The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: "MAGA Mike Suffers Major Panic in Public as Shutdown Kills GOP"
Date: October 6, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Meiselas brothers dissect the escalating GOP-created government shutdown, focusing sharply on House Speaker "MAGA" Mike Johnson’s live TV meltdown and evasion of responsibility. The brothers analyze how Republican attempts to blame immigrants and transgender people are failing, as public opinion and hard polling data overwhelmingly point the finger at Trump, MAGA Mike, and the GOP. The discussion dives into the real stakes for Americans—especially regarding Affordable Care Act subsidies, Medicaid, and broader healthcare access—as well as the implications of Project 2025, conspiracy theories about the delay in swearing in a Democratic congresswoman, and even bizarre diversions like commemorative coins featuring Donald Trump.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Crumbling GOP Narrative and MAGA Mike’s Public Panic

• Public's Response to GOP Blame-Shifting

  • The hosts stress that Republicans’ attempts to scapegoat immigrants and transgender people for the shutdown are failing. Polls show Americans are blaming the GOP and Trump.
  • Quote [01:31] Ben Meisellis: “They thought Americans were going to buy the crap that they were selling when they go and blame the immigrants and transgender people… Nope. All of the major polls show that overwhelmingly Americans are blaming Donald Trump and MAGA Mike Johnson and the Republicans for the Trump shutdown.”

• Data Highlights

  • Only 5% associate shutdown with immigration (Republican narrative); 36% see healthcare as the issue (Democratic narrative).

2. MAGA Mike’s Media Appearances – Evasion and Gaslighting

• Capitol Shutdown and Avoidance of Negotiation

  • Mike Johnson appears on TV, lamenting the “quiet” Capitol, but is called out for sending lawmakers on vacation instead of negotiating.
  • Quote [03:17] MAGA Mike Johnson: “It’s kind of quiet around here. It has been for the last several days. And it’s very unfortunate because as we’re talking, real people are being adversely affected around the country…”
  • Quote [03:41] Kristen Welker: “Well, you did send your lawmakers home to their districts, which suggests we’ve got probably another week ahead of us…”

• Democratic Efforts for Transparency

  • Democrats propose negotiating publicly, which GOP refuses, with Ben highlighting the gravity: loss of Affordable Care Act subsidies, Medicaid, and Medicare at stake.

3. GOP Stonewalling on Affordable Care Act (ACA) Subsidies

• Repeated Non-Commitment

  • Speaker Johnson refuses to guarantee ACA tax credits extension, repeating vague GOP talking points about “fixing” healthcare and attacking Obamacare.

  • Quote [05:13] MAGA Mike Johnson: “We have plenty of time to figure that out because again, it doesn’t expire until the end of the year.”

  • Pressed on whether he commits, he dodges:

    • Quote [05:19] MAGA Mike Johnson: “I commit to what Republicans have always done… We want to bring the cost down of health care premiums... but it’s not because of Republican policies. It’s because Obamacare is not working. We’re trying to fix it.”

• Refusal to Take Personal Position

  • Johnson dodges giving a personal stance, hiding behind the “deliberative body” of Congress.
    • Quote [08:26] MAGA Mike Johnson: “No, I haven't staked out any position on it yet because that's not how this process works. We're in a deliberative body.”

• Ben’s Critique: “If you believe there’s a plan better than the Affordable Care Act… come up with one right now, MAGA Mike and Donald Trump.” [06:04]

4. Project 2025, Russ Vought, and GOP Obsession with Government Cuts (09:52)

• Russ Vought’s Role
  • Ben exposes Project 2025’s ideological aim: to downsize government and inflict “trauma” on federal workers. Johnson claims Vought doesn’t relish the job, contradicting documented zeal.

5. Supposed Cover-up: Swearing in Adelita Grijalva and the Epstein Files (12:10)

• Delaying Swearing-in of Democratic Congresswoman

  • Johnson accused of keeping House out of session to prevent swearing in Adelita Grijalva, whose vote could enable a discharge petition to release Epstein files.
    • Quote [12:28] MAGA Mike Johnson: “It’s totally absurd. This has nothing to do with that. It’s another red herring.”

• Ben's Observation: “Why not swear her in tomorrow?... She won by over 40 points... This is how terrified they are of the release of the Epstein files.” [12:41]

6. Trump Dodges on the Affordable Care Act (13:46–15:38)

• Refusal to Commit to ACA Extensions

  • Trump evades the question on subsidies: “We want to fix it so it works. It's not working. Obamacare has been a disaster for the people.”
    • Quote [13:46] Donald Trump: “We want to fix it so it works. It’s not working. Obamacare has been a disaster for the people.”

• Ben’s Rebuttal:

  • "It has not. By the way, is health care still expensive? Yes... but you’re not going to reduce it, Donald, by doing what you’re doing..."
  • Critiques Trump’s empty promises about future plans and false statistics.

• Trump’s Diversions

  • Rather than discussing policy, Trump pivots to talking about the “Presidential Walk of Fame” and commemorative coins bearing his image.
  • Quote [15:38] Donald Trump: “It’s a shutdown. It’s their shutdown, not our shutdown. ...Have you seen the [Presidential Walk of Fame]? It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

7. Johnson Misrepresents Legislation on Healthcare for Immigrants (17:00)

• Johnson’s False Claims

  • Johnson asserts that Democratic proposals would fund care for “illegal aliens.”

    • Quote [17:00] MAGA Mike Johnson: “They want to spend $1.5 trillion and they want to return hard working taxpayer dollars to fund health care for illegal aliens. It’s in their bill. Go to speaker.gov and see it for yourself. Page 57, section 2141.”

  • Host fact-checks: The bill does not explicitly include unauthorized immigrants.

8. Closing: Trump Coins, GOP Distraction, and the Stakes for Democracy

• Commemorative Coin Craziness

  • Trump’s top economic advisor, Kevin Hassett, confirms they're seeking a commemorative coin with Trump's face for the US 250th—possibly breaking a law against images of living people on US currency.
    • Quote [20:21] Kevin Hassett: “There have been times in the past where commemorative coins have been printed with the faces of living people...they’re on solid ground if they decide to do that.”

• Ben's Summation

  • “You see MAGA Mike, panicking, liar, weird. And the Democrats have said, let’s go anytime, any place. Let’s do this in public. Let’s have a real conversation… And Magus says, let’s go on vacation.” [20:46]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ben, on GOP gaslighting: “If these subsidies expire, people go bankrupt, they lose their healthcare, they die. So let’s have adult grownup conversations here, please.” [06:04]

• Ben, on government priorities: “These people are supposed to be public servants. They’re supposed to be serving the we the people. And he [Trump] wants to talk about golden ballrooms, commemorative coins with his face on it...” [16:06]

• Kristen Welker’s tough questioning: “Well, you did send your lawmakers home to their districts…” [03:41]

• Mike Johnson’s obfuscation on ACA: “No, I haven't staked out any position on it yet because that's not how this process works...” [08:26]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Topic | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Introduction & Setup | 01:31 | | MAGA Mike’s Blame Game and Polling Data | 01:31–03:10 | | Johnson Called Out for Sending Lawmakers on Vacation | 03:10–03:50 | | ACA Subsidies, GOP Gaslighting | 04:44–06:04 | | Media Qs: Will ACA Subsidies be Extended? | 07:41–08:57 | | Project 2025, Russ Vought’s Real Agenda | 09:52 | | Swearing-in Delay Conspiracy (Epstein files) | 12:10–12:41 | | Trump Dodges on ACA Subsidies, Distraction Rhetoric | 13:46–15:38 | | Johnson’s False Claims about Immigrant Health Care | 17:00–18:09 | | Trump $1 Coin Plans | 19:47–20:46 | | Final Wrap, Brotherly Banter | 20:46–end |

Episode Tone

The tone is unapologetically direct, critical, and laced with sarcasm. The brothers’ banter is comical, but the critique is thorough and often scathing—particularly in exposing false narratives and holding Republicans accountable. The hosts’ language is sharp, irreverent, and focused on the serious real-life impact for Americans.

This summary covers the full arc of the episode, highlighting the factual analysis, memorable banter, key quotes, and central stakes for listeners following the government shutdown saga.