The MeidasTouch Podcast
Episode: Rep. Deluzio Discusses Democrats Going on the Offense
Date: December 13, 2025
Host: MeidasTouch Network (featuring Ron Filipkowski)
Guest: Congressman Chris Deluzio
Episode Overview
This episode features a pointed conversation between co-host Ron Filipkowski and Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA), with a focus on Democrats shifting to offense amidst deepening dysfunction in the Republican-led government. Through humor, indignation, and insider accounts, the episode addresses issues ranging from veteran deportations and GOP gaslighting to hypocrisy in military service—culminating in a message of hope and resolve for progressives ahead of the next election cycle.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Accountability for Veteran Deportations and Border Policy
Segment: [00:29] – [05:41]
- Filipkowski and Deluzio discuss the recent Capitol Hill clash where Secretary Kristi Noem denied veteran deportations, only to be confronted with a specific case (Se Jun Park, a decorated veteran deported to Korea).
- Rep. Seth Magaziner’s cross-examination is praised for exposing disinformation and demanding accountability from Noem.
- Deluzio—himself a Navy veteran—highlights the moral obligation to care for veterans, particularly those facing PTSD and substance abuse.
Notable Quote:
“The willingness to just lie right directly to the American people... another time would have just been so outrageous. And calls for her resignation would have followed immediately... these folks seem to be divorced from any sense of obligation to say the truth.”
— Congressman Chris Deluzio [05:42]
2. Trump Administration's Hypocrisy on Military Service and Lawfulness
Segment: [06:44] – [08:55]
- The conversation pivots to Republican accusations against veteran legislators like Deluzio and Senator Kelly, who are criticized despite their military backgrounds.
- They discuss the resurfacing of a 2016 video where Pete Hegseth calls out Trump as a “draft dodger,” juxtaposed with current support for Trump’s unlawful military directives.
- Deluzio underscores the unchanging oath to the Constitution and calls out the selective application of law and principle in the current regime.
Notable Quote:
“It tells you just how full of crap these guys are. They know it. I'm sure they know it deep down inside. And if not, they ought to just get new work, because these jobs require us all to take an oath to the Constitution.”
— Congressman Chris Deluzio [08:30]
3. Trump’s Pennsylvania “Loserville” Rally and GOP Weakness
Segment: [08:55] – [10:51]
- Donald Trump’s lackluster rally in Pennsylvania is dissected, with attention to his bizarre statements, racist outbursts (“shithole countries”), and the obsequiousness of local GOP congressmembers.
- Deluzio points out that despite campaign promises, Republican policies have only increased costs for regular Americans, and the party is “scared” and “acting like [Trump’s] puppets.”
Notable Quote:
“People expect their members of Congress to be able to stand up to a president, no matter the party, if they’ve done something wrong or if they failed—and this president has failed... costs continue to rise. People are getting pounded.”
— Congressman Chris Deluzio [10:13]
4. GOP’s Radical Additions to Defense and Veterans Affairs Policy
Segment: [10:51] – [12:38]
- Discussion turns to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), where Deluzio highlights the stripping of bipartisan “right to repair” language that would empower troops and save taxpayer money.
- The hosts lampoon the absurdity of the GOP’s cultural and policy focus—pull-up bars in airports, attacking nurses’ credentials, and reviving Confederate imagery—contrasting it with a lack of meaningful solutions.
Notable Quote:
“They stripped that language out to protect the contractors’ profits, and they’re screwing over our troops who could fix things and they’re making the public pay for it. It’s just corruption on top of corruption down here.”
— Congressman Chris Deluzio [12:16]
5. Election Outlook, Hope, and Organizing for the Future
Segment: [12:38] – [13:56]
- Filupkowski asks for a message to listeners, especially amid anxiety heading into the next election.
- Deluzio delivers a rallying message of hope, determination, and resilience—assuring listeners that Democrats and their supporters will not be intimidated and remain committed to “standing up for the American people.”
Notable Quote:
“We should have some hope. I think we’re going to win next year, and I think the country is with us... Keep up the hope. Don’t give up the ship. Be ready to win.”
— Congressman Chris Deluzio [13:25]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)
-
“The response to that is some grace, some support, some help in the VA care that you’ve earned. And it’s just crazy stuff to see the just callousness toward even those who have taken a bullet for this country.”
— Congressman Chris Deluzio [06:37] -
“Hegseth... in those clips, he called Donald Trump an armchair tough guy. He essentially called him a draft dodger. It’s funny how things change now that you got some access to power.”
— Congressman Chris Deluzio [08:13] -
“It was like literally. I mean, it’s like Loserville. I’m watching this and I’m like, loserville? What am I watching?”
— Ron Filipkowski [09:46]
Important Segments & Timestamps
- [00:29–05:41]: DHS testimony and confrontation over deported veterans
- [06:44–08:55]: GOP double standards on military service and legal responsibility
- [08:55–10:51]: Trump’s Pennsylvania rally and local GOP dynamics
- [10:51–12:38]: NDAA, veteran affairs, and right-to-repair issue
- [12:38–13:56]: Final message: organizing, hope, and Democratic resolve
Tone & Takeaways
The episode is marked by frank, sometimes sardonic banter, righteous indignation at hypocrisy and cruelty, and an unmistakable affinity for direct, unvarnished language. The hosts and Congressman Deluzio provide insider perspective and encouragement for political engagement, with the episode ultimately serving as both critique and call to action for listeners anxious about the future of American democracy.