Loading summary
T-Mobile Advertiser
Introducing Family Freedom from T Mobile. We'll pay off four phones up to $3200 and give you four free phones all on America's largest 5G network. Visit your local T Mobile location or learn more@t mobile.com FamilyFreedom up to $800 per line via virtual prepaid card typically takes 15 days. Free phones via 24 monthly bill credits with finance agreement eg Apple iPhone16128GB8229.99 Eligible trade in eg iPhone11 Pro for well qualified credits end and balance due if you pay off early or cancel contact.
Podcast Host / Political Commentator
T mobile phone on this vote the yeas are 44, the nays are 48, the 60 vote threshold having not been achieved. The bill is not passed. That right there was the United States Senate being unable to pass a resolution to fund the government. They needed 60 votes. As you saw right there, they were nowhere close as Donald Trump ordered the Republicans to have no discussions at all with Democrats yet alone to actually negotiate with Democrats in good faith. So we what does MAGA Mike Johnson do as we are approaching a government shutdown on October 1st, Maga Mike Johnson canceled the two critical days of work, September 29th and September 30th before the shutdown would take place on October 1st. This week there's a Jewish holiday, so not a lot of activity in the House of representatives. So September 29th and September 30th would be very critical days. And MAGA Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House is said do not show up to work. Republicans why? Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans want a shutdown. That's why MAGA Mike Johnson is having the Republicans quite literally go into hiding now, the same way they went into hiding and stopped working over the summer to hide the Epstein files. They're basically doing an encore performance of that right now as the House of Representatives, led by some powerful Democrats like Robert Garcia and Ro Khanna and Eric Swalwell and Jasmine Crockett and others, are getting closer to getting those Epstein files. I think Trump wants a shutdown to try to stop the work of the House of Representatives. Also, Donald Trump and MAGA realizes that Trump is crashing the economy right now and they want to blame the Democrats for it. And they're going to say, ah, the Democrats did it by forcing a shutdown. No, Donald Trump ordered the MAGA Republicans to have no discussions with Democrats at all. Now Democrats have a pretty simple ask in these funding negotiations. The Affordable Care act tax credits are set to expire very soon Meaning your premiums for your Affordable Care act plan, if you're on an Affordable Care act plan, would skyrocket, perhaps be twice or three times as much money per month. It would be a significant amount of money. So you may be paying 15 or $2,000 a month for your Affordable Care act plan, potentially even more, which would bankrupt a lot of American families. So Democrats have said we need to preserve and protect healthcare. This disastrous budget bill already has gutted Medicaid, it's hurt Medicare, and now the Affordable Care act tax credits are about to expire. Can we have a discussion over this? Because the Democrats said we don't want to fund this fascist regime that's going to gut people's healthcare. It's as simple as that. So I know that Donald Trump and MAGA would rather talk about the UFC fights at the White House. And I know Donald Trump and Dana White, the head of ufc, they've been planning what it's going to look like, how our taxpayer dollars are going to be funding that. I know Donald Trump wants to talk about the 90,000 square foot golden Ballroom at the White House, where they're ripping to shreds trees and historical like relics that are at the White House so that Donald Trump could build this grotesque ballroom. But, you know, the American people would like to see their healthcare preserved and protected. People are already terrified. We're seeing rural hospitals shut down. But MAGA Mike doesn't care. He's canceled Congress. They literally are hiding and running away. Just, you know, if you want to take it from another reporter, John Breshnahan reports. The House has canceled votes September 29th and 30th. A government shutdown begins October 1st. Barring some major reversal, Democratic Senator Andy Kim says, completely irresponsible. Speaker Johnson is deliberately walking away from the table, essentially running out the clock, holding America's healthcare and economic security in the crossfire. Come back and do your job for the American people. Now, let me just bring the receipts as we always do here on the Midas Touch Network. I'll show you a video of MAGA Mike Johnson running away. But first, I want to show you the order that MAGA Mike Johnson and Republicans got from Donald Trump. So again, you don't have to say, oh, well, Benny's progressive and lefty and whatever, whatever you want to say, I am. Okay, let me just show you what Donald Trump said. Where Donald Trump says, don't bother dealing with Democrats, a direct quote, don't even bother dealing with the Democrats. We have to just get Republican votes. That's all to which a Fox host said, but don't you need Democrats to get to the, the 60 vote requirement in the Senate in order to get cloture? Trump's like, nah, we don't need that. Don't bother talking to Democrats. And this is unprecedented in American presidential history. I mean, to see the president of the United States order his party, do not have discussions, do not engage in good faith negotiations. Look, our system is based on good faith negotiations. But Donald Trump has ripped that to shreds the way he's ripped to shreds contracts and good faith business dealings his entire life where he's bankrupted things and he's turning the United States into that. It should be noted. Well, as well that that political rally that was masquerading as a memorial service for Donald Trump where he said, I hate my political opponents. I hate them. I mean, literally spreading hate there. What a despicable individual he is for saying that and for his behavior. Here, play this clip of him right here though, saying don't deal with Democrats. Let's play it.
Donald Trump
What, what is, how does President Trump deal with the. We have to get Republican votes. That's all. If we do, we have the majority. So we have to get, but don't.
Podcast Host / Political Commentator
You have to get 60, don't you.
Donald Trump
Know, we, we're going to do a probably continuing resolution or we're going to do something. So we're going to do something that here's the problem. The Democrats have. They're sick. There's something wrong with them. Schumer is, you know, at the end of the rope. He's, he's going to be defeated in the next election. If you gave them every dream right now, every dream that they've, you know, they want to give away money to this and that and that destroy the country. If you gave them every dream, they would not vote for it. That's how bad I told them, don't even bother, don't even bother dealing with them. We will get it through because the Republicans are sticking together for the first time in a long time. Look, we got the big, I caught the big, the great big. Beautiful.
Podcast Host / Political Commentator
And again, just so you hear it in MAGA Mike Johnson's own words. So you know, I'm not like giving you talking points. Just here's MAGA Mike Johnson saying that he will not address Affordable Care act tax credits in this continuing resolution. In other words, he, he goes, we may deal with it in December. Well, guess what, that's when it's going to expire. So Americans Are, are going to go bankrupt and lose their healthcare and die in Mass. Maybe we should be dealing with it now. Maga Mike or Maga Mike, maybe we should have been dealing with in the summer when you shut down Congress again to run away from the fact that you didn't want to talk about Donald Trump's involvement in the Epstein files. And we're not forgetting about the Epstein files here on the Midas Touch network. Here's MAGA Mike saying, oh, we're not going to address the Affordable Care act tax credits. Why not? We Republicans rely on them. I mean, here's the thing that's so frustrating to me. Republicans rely on this. Like, like, do y'. All. Y' all are on Medicaid. Y'.
Senator Patty Murray
All.
Podcast Host / Political Commentator
Y'.
Senator Chris Murphy
All.
Podcast Host / Political Commentator
Y' all need health care to live. All the libs, they all want health care. No, you need it, too. What are you doing? You're literally voting to kill yourself sometimes. This is what Maga Mike says. Play this clip.
Republican Spokesperson / House Representative
That's what's happening here. What they're trying to argue for, not to get too deep in the weeds is that trying to insist that the Obamacare premium subsidies be continued. That's a December policy debate and decision, not a September funding matter. So they're trying to insert unrelated matters into the middle of a clean government extension.
Podcast Host / Political Commentator
The smugness on that guy, too. What a fricking phony. And here was MAGA Mike Johnson again trying to blame a government shutdown on Democrats when you all heard for yourself Donald Trump's order. Do not deal with Democrats. But here's the ultimate in gaslighting by MAGA Mike Johnson. Play this clip.
Republican Spokesperson / House Representative
House Republicans continue to work through regular order to fund the government for FY26 for the next fiscal year. We're working closely with the White House and the Senate to ensure we meet our deadlines. And Chairman Cole, John Tom Cole of the appropriators continues to diligently work towards getting all 12 bills out of committee. And they're almost done with that. And as we get closer to the funding deadline, though, we recognize the shutdown chatter from the left is growing louder. Some of these people seem to enjoy this. It seems Democrats may take the path of maximum resistance and try to shut the government down. This is not surprising because they're struggling because they don't really have a message or a leader or their party registration is falling. Their approval ratings are in the low 20s and they're about to elect a Marxist to be the mayor of New York City. They are desperately searching for a solution. And some in the party apparently think a government shutdown would be some sort of political advantage to them. It'd be what we all know is dangerous and harmful to millions of Americans. And that is not the answer. So I'm going to say this again, and I'm going to say it in good faith. I've shared this with the Democrat leader in the House and other colleagues that Democrats are willing to work with us. We have our sleeves rolled up, and we want to do this in good faith. We just have to think responsibly how to spend less money than we did last year. And if they're willing to do that and it's incumbent upon all of us to do it with the high national debt, we're open to that. But the ultimate question of whether there's going to be a government shutdown at the end of the month is going to be up to congressional Democrats. And so you ever wake up and.
Qualia Senolytic Advertiser
Feel like your body just hit the snooze button on life? Yeah, same. Honestly, aging sneaks up on you in some wild ways. Whether it's a night out or a good workout, I just don't bounce back the way I used to. One day you're full of energy, the next you're googling how to stretch without pulling a muscle. I believe one of the best aging breakthroughs of the last decade is Qualia Senolytic and here's why. It's designed to help your body naturally eliminate something called senescent cells, also known as zombie cells. These are the ones that just hang around after they've stopped job draining your energy and making you feel, well, old. Think joint discomfort, sluggish recovery, low energy, the whole deal. Qualia Senolytic is a groundbreaking supplement made with nine plant based nutrients and you only take it two days a month.
Podcast Host / Political Commentator
That's it.
Qualia Senolytic Advertiser
Since I started taking it, I felt more energized, quicker to recover from workouts, and honestly, just more like me again. Plus, Qualia's breakthrough formulation is vegan, non GMO and tested by leading scientists. Experience the science of feeling younger. Go to qualialife.com for up to 50% off your purchase and use code Midas for an additional 15%. That's Q u a l I a life.com/midas me I d a s for that extra 15% off. Your older self will thank you and thanks to Qualia for sponsoring this episode.
Podcast Host / Political Commentator
You know, and as you start looking at like Republicans as well, they're even having to acknowledge that they're having real issues Back at home in their districts when they're not in their MAGA bubble where people are suffering, farmers are being screwed, prices are going up, people can't afford things. I know the billionaires are doing well. I understand that Donald Trump is making billions of dollars, you know, trading America's future for his own personal net worth and wealth of his family. But here's a MAGA Republican, Don Bacon, who's not running for reelection. Here's what he has to say. What's going down in Nebraska? Let's play it. Do you think he's overreaching on tariffs?
Representative Don Bacon
I think he is, by far. Article 1 of the Constitution clearly gives us the Congress. Granted, we passed three laws in the last century, nothing recently, but the last century that gives the president emergency powers. But most people will tell you this is not emergency powers, what he's doing.
Podcast Host / Political Commentator
And is it hurting your constituents?
Representative Don Bacon
Yes. Right. We heard just yesterday we have a company that makes combines. They're moving all of their manufacturing that makes combines for Canada to Europe because of the tariffs from going to U.S. to Canada. Too high, they can't compete. So they're going to move all the manufacturing for Canadian combines to Europe. That's hundreds of jobs right there. Iowa and Nebraska are really struggling right now with our farm economy. We're not growing markets for corn and soybeans. The president's making trade deals, but not a single country that I can see has bought more corn, soybeans. And that's what we really need right now.
Podcast Host / Political Commentator
And here's Bacon talking about tariffs right here. Let's play it.
Representative Don Bacon
I should speak up and hopefully try to bring a point that tariffs aren't working. At least the coffee. I mean, I went to bought coffee, but I came back from my apartment, it was up $4. The bag that I buy. Right, people, that's not, that's not a success right there. So I feel like if we have an opportunity to speak up, other people think they'd rather try to give more time. But I think a lot of people share my view on terrorists. They share my view, are scared of him.
Podcast Host / Political Commentator
All right, now let's show you Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen. I think he does an excellent job here explaining why, like, what happened and how Republicans blocked the Common sense plan to keep the government open and protect Americans health care. Let's play it.
Senator Chris Van Hollen
Republicans just voted to push the country toward a government shutdown. Let me explain. Just a little while ago, I cast two votes in the United States Senate. One was against the one way completely partisan Republican budget. The Other was a proposal that we have made to Republicans in the Senate. I voted for that proposal to keep the government open. Here's the problem. Senate Republicans say they want a bipartisan budget agreement, but they're not calling the shots. Donald Trump is calling all the shots because Republicans in the House and the Senate, at the end of the day, they have contracted out their votes and their responsibilities to Donald Trump. I am not going to write a blank check to a lawless president. We need guardrails, we need safeguards. Because right now, the president is refusing to spend funds that we've invested in Americans health care at NIH and other places, and he's refusing to spend monies for public safety through fema. So that's why the Democratic proposal that I voted for includes those guardrails, but it also includes something else. It addresses some of the big, critical health care issues we're facing in this country because Republicans have left a ticking time bomb on important health care for America. Specifically, at the end of this year, the premium tax credits for people on the Affordable Care act will go away. That will immediately mean millions of Americans will lose access to health insurance. But it actually will impact everybody in a harmful way because insurance rates and premiums are going to go up across the board. So we want to turn off this ticking time bomb so it doesn't blow up access to health care for America. That's the proposal we put forward. But Donald Trump, he's taken the position that he's king and it's his way or nothing. And sadly, Republicans are going along. They are clearly heading toward a government shutdown for this country. And there's a way to avoid it through bipartisanship. But that requires people to come together for the good of the country.
Podcast Host / Political Commentator
Now, here is Senator Patty Murray explaining what went down. Play this clip.
Senator Patty Murray
President Trump made his marching orders plain as day, saying, quote, don't even bother dealing with them. Don't even bother. That's what he said. In other words, Trump does not want a deal. He doesn't want legislation. He doesn't want negotiation. He doesn't care if a shutdown hurts people. And Republican leadership is once again following his orders. So I've got some news for Republicans. If you follow Trump's orders and don't even bother dealing with Democrats, and you suddenly find you don't have the votes you need to fund the government, that is a Republican shutdown.
Podcast Host / Political Commentator
And folks, I just had on the Midas Touch podcast, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, and he explained to me Republicans were not even negotiating with Democrats let's play it well.
Senator Chris Murphy
I mean, there's no negotiation happening because Donald Trump has told Republicans, don't talk to Democrats. So, you know, right now, we are less than two weeks away from the government running out of money, and Republicans are refusing to speak to Democrats. It looks as if, you know, they're gunning for a shutdown. And, you know, what are we asking to talk about in these negotiations? We are not asking for the moon, right? We're not asking for some big new health care program. We're simply saying, like, don't raise premiums by 10, 20% on everybody who has an Affordable Care act plan. Like, let's just not make the situation worse. What are we saying about, you know, the budget writ large? We're saying, listen, we would just like Donald Trump to behave legally, right? If we write a budget, we want Donald Trump to actually implement the budget and not view himself as a king who can spend the money he wants when it rewards his political friends. And he can not spend the money as a means to try to punish his political enemies. Right? Spend the money in the red states, not spend the money in the blue states. So we're literally just saying, don't raise people's premiums by 75%. Don't behave illegally, and you might be able to get our votes. But they won't even talk to us because I think they like the chaos. They like the idea of a shutdown, and that's where they're driving us. Which would be a, you know, catastrophe for the country if we end up in a shutdown simply because Republicans refuse to even talk to Democrats.
Podcast Host / Political Commentator
But see, that doesn't stop the MAGA Republicans from lying. I showed you before MAGA Mike Johnson. But here I'm gonna show you a press conference with mega Republican Senator Jim Th, Majority leader, and here, Senator Barroso. And here he's like, the Democrats are to blame. It's the Democrats who are doing the. Nah, it's you. It's you. And Americans, we. What's the. You know, in every other country, like, healthcare is a. Like an absolute right, except in the United States, where y' all are playing games with people's lives. You know, it's.
Senator Patty Murray
It.
Donald Trump
It is.
Podcast Host / Political Commentator
This is an issue that impacts everybody. Okay? Healthcare, I mean, I understand maybe the billionaires don't care, but healthcare, Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, Medicare, and Republicans, like, we're not gonna deal with that. Then what. What are you doing? You. You think we. We prefer UFC matches at the White House and 90,000 square foot ballrooms? And y' all destroying the Rose Garden and replacing it with Club Rose Garden. Some club for billionaires in the White House. No, we just want freaking health care. We want to afford homes and afford rent and afford groceries. And we want what Donald Trump promised, which was to end these wars abroad. That's what Americans want. Oh, now Donald Trump's like, we're going into Afghanistan again. We're going to get Bagram Air Force Base. We built Bagram. No, the Russians built Bagram, Dom. You may want to ask your buddy Putin about it. And we don't want our troops back in Afghanistan. I don't want America killing people on fishing boats and not understanding what the hell is really going on there. And I certainly don't want the atrocities happening in Gaza right now anyway. Here, play this clip of Barraso. Let's play it. Republicans want to keep the government open. And the Democrats, based on what I believe is the Schumer strategy, is a shutdown strategy.
Senator Chris Van Hollen
It is their goal to shut down the government.
Donald Trump
The.
Senator Chris Van Hollen
The left wing of their party is demanding it. And Chuck Schumer is snake bit.
Podcast Host / Political Commentator
He's afraid to do anything that they won't want him to do. There you have it, folks. Let me know what you think. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 6 million. 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.
Date: September 22, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Main Theme:
The episode delivers a critical, impassioned analysis of Speaker Mike Johnson's decision to cancel all House votes days before an imminent government shutdown, framing it as a MAGA-orchestrated effort — led by Donald Trump — to sabotage critical healthcare and government funding while blame-shifting to Democrats. The brothers mix comedic banter with sharp political critique, supporting democracy and transparency.
The Meiselas brothers break down the rapidly approaching government shutdown, examining how and why Speaker "MAGA Mike" Johnson and House Republicans, under direct orders from Donald Trump, have deliberately canceled critical legislative days (September 29 and 30) needed to prevent the shutdown. The hosts argue this is a coordinated effort to both harm Democratic initiatives and avoid scrutiny on contentious issues (e.g., Epstein files), all while jeopardizing key healthcare provisions for millions of Americans.
For anyone who missed the episode:
This is a rapid-fire, fact-heavy, and opinionated breakdown of how MAGA Republicans are, per the hosts, engineering a crisis for political gain with real, devastating risks for Americans. The episode combines clips, analysis, and pointed humor to make sense of the chaos and urge listeners not to be fooled by the shifting blame.