MeidasTouch Podcast - October 3, 2025
Episode Theme:
The Meiselas Brothers dissect the Trump-led government shutdown, Republican propaganda, the fight to preserve Affordable Care Act subsidies, Project 2025, media misinformation, and the Democratic strategy to go on offense—delivering both analysis and signature banter.
Main Themes & Purpose
- Why the government is shut down and who deserves the blame
- Project 2025: Trump’s embrace of far-right policy plans
- Democratic pushback: House and Senate leadership fights back
- Healthcare subsidies under threat and what that means for families
- Republican misinformation: Propaganda, false claims, and political gaslighting
- Media failures: Allowing rightwing narratives, missing fact-checks
- International hypocrisy and economic fallout from the Trump regime
- Calls for activism: Staying engaged, demanding accountability
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Who’s to Blame for the Shutdown? (00:28–03:35)
- Public poll: 47% of Americans blame Trump/Republicans; only 30% blame Democrats.
- Donald Trump is described as "giddy with causing pain to the American people."
- Trump’s meeting with Russ Vought (Project 2025) to plan agency cuts is discussed as evidence of his direct involvement, despite previous denials.
- Notable Quote (Ben, 02:50):
“We were telling you back then that Donald Trump is lying. And former Vice President Kamala Harris was telling you back then that Donald Trump was lying.”
2. Democrats Go on the Offense (03:35–08:02)
- Ben Meiselas highlights interviews with Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Robert Garcia, showcasing a “different side” of Democratic leadership, urging public negotiations.
- Notable Quote (Ben, 04:10):
“Jeffries looked at the camera and told the American people, ‘We’re not caving, we’re fighting back. This is about your health care.’”
3. What’s At Stake: Healthcare Subsidies for Millions (05:17–07:57)
- Loss of subsidies will “absolutely cripple Americans’ bank accounts.”
- Republicans accused of politicizing federal agencies, weaponizing communication to spread false narratives.
- Notable Quote (Brett, 07:10):
“We’re seeing these Republicans... turning government websites into propaganda arms of MAGA.”
4. Project 2025—Radical Republican Ambitions (08:02–10:08)
- MAGA Senator Mike Lee’s comments that Russ Vought, Project 2025 architect, has “been preparing for this moment since puberty.”
- Notable Quote (Mike Lee, 09:04):
“Russ Vought has a plan... and that plan is going to succeed in empowering further empowering Trump.” - The brothers critique this as “weird, deranged, evil” energy.
5. Hakeem Jeffries Challenges Trump to Public Negotiations (10:08–14:15)
- Ben presses Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries: will he meet GOP leaders for a public debate?
- Jeffries: “Any time, any place. And we want to make sure that it’s fully transparent... This is a Trump Republican shutdown.” (Jeffries, 12:12)
- Exposes GOP claims about migrants receiving healthcare as a lie; says they never even discuss it when cameras aren’t rolling.
- Notable Quote (Jeffries, 14:15):
“The amount of time that we spent talking about health insurance for undocumented immigrants was less than 10 seconds... because they know it’s a lie.”
6. “Where’s the $17 Trillion?”—Democratic Messaging & Oversight (15:00–21:56)
- Ben’s interview with Rep. Robert Garcia: challenges Trump’s boast that tariffs brought in $17 trillion.
- Garcia: “Who the hell knows?... If there is $17 trillion somewhere... none of our committees have access... treasury has no idea what the hell he’s talking about.” (Garcia, 17:47)
- Hypocrisy: if that money existed, there’d be no need for shutdown or health care cuts.
7. The Politics of Propaganda & Distraction (21:56–24:49)
- GOP trying to distract with racist memes (e.g., Hakeem Jeffries with a sombrero) while real Americans struggle with healthcare costs set to skyrocket.
- Brett: “A family making $85,000 a year would have to pay $24,000 for healthcare if subsidies are cut. They can’t. They lose their healthcare. You know what happens? Before Obamacare, they die.” (23:09)
8. Truth vs. Rightwing Lies on Healthcare and Immigration (29:45–41:10)
- Clear explanation: Undocumented immigrants do NOT receive ACA/Medicare/Medicaid coverage, except in medical emergencies (per law, since Reagan).
- The brothers address MAGA claims with empathy and logic—placing listeners in the shoes of someone desperate for ER care, regardless of status.
- Jordy: “The modern day Republican Party is not actually the pro life party, they are the pro forced birth party... they actually don’t care about their fellow humans once they’re out of the womb.” (33:55)
9. Pope Leo XIV and “Pro-Life” Hypocrisy (34:40–36:54)
- Pope Leo XIV:
“Someone who says I’m against abortion, but says I’m in favor of the death penalty is not really pro life. So someone who says that I’m against abortion, but I’m in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants... I don’t know if that’s pro life.” (35:34)
10. Media Malpractice: Fact-checking Failure & Propaganda (41:17–43:45, 55:52–58:32)
- Examples of media figures (e.g., Joe Kernan, CNBC) amplifying rightwing talking points without pushback.
- Ben: “If Obama just made up trillions of dollars that don’t exist... you should fact check that and not adopt that as reality.” (58:32)
11. International Fallout & “America First” Ironies (45:14–46:05; 55:20–56:41)
- U.S. bails out Argentina with $20B while pulling $18B from blue states—Javier Milei’s policies praised by MAGA, but now failing.
- Soybean exports to China at “zero”—farmer bailouts required.
- Ben: “If we didn’t bail out the farmers, we’d immediately be in a Great Depression.” (54:22)
12. Making Sense of Economic Decline (58:32–61:40)
- Every economic indicator “the worst since the Great Recession.”
- Ben: “It’s very easy to tell people a lie... but actually dealing with the problem is hard.” (60:24)
- Trump is “a destroyer, a bankrupter, a sexual abuser and a felon.” (61:27)
13. Metaphor—Truth-Tellers vs the Groupthink (61:40–62:04)
- Brett draws a parallel with Galileo:
“It’s often been much more difficult to be a truth teller... and we see a lot of that same groupthink happening right now with this MAGA movement.” (62:04)
14. Leadership Calls for Accountability and Activism (63:28–67:14)
- Gov. Pritzker: Calls for Donald Trump’s removal under the 25th Amendment due to his “inane” and dangerous behavior.
- Gov. Tim Walz: On firing government workers—“the misinformation campaign is massive.”
- Walz on Trump’s public complaints: “Walk up the damn stairs. This stuff happens. This is life. Do not normalize this.” (66:45)
15. America’s Global Reputation Under Trump (67:14–68:52)
- The world literally laughing at Donald Trump, with foreign leaders mocking his supposed “peace deal” between Albania and Azerbaijan.
- Military leaders give Trump the “death stare” at Quantico—a silent protest against his conduct.
Notable Quotes & Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote / Moment | |-----------|---------|----------------| | 03:35 | Ben | “I think that Democrats in the House and Senate are really beginning to fight back...” | | 07:10 | Brett | “Turning government websites into propaganda arms of MAGA...” | | 09:58 | Brett | "They get off on firing people, on harming the American people. The whole thing is masochistic, sadistic..." | | 12:12 | Leader Jeffries | “Any time, any place. And we want to make sure that it’s fully transparent...” | | 14:15 | Leader Jeffries | “The amount of time talking about health insurance for undocumented immigrants was less than 10 seconds. You know why? Because they know it’s a lie.” | | 17:47 | Rep. Garcia | “Who the hell knows?... Donald Trump is living in a fantasy land.” | | 23:09 | Brett | “…a family making $85,000 a year would have to pay $24,000 for healthcare if subsidies are cut. They can’t. They lose their healthcare. You know what happens? ...they die.” | | 33:55 | Jordy | “The modern day Republican Party is not actually the pro life party, they are the pro forced birth party...” | | 35:34 | Pope Leo XIV | “Someone who says I’m against abortion, but says I’m in favor of the death penalty is not really pro life...” | | 54:22 | Ben | “If we didn’t bail out the farmers, we’d immediately be in a Great Depression.” | | 58:32 | Ben | “If Obama just made up trillions of dollars that don’t exist... you should fact check that and not adopt that as reality.” | | 60:24 | Ben | “It’s very easy to tell people a lie... but actually dealing with the problem is hard.” | | 62:04 | Brett | “[Galileo]... For that, he was arrested and put on house arrest... what kind of society could banish a truth teller in that sort of way? ...and we see a lot of that same groupthink happening right now with this MAGA movement.” | | 66:45 | Gov. Walz | “Walk up the damn stairs. This stuff happens. This is life. Do not normalize this.” |
Important Segments & Timestamps
- Shutdown blame, Project 2025: 00:28–04:10
- Democratic leadership pushback (Jeffries, Garcia): 10:08–21:56
- Healthcare stakes for Americans: 21:56–29:45
- Media propaganda & GOP misinformation exposed: 29:45–43:45
- International economic fallout, trade & farmer bailouts: 45:14–56:41
- Economic collapse analysis: 58:32–61:40
- Calls for accountability (Pritzker, Walz, military protest): 63:28–68:52
Tone
- Unapologetic, urgent, and passionate—blending serious analysis with humor and sibling banter.
- Condemnatory toward Trump, the current Republican Party, and media enablers.
- Empathetic toward working Americans, the vulnerable, and those facing loss of healthcare.
- Optimistic encouragement for listeners to stay engaged and fight for democracy.
Conclusion / Call to Action
- Stay informed, call out lies, and demand that Democrats frame the narrative.
- The brothers assert: “They are weak, you hold the power... if we stay in there together, we will prevail. We will reclaim our democracy and look back at this time as meaningful.” (69:20)
- Listeners are encouraged to subscribe, get involved, and support the MeidasTouch community.
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