will be known as a great economic president. I agree with you. This is a year, it's going to be an economic boom. But he is going to be known as one of the greatest foreign policy presidents of our time. None of them have the, quote, cojones. I'll use it in Spanish that President Trump have so.
Ben Meiselas
Well, there you have it, folks. Congress shut down government partially shut down. So lame. And the people suffer. We the people suffer as a result of this. Just keep the fricking government going. Do your job. Hell is wrong with these people?
Personal Testimonial Speaker
Right?
Ben Meiselas
It's the Epstein class, man. That's what they do. Epstein class, everyone. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 6 million. Thanks for watching new Midas merch. Head to store.midastouch.com today and get yourself the best pro democracy gear and show your support.
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Date: February 15, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Main Focus: A fiery breakdown of the abrupt 10-day congressional recess initiated by Speaker Mike Johnson and the MAGA GOP amid mounting pressures over the Epstein files, an exploration of the political theater around the SAVE Act and government shutdown, and a spotlight on legislative accountability, media spin, and key voices of dissent.
This episode unpacks the unprecedented decision by Speaker Mike Johnson (dubbed “MAGA Mike”) and MAGA Republicans to send Congress into a sudden 10-day recess, coinciding with the government’s partial shutdown, especially of Homeland Security. The Meiselas brothers—through their signature blend of banter and passionate pro-democracy commentary—frame these moves as a calculated attempt to duck scrutiny surrounding newly unearthed Epstein files potentially implicating Donald Trump and other elites, while also distracting from worsening economic woes. The episode features critical soundbites from MAGA Mike, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Lindsey Graham, Thomas Massie, and Kayleigh McEnany, along with colorful, unfiltered analysis.
“I’m not suicidal. I eat healthy food…never point a gun at anyone, including myself…no deep pools of water on my farm…” — Thomas Massie (04:43)
MAGA Mike’s televised rationalizations (07:48, 09:57, 12:09):
Contrasting takes within the GOP:
Kayleigh McEnany proclaims Trump has “cojones” (19:30):
“These are weird humans, man. These are some weird humans here.” — Ben (20:09)
Ben gets explicit on ICE & Border Patrol (08:00):
“ICE and Border Patrol need to be abolished in its current form… you take the money away from them because they’re a bunch of terrorists, Gestapo and SS. That’s how I feel. I don’t mince words.” — Ben (08:00)
“Congress is in recess again for at least 10 days and isn’t it just so obvious that… the walls close in on Donald Trump regarding the COVID up of the Epstein files…?"
— Ben Meiselas (01:36)
_“I’m not suicidal. I eat healthy food…" — Thomas Massie (04:43) [Implying fears of retaliation for whistleblowing]
“They’re trying to score political points and make a point…they’re going to make the American people less safe because they’re trying to score political points…”
— Mike Johnson (09:57)
_“We are going to make history. We’re going to grow the majority…"
— Mike Johnson (12:09)
“Looks like we’ll lose the House, maybe keep the Senate, then in ‘28, we’ll have another election and another one and another one…”
— Lindsey Graham (13:32)
“Sergeant Major, I don’t understand where you’re trying to parse words… They should not be able to do it.”
— Elizabeth Warren & Sergeant Major (16:56-17:31)
“Just flat wrong. Let’s beat that out of our operations at the housing level.”
— Elizabeth Warren (17:44)
“None of them have the, quote, cojones…that President Trump have…"
— Kayleigh McEnany (20:09)
“This is the Epstein class, man. That’s what they do.”
— Ben Meiselas (20:27)
| Timestamp | Topic/Segment | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:36 | Opening salvo: Why did MAGA Mike shut down Congress? (Epstein files) | | 02:40 | J.D. Vance, the SAVE Act, and voter suppression drama | | 04:40 | Thomas Massie's "not suicidal" post amid Epstein fears | | 05:15 | Trump communications director's attack on lawmakers | | 07:48 | Mike Johnson on TV: "Democrats turned it into a circus" | | 08:00 | Ben’s impassioned take: Abolish ICE/Border Patrol | | 09:57 | Mike Johnson: Blaming shutdown on Democrats | | 12:09 | Mike Johnson: Predicted GOP gains in 2026 election | | 13:32 | Lindsey Graham: "Looks like we'll lose the House" | | 15:26-17:44| Elizabeth Warren grills military on NDAs silencing service members | | 19:30 | Kayleigh McEnany/Tucker on “Trump’s cojones” | | 20:09 | Ben’s reaction: "These are weird humans, man" | | 20:27 | Ben: "This is the Epstein class, man" |
The Meiselas brothers deliver the episode with a relentless, often sardonic tone—unapologetically partisan but grounded in legal, political, and ethical critique. Through soundbites, scathing analysis, and calls for accountability, they hammer home the notion that democracy is under threat from a MAGA-aligned political class eager to dodge scrutiny, push authoritarian policies, and divert attention through manufactured crises. The message is clear: stay vigilant, support transparency, and demand leaders face the music.
For listeners unfamiliar with the episode, this summary captures the crackling energy, trenchant criticism, and complex politics at play—all delivered with the MeidasTouch blend of humor, urgency, and democratic purpose.