The MeidasTouch Podcast – Rep. Goldman on Trump Shutdown Disaster and Economic Collapse

Episode Date: October 20, 2025
Host(s): Ron Filipkowski (filling in for Ben, Brett, Jordy Meiselas)
Guest: Rep. Dan Goldman

Episode Overview

This episode zeroes in on the ongoing government shutdown orchestrated by the Trump-aligned GOP, its severe consequences for the American economy, and allegations of widespread fraud and cover-ups—including the continued sealing of the Epstein files. Ron Filipkowski leads a brisk, biting discussion with Rep. Dan Goldman, unpacking the latest fiscal misinformation, the mechanics of the government shut-down as a tool for partisan leverage, and the real-world implications for American families. The episode weaves the MeidasTouch trademark mix of informed outrage, legal perspective, and gallows humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Debunking Trump's Economic Boasts and Shutdown Lies

• Trump allies, including Peter Navarro, have been circulating exaggerated figures about foreign investment and economic stability amid the shutdown.
• Ron Filipkowski ridicules Trump’s ever-inflating boasts:

  “First it was 17, then Trump said 20 trillion. Now Peter Navarro saying, well, we've got 19 trillion dollars…” (01:16)

Notable Moment:

• [00:42] Peter Navarro (clip):

  “$19 trillion of investment promised to come into this country... But we're not going to see the manufacturing jobs until that capacity gets built… setting the stage.”

• Ron Filipkowski (satirically critiquing Navarro):

  “…there’s no, $19 trillion is a made up number. When you actually go to the White House, they say $8.8 trillion and they just make up the most ridiculous numbers.” (01:16)
  “$1 trillion promised from Qatar. Well, Qatar's annual GDP is $166 billion. They're giving us 10 years of their GDP…” (01:30)

2. Rising Economic Instability and Blame Shifting

• Even Fox News voices concern over “deep signs of distress in the economy” as regional banks face credit stress and major bankruptcies.
• Fox News Reporter (clip):

  “...after this credit stress fears rattled the regional banking sector... Zions reported a $50 million loss last quarter…” (02:13)

• Kevin Hassett (Trump economic advisor, in clip):
  • Blames the Biden administration for supposedly lax banking oversight. (02:55)
• Ron Filipkowski mocks the relentless passing of responsibility:

  “It’s the Biden administration, it's Obama, the whiniest group of people…” (03:11)

3. Shutdown Fallout and Attacks on Democratic Districts

• Rep. Dan Goldman joins to detail the real-world effects of the shutdown:

  “They're maintaining this shutdown even though it requires a bipartisan agreement... They're not even going to pay SNAP benefits in November for the 42 million people who receive food nutrition benefits. They are attacking Democratic districts and states and trying to illegally and unlawfully freeze or take away funding.” (04:52)

• MAGA Republicans, he argues, are using the shutdown to punish Americans while protecting billionaires’ interests.
• Goldman:

  “They need Democratic support, but what they're trying to say is we need your support. So you should just get on board with whatever we want to do... We’re not giving up on our priorities and we’re standing strong.” (05:35)

4. The MAGA Mike/Adelita Grijalva Congressional Blockade and Epstein Files Cover-up

• Republicans stonewall swearing in Adelita Grijalva (AZ-7), blocking representation for her district and, crucially, her potential to provide the last signature for a discharge petition to release the Epstein files.
• Goldman:

  "Adelita would be the 218th signature on the discharge petition... Mike Johnson is doing everything in his power not to allow Adelita Grijalva to get sworn in so that she can sign the discharge petition. She is not allowed to actually hire staff... and she is not allowed to do constituent services. So he's just flat out lying now in an effort to avoid swearing her in." (07:13)

• Ron Filipkowski:

  "So Arizona's 7th congressional district, literally taxation without representation." (03:23)

5. The Strategic Progression of the Epstein Files Cover-up

• Goldman (leveraging his past as a federal prosecutor) outlines the timeline and players advancing an intentional, multifaceted cover-up to shield the full extent of the Epstein files from public view.
• Goldman:

  "Pam Bondi was apparently furious with Kash Patel because for some reason she thought she was releasing all of the Epstein files when really she was releasing a very small portion... Then I write the letter, they say they send out that memo all of a sudden saying there's no credible evidence here. That would require disclosure." (11:10) "The difference between the two is critical. The oversight and committee investigation does not require video recordings, audio recordings, photographs... but it would all be required to be turned over under the discharge petition bill." (13:40) "That is where Donald Trump's name would be if it's in there... which is very intentionally being left out of the oversight investigation." (14:45)

6. Further Corruption: Tom Homan Bribery Scandal and DOJ Capture

• Allegations surface of a $50,000 cash bribe in a Kava bag related to Trump ally Tom Homan, which the DOJ appears to have conveniently ignored.
• Goldman:

  “If a $50,000 bribe... you don't start an investigation on one day and then have a target of the investigation receive $50,000 in cash from an undercover FBI agent the next day. This was clearly an extensive... investigation of which the $50,000 bribe was just one part…" (16:46) “Tom Homan, of course, now controls $45 billion that was just given to ICE to pay contracts for private prisons..." (18:46)

• Summary Judgment:

  "It is unbelievably corrupt and remarkable, but not surprising that they shut down that investigation." (19:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ron Filipkowski (satirizing Trump economics):

  "She's like the reporter for those listening on audio is looking at Navarro like he's an idiot because he's an idiot and a fricking liar." (01:16)

• Rep. Goldman (on MAGA GOP shutdown strategy):

  “This is different than what we had over the summer. They need Democratic support, but what they're trying to say is we need your support. So you should just get on board with whatever we want to do…” (05:29)

• Goldman (on the Epstein files cover-up):

  “So this cover up gets worse and worse and more detailed and more complicated and more entrenched. And ultimately that's why they are trying so desperately to stop this discharge petition from getting enough signatures.” (14:56)

Key Timestamps

• 00:42 – Peter Navarro’s (clip) $19 trillion investment claim
• 02:13 – Fox News on banking/credit economy fears
• 03:51 – Kevin Hassett attacks Rep. Grijalva, blaming her for not working pre-swear-in
• 04:52 – Rep. Dan Goldman unpacks real consequences of shutdown
• 07:13 – Goldman details how GOP is blocking Adelita Grijalva to suppress the discharge petition
• 11:10 – Goldman lays out the evolving Epstein files cover-up tactics
• 13:40 – Oversight investigation vs. discharge petition: what’s actually at stake
• 16:46 – Goldman exposes Tom Homan bribery scandal and DOJ rot
• 19:10 – Episode wrap-up

Tone & Style

The conversation is direct, irreverent, and pushes for accountability. Ron Filipkowski and Dan Goldman deliver pointed critiques, legal perspective, and a back-and-forth that is both intense and conversational—mirroring the MeidasTouch signature style.

Conclusion

This episode offers a dense, inside-baseball look at the political machinations behind the government shutdown and exposes ongoing, high-level corruption and cover-ups—most notably concerning the Epstein files. Rep. Dan Goldman combines legal expertise and insider knowledge to offer a comprehensive warning about the deterioration of normal democratic and judicial processes under the Trump-aligned GOP.

For anyone not caught up: This episode captures the sense of urgency, frustration, and dark humor that define the MeidasTouch approach while laying out exactly how political gamesmanship is impacting the economy and transparency at the highest levels.