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Podcast Host
Has shut down the House of Representatives. He's sending all of the members home. He's saying it's time to go on an early vacation. This as he's totally lost control of the House of Representatives. Four MAGA Republicans join forces with the Democrats to put forward a discharge petition that would force a vote for a three year extension on the Affordable Care act subsidies. Certain so called moderate Republicans who are not all that moderate were trying to propose different solutions in order to extend the Affordable Care act subsidies via discharge petitions. They ended up getting into a fight with each other so they could actually propose nothing. And you had Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries hold his ground and say that's not what the American people want. They want a clean three year extension of the Affordable Care act subsidies. Meanwhile, MAGA Mike and other MAGA leadership was telling those so called moderate Republicans that we will absolutely kill any bill, any discharge petition that has any extension at all of the Affordable Care act subsidies. So what went down yesterday was that those four Republicans Republicans join forces with the Democrats, they effectuated the discharge petition and rather than allow it to ripen, now MAGA Mike calls a vacation. He says we're all leaving. This way he can avoid a vote on the discharge petition to extend the Affordable Care act subsidies. And he wants to push it until later in January. And this assures that the Affordable Care act subsidy extension will expire when it expires on December 31st. Folks, this is as cruel as it gets. And it gets even crueler because yesterday Maga Mike put forward and had his Republican base support another healthcare plan that had nothing to do with extending the Affordable Care act subsidies. But what it actually did is in section 202, it limited women's reproductive rights and basically stopped funding for any plans that would provide women's reproductive rights in blue states as well. So it would effectively kill women's reproductive rights in blue states or severely harm them if you were on an existing plan. So not only did Maga Mike refuse to extend the Affordable Care act subsidies, he took the lack of extended Affordable Care act subsidies and said, let's screw women's reproductive rights. So Maga Mike is running through the halls of Congress, and he's saying, I haven't lost control. But I haven't lost control. This as he's lost control of the House, as those four Republicans were like, okay, well, if we can support an extension of the Affordable Care act subsidies, because, Maga Mike, you're killing it. We're going to join forces with the Democrats, and Hakeem Jeffries held his ground, and those Republicans sided with Jeffries. Watch Maga Mike run away right after he shuts down the House and says, everybody's going home. Here, play this clip.
Republican Representative
Because this is the third time. There are many. Look, we have the smallest majority in U.S. history. These are not normal times. There are proceeds, proceeds, and procedures in the House that are less frequently used when there are larger majorities and when you have the luxury of having 10 or 15 people who disagree on something, you know, you don't have to deal with it.
Podcast Host
Now, before Maga Mike shut it down, and you see him running in the hallways there saying, I haven't lost control. I haven't lost control. Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffrey wrote Urgent update. Our bipartisan petition to force a vote on a straightforward extension of the Affordable Care act tax credits now has 218 signatures. Mike Johnson should bring the bill to the floor immediately. Mike Johnson's response? Vacation. We're all going home. We're shutting it down. Just how irresponsible, how immature, and how dangerous that is. Right? And just think about it, though. In the past three weeks, there's been like, three separate discharge petitions. Maybe you go back slightly longer than that. You have the Epstein discharge petition. Then there was a discharge petition to overturn Donald Trump banning collective bargaining agreement by federal government employees. And then there was this discharge petition to extend the Affordable Care act subsidies. But rather than MAGA Mike taking it up immediately after this bipartisan end run around him, cuz he and Trump are blocking it, he shuts down Congress. You can't get more demeaning and just despicable than that. Well, you can. Donald Trump then held that deranged national address, if you even want to call it that last night. And what was Donald Trump saying? Donald Trump said it's the Unaffordable Care act and Democrats are the one raising your premiums. They're the ones fighting to raise it when it's the exact same opposite. Donald Trump's tactics are the Putin tactics. Like when Putin goes denazification, right, and makes those vicious lies as pretext to invade Ukraine. Donald Trump goes, it's the Democrats who are raising your premiums. We need to go attack Venezuela because they stole our land, they stole our oil, they're bringing in fentanyl when they're done. What are you talking about? There's no fentanyl coming out of Venezuela. What land did they steal? What are you talking about? Anyway, here's what Donald Trump says here. Play this clip now in the steep increase in premiums being demanded by the Democrats and they are demanding those increases and it's their fault. It is not the Republicans fault, it's the Democrats fault. It's the Unaffordable Care act and everybody knew it. And by the way, it shouldn't be lost on us that MAGA Mike Johnson is shutting down the House of Representatives before the day when the Epstein files are set to be released. That's when he's sending all of the members home on a vacation before they're supposed to actually go home in the first place. Now as MAGA Mike continues to lose control when he's confronted with the fact that he's going to cause 22 to 24 million Americans to lose health care now by refusing to allow this Affordable Care act extension even with this discharge petition, MAGA Mike says, yeah, it's only 7%. 7% of 330 million is 23 million people. As Jonathan Reiner points out, that's a lot of fricking people. And they just, they just poo poo. 23 million people losing their health care and dying. That's why these MAGAs are a death cult, right? I mean, who does this? Play this clip of Maga Mike let's play it right here.
Republican Representative
But here's, here's the false narrative. The Democrats are pretending as though this affects everybody in the country. It affects 7% of Americans, this extended subsidy. And of those, even if it was extended, without any reforms at all, it would only reduce that small group of Americans premiums by 5.7%. The Democrats, 22, 24 million Americans.
Republican Insider
No, I understand this is not for Everybody, but it's 22 to 24 million Americans. And there are some Republican, some Republican Republicans whose districts are going to face some real trouble and some real issues with this. We've talked to some of them. I understand that Michael Lawler from New York was particularly upset yesterday that he was kind of furious about it. Said it's idiotic, it's political malpractice. That's what he told Axios on some of this. They said they could hear him yelling from outside the room yesterday where all of you were meeting.
Republican Representative
Well, no, no, I was in that room with him. And Mike Lawler is one of my close friends. In fact, I was with him in his district in New York City just two weeks ago. Campaign for a couple of days, raising him money and helping him get reelected. He's an essential member of our conference and a really smart guy. And what he was arguing for is this 7% of Americans. But here's the point. What we're going to do today is the first of multiple steps to help not just 7% of Americans, but 100% of Americans reduce their premiums. Actually reduce their premiums. Not subsidize insurance companies to raise the premiums, but reduce them. And the first of those votes is today. This is the Lower Premiums for All Americans act we're going to have on the floor.
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Interviewer/Reporter
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Podcast Host
Now you got to give a hat tip. You got to give credit where credit is due, right? Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries he stood on business. He stood his ground. Take a look at how Axios Axios describes it. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries adhered to a single principle to outflank MAGA Mike Johnson on extending the Affordable Care act tax credits. Don't give an inch to Republican moderates looking for an escape hatch. Jeffries got everything he wanted. Frankly, the people got everything they wanted because Jeffries stood on business. Democrats will get a House vote on a three year extension on these subsidies without any income caps or offsets. One senior House Democrat told Axios of the leadership's thinking, which we're going to have to negotiate with the Senate. But you don't start from a place of weakness. You start from a place of strength. You have Democrat Jared Huffman say Jeffries has been validated completely after Democrats started 2025 with a lot of angst and people wondering if we had the medal. Even Democratic Congressmember Ro Khanna said he held his ground and we won. Democratic Congressmember Tom Suozzi he described how the MAGA plan all fell apart as they refused to reach a basic compromise. And Suozzi was saying, look, I was trying to reach a compromise with these Republicans when it comes to the Affordable Care act subsidy extensions. You know, maybe we do income caps. I don't know. We'll try to figure out a solution. He goes, but ultimately they fought each other. They're outta control. And so they had no choice but to join the Democrat. They three year Affordable Care act subsidy extension. Here, play this clip right here.
Democratic Representative
That's absolutely right. That's this is a Democratic proposal to just extend it for three years. And I'm not opposed to income caps. I have lots of bipartisan bills I've signed on to to have income caps, and if you make above $300,000 a year, you don't get a tax credit. So. And there's. And fraud protections and things like that, which were part of the compromises we made. But because the Republican leadership refused to put anything on the floor, these Republican colleagues that are very concerned about this issue said, you know, we're going to just do what we can. We got to get this thing off the, off the ground.
Podcast Host
And then to rub it in, that MAGA Mike has just completely lost control. You then had Democratic Congressmember McGovern really pushing back at that MAGA guy, Congressmember Mast, who chairs the Foreign. Foreign, I think Foreign Intelligence or Foreign Services committee. And Congressmember McGovern starts in response to mask, holding up photos of, like, John Kerry with Maduro from, like, many years ago. McGovern's like, okay, how about Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein? How about Donald Trump and Putin? How about Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un? Really? You want to start showing photographs? That's what we're doing here. Here, play this clip of McGovern. Let's play it. Mr. Speaker, this is serious. It is not a joke. It's not just about pictures, but pictures tell a thousand words. You came here to prevent the President from defending the United States of America, number one.
Democratic Representative
Number two, he made a big deal about pictures, that if you're in a picture with somebody and you touch them, that somehow you were affiliated with them. Well, here's a picture of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin with a nice handshake. What does that. Does that say that Trump is somehow, you know, Vladimir Putin's friend? Or here's Trump with Kim Jong Un, you know, giving him a nice, nice hug. Another dictator that Trump seems to be enamored with. I mean, Mr. Speaker, you know, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee has said some strange things today about, you know, how you interpret photographs, and if people are shaking hands or whatever, but somehow, if. If your arm is around somebody, that means that you. You're. You're. You're dear friends. And I'm just looking at this photo of Donald Trump with his arm around Jeffrey Epstein. By your standards, they must be in love. But, you know, this is not, this debate is not about the gentleman's personal weird code on touching. This is about war.
Podcast Host
And then as MAGA Mike shuts down the House of Representatives, our friend Pablo Manriquez, who does a great job on the Hill, hears what he interviews AOC and he's like, what do you think about JD Vance and she goes, I would stomp him in a head to head if we ever had to run against each other. Here, play this clip right here.
Interviewer/Reporter
The reaction.
Podcast Host
Or do you think that you'll be that you could be J.D. vance in a head to head race.
Interviewer/Reporter
For president as polling suggests in 2028?
Podcast Host
Listen, these polls like three years out.
Republican Representative
Are, you know, they are what they are. But let the record show.
Podcast Host
I will stop him. I will stop him.
Interviewer/Reporter
Thank you, Congresswoman.
Podcast Host
And finally, let me play you out with Democratic Congressmember Jamie Raskin. And Jamie Raskin basically says, could we just get real here for a second? If Trump and Maga Mike and Stephen Miller really had their way, I mean, do you realize what they would be doing to our country? Like do you realize if they could truly get through everything they wanted, how what, none of what they're doing makes any sense. Let's play this clip.
Interviewer/Reporter
Trying to throw money at soldiers, but that's not how you build a strong economy. And I mean, take his comments on immigration. Again, the exact opposite of the truth. I mean, if he and Stephen Miller really had their way and they not only staged all of these conflicts all over the country and raided people's communities, but say they really got rid of 12 million undocumented people in the country, we would see a collapse of a whole bunch of sectors, including the farm sector, including seafood, including construction, including landscaping. And there are already serious labor shortages that have broken out all around the country. And yet he always goes back to the well of stereotyping and demonizing people instead of saying let's get together and pass an actual comprehensive immigration reform bill. And that's the last thing I guess I'll say, Caitlyn. There were no plans, there were no programs, there were no policy proposals. There's nothing out there. It was just a bunch of meaningless rhetoric.
Podcast Host
Well, there you have it folks. Let me know what you think. Sorry, Magamike, you lost control. But how pathetic is it that he shuts down the house? What a baby. Hit. Subscribe. Help us get to 6 million. Thank you so much and have a great day.
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Episode: MAGA Mike Shuts Down House as He Loses All Control
Date: December 18, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
In this charged episode, the Meiselas brothers dissect House Speaker Mike Johnson’s chaotic and controversial shutdown of the House of Representatives. The breakdown centers on Johnson’s loss of control over his caucus, a bipartisan discharge petition to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, Republican infighting, the GOP’s latest policy proposals against reproductive rights, and the broader consequences for American democracy.
The hosts blend sharp political analysis, humor, and pointed commentary, spotlighting key Democratic successes and the mounting dysfunction among MAGA-aligned Republicans.
Speaker Mike Johnson sends House members home early rather than allowing a vote on a discharge petition to extend ACA subsidies.
Four moderate Republicans defy party leadership, join Democrats, and force the issue with a discharge petition.
Johnson’s action is framed as an attempt to dodge accountability and let ACA subsidies expire at year-end.
"MAGAMike calls a vacation. He says we’re all leaving."
—Ben Meiselas (02:25)
Moderate Republicans and MAGA leadership fight over how to handle ACA subsidies, resulting in paralysis.
Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic House Leader, stands firm: Democrats will only accept a clean three-year extension with no offsets or caps.
The episode underscores Republican disarray and the tactical unity of Democrats.
"Jeffries got everything he wanted. Frankly, the people got everything they wanted because Jeffries stood on business."
—Ben Meiselas (11:46)
Instead of moving to extend ACA subsidies, Republican leadership supports a plan (Section 202) that limits funding for plans including women’s reproductive health options—even for blue states.
Meiselas details how these moves target both health coverage and reproductive freedom simultaneously.
"Not only did MAGA Mike refuse to extend the ACA subsidies, he... said, let’s screw women’s reproductive rights."
—Ben Meiselas (03:09)
Donald Trump holds a national address accusing Democrats of raising insurance premiums and dubs the ACA the “Unaffordable Care Act”—a clear inversion of reality.
The hosts compare Trump’s rhetoric to Putin’s propaganda tactics, e.g., manufacturing crises as a pretext for action.
Reminder that Johnson’s House shutdown occurs just before the planned release of the Epstein files.
"Donald Trump’s tactics are the Putin tactics… [He] goes, it’s the Democrats who are raising your premiums."
—Ben Meiselas (06:30)
MAGA-aligned Republicans downplay the impact: “It’s only 7% [of Americans],” which equates to about 23 million people.
Republican infighting becomes public, with Rep. Mike Lawler of NY exploding in anger over the leadership’s stance.
The hosts highlight the callousness in minimizing the loss of coverage for millions.
"They just poo-poo 23 million people losing their health care and dying. That’s why these MAGAs are a death cult."
—Ben Meiselas (08:20)
Hakeem Jeffries’s steady refusal to compromise allows Democrats to force a vote on their terms.
Rep. Tom Suozzi describes trying to compromise with GOP colleagues, only to watch the GOP devolve into chaos, forcing moderates to side with Democrats.
"Because the Republican leadership refused to put anything on the floor... we got to get this thing off the, off the ground."
—Rep. Tom Suozzi (13:45)
Rep. Jim McGovern ridicules MAGA Republican Brian Mast for using photos of John Kerry with Maduro, countering with infamous Trump-Kim Jong Un and Trump-Epstein photos to underscore GOP hypocrisy.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez quips she’d "stomp" J.D. Vance in a hypothetical 2028 matchup, matching the episode’s irreverent tone.
"Let the record show. I will stomp him. I will stomp him."
—Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (16:28)
Raskin explains the disastrous consequences if the Trump-MAGA agenda fully prevailed, especially regarding immigration and the economy.
He notes: Without real policy proposals, the GOP offers only "a bunch of meaningless rhetoric."
"There were no plans, there were no programs, there were no policy proposals. There’s nothing out there. It was just a bunch of meaningless rhetoric."
—Rep. Jamie Raskin (17:50)
On Mike Johnson’s shutdown:
"Rather than allow [the discharge petition] to ripen, now MAGA Mike calls a vacation. He says, we’re all leaving."
—Ben Meiselas (02:23)
On GOP dysfunction:
"Out of control. So they had no choice but to join the Democrat...three year Affordable Care Act subsidy extension."
—Ben Meiselas paraphrasing Tom Suozzi (12:56)
On Democratic resolve:
"You don’t start from a place of weakness. You start from a place of strength."
—Senior House Democrat to Axios, read by Ben Meiselas (11:54)
On Trumpian projection:
"Donald Trump said it’s the Unaffordable Care Act and Democrats are the one raising your premiums...it’s the exact same opposite."
—Ben Meiselas (06:04)
On reproductive rights:
"Section 202...limited women’s reproductive rights and basically stopped funding for any plans that would provide women’s reproductive rights in blue states as well."
—Ben Meiselas (03:03)
The hosts’ language is direct, sharp, and unfiltered—aligning with their unapologetic support for democracy and ability to blend humor with serious analysis. They frequently use sarcasm, pop culture references, and lively banter while underlining the gravity of congressional dysfunction and attacks on American healthcare and rights.
This episode offers a vivid, pointed account of a pivotal moment of chaos and division within the House GOP, with the Meiselas brothers highlighting Democratic victories on substantive policy and exposing the Republican “death cult” mentality toward health care and women’s rights. Their mix of humor, outrage, and sharp analysis makes the political drama both accessible and urgent for listeners.
For those who missed the episode, this summary provides a play-by-play view of Congress in turmoil, standout speeches, and quotable moments spotlighting the high stakes for American health care, democracy, and basic decency.