Rep. Moulton Discusses Trump’s Disastrous Shutdown

Summary

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MeidasTouch Podcast: Rep. Moulton Discusses Trump’s Disastrous Shutdown

Date: October 29, 2025
Host(s): MeidasTouch Network (Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas, with guest host Ron Filipkowski)
Guest: Rep. Seth Moulton (Massachusetts)

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Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the fallout from the federal government shutdown under President Trump, exploring repercussions on American families, the handling of SNAP benefits, and foreign policy controversies. The MeidasTouch team, joined by Rep. Seth Moulton, also takes aim at Speaker "MAGA" Mike Johnson’s leadership, the GOP’s priorities, and the path forward for Democratic leadership. The “disastrous shutdown” serves as the through-line, but broader themes of government responsibility, economic justice, and a new direction for the Democratic Party pervade the discussion.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. MAGA Mike Johnson’s Press Conference: Repetition as Propaganda

• Ron Filipkowski introduces Johnson’s “morning humiliation ritual,” critiquing his strategy of endlessly repeating talking points to influence the media narrative.
  • “He’s like, if I just keep repeating this over and over again … maybe you all in the press will start to write what I’m telling you to write.” (02:57)
• Johnson accuses mainstream media of bias, claiming they don’t challenge Democratic leaders, and insists repetition will make “the truth saturate.”
• Criticism: Johnson and MAGA representatives have barely worked—“10 or 12 days out of the last 100”—while blocking social safety programs.
  • “You keep gaveling out and adjourning... What the hell are you actually even doing?” (04:05)

2. The SNAP Benefits Standoff and Shutdown Fallout

• Johnson claims Senate Democrats are at fault for risking SNAP benefits to “tens of millions of Americans,” and criticizes lawsuits seeking to protect emergency food assistance.
• Fact Check:
  • Ron counters there is a $5–6 billion contingency fund for SNAP that could be accessed, “but it can give to SNAP instead. It wants to give $40 billion to Argentina.” (05:35)
  • "Trump said that you could do it during the shutdown, during his first term as well." (05:35)
• Moulton's response: Outraged that leaders are “sending $40 billion to Argentina” while Americans, including veterans, face hunger.
  • “He’s completely throwing out the Constitution. He might as well not be in Congress because Congress he's just sent on vacation.” (07:59)

3. Trump’s Foreign Policy and Playing to the Markets

• Ron Filipkowski highlights Trump’s pattern of making repeated, opaque trade deal announcements to boost stock market sentiment rather than improving people's lives.
  • "They just keep announcing the same thing because it seems the focus is just pump the crap out of the stock market while American people ... suffer." (09:01)
• Moulton points to disconnect: “A lot of Americans don’t care about the stock market because they don’t have stocks. They care about the prices at the grocery store.” (10:01)

4. Billionaires, Donor Money, and Military Politicization

• Discussion on Trump securing $130 million from a billionaire donor, which only covers a few hours of military payroll—a stunt, not a solution.
• Moulton raises alarms:
  • “He’s trying to have a private army, which is … rule number one in the playbook for authoritarianism.” (12:07)
  • “It’s not the oath that we took to protect and defend the Constitution…” (12:07)

5. Venezuela Incident and Escalation Fears

• US military involvement in Venezuela, including bombed fishing boats that may have killed innocent Colombians.
• Moulton’s grave warning:
  • "The best case scenario is that they're just killing innocent people... The worst case scenario is that Trump is going to start a war with Venezuela.” (13:53)

6. Senate Run and Democratic Party’s Future

• Moulton on his primary campaign against Senator Markey:
  • “I just don't think we can afford to wait six more years for new leadership... the playbook is not working.” (15:24)
  • “The current generation has got us a second term of Donald Trump … as someone who’s never been afraid to stand up to my own party … I’m running to bring a new generation of leadership.” (15:24)
• Emphasizes importance of new leadership to win midterms and build for the future.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Mike Johnson’s leadership:
  Seth Moulton (07:59):

  "He's auditioning to be the weakest speaker in American history. And actually, maybe it's not an audition anymore. He's affirmatively the weakest speaker in American history."

• On GOP priorities:
  Seth Moulton (07:59):

  “You hear from a lot of Americans who count on food assistance, including veterans, who count on SNAP payments, who are going to go hungry in a few days while they're sending $40 billion to Argentina. I mean, it's just absurd.”

• On foreign policy theatrics:
  Ron Filipkowski (09:01):

  "They just keep announcing the same thing because it seems the focus is just pump the crap out of the stock market while American people who are living on Main street suffer."

• On food insecurity for real families:
  Seth Moulton (10:01):

  “A lot of Americans don't care about the stock market because they don't have stocks. They care about the prices at the grocery store.”

• On Trump’s authoritarian playbook and billionaire donors:
  Seth Moulton (12:07):

  “He's trying to have a private army ... That's not what anyone signed up to do in the military. It's not the oath that we took to protect and defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic.”

• On Venezuela crisis escalation:
  Seth Moulton (13:53):

  "We've never had more combat power in the Caribbean than in the last 50 years ... Trump right now has the blood of innocent people on his hands, but he's about to have the blood of American troops if this goes forward."

• On Democratic Party renewal:
  Seth Moulton (15:24):

  "I think it's time for a new generation of leaders in our party. The current generation has got us a second term of Donald Trump ... I'm running to bring a new generation of leadership to our party to stand up harder to Donald Trump and to show a way forward."

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Speaker Johnson’s press conference and media manipulation: 02:57–04:05
• SNAP benefits, shutdown, and budget priorities debate: 04:05–07:21
• Rep. Seth Moulton on Congressional dysfunction and hunger in America: 07:59–10:01
• Pushback on ‘stock market politics’ and real economic pain: 09:01–10:58
• Discussion on billionaire donor money, private armies, and the military: 11:07–13:08
• Venezuela escalation and risks of new conflict: 13:08–15:02
• Rep. Moulton announces Senate run, calls for generational leadership change: 15:02–17:23

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Conclusion

This episode of the MeidasTouch Podcast takes direct aim at the Republican leadership's handling of the shutdown, exposes the disconnect between MAGA priorities and everyday American hardship, and argues for a new wave of Democratic leadership. Rep. Seth Moulton provides passionate, pointed criticism anchored in his experience as a veteran and legislator, warning of anti-democratic trends and calling for renewal within his own party. The discussion is urgent, unsparing, and grounded in the everyday concerns—food, paychecks, public accountability—of the American people.

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Transcript

[Ron Filipkowski]

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[MAGA Mike Johnson]

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[Seth Moulton]

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[Ron Filipkowski]

B R I K.com Republican Speaker Maga Mike Johnson just had a totally disastrous press conference. He went up there again with the whole cast of characters, the other MAGA Republican Congress members, as part of the morning humiliation ritual that he does. And here he kind of just admits what he's trying to do. He's like, if I just keep repeating this over and over again with the repetition, maybe you all in the press will start to write what I'm telling you to write. He's like the talking points that Donald, that Donald Trump gave him. Here, play this clip.

[MAGA Mike Johnson]

That's. That's plain and simple. And so it's painful for them for us to get up here every single day and relate again, the simple truths. We have to do that. The repetition is what makes the truth saturate. Because most of the mainstream media is giving us headwinds. They're pushing back, as I just demonstrated from you, from the results, the research proves what we know intuitively, that the mainstream media, most of the legacy media, is parroting the talking points to the other side. You are not asking Chuck Schumer the hard questions. You're not asking Hakeem Jeffries the hard questions. Not enough of them. They're hiding.

[Ron Filipkowski]

They're literally. They're not hiding. They're there working. And the MAGA Republicans, at your order, are not showing up to work. I mean, you've told them to go on a vacation. You keep gaveling out and adjourning. You've worked. You've had the housework 10 or 12 days out of the last 100 days. That's why people are asking, like, what the hell are you actually even doing? And we know that y' all are the ones who refuse to extend the Affordable Care act subsidies. Y' all are the ones who want to get rid of snap from 42 million Americans. Then MAGA Mike Johnson is angry that Democrat Democratic attorney generals in 22 states have filed the lawsuits to try to protect the emergency fund for SNAP benefits, which still has about 5 to 6 billion dollars or so in it, that Trump and the Department of Agriculture refused to Tap into here, play this clip.

[MAGA Mike Johnson]

SNAP benefits will stop flowing to all those who need it. You're talking about tens of millions of Americans at risk of going hungry if the Senate Democrats can continue this gambit instead of taking simple vote to fund the government, which Senate Democrats have now had more than a dozen opportunities to do. Democrat attorneys general are suing the federal government to try to compel SNAP benefits to flow. Despite the government being closed and despite the fact that there is no money to do that. Congress hasn't authorized that. The contingency fund for that was something they batted down.

[Ron Filipkowski]

No, it's literally there. There's literally a bank account that has five to six billion dollars in it called a contingency fund that the Department of Agriculture took this advisory point down from its website, but it can give to SNAP instead. It wants to give $40 billion to Argentina. So Magamike was asked about that. So $40 billion goes to Argentina and you're not tapping into the SNAP contingency fund, which everybody knows you can tap into the SNAP contingency fund. And Trump said that you could do it during the shutdown, during his first term as well. But here, play this clip when he's asked about Argentina.

[MAGA Mike Johnson]

All right, questions? Manu, go ahead.

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For so many Americans right now, how.

[Seth Moulton]

Do you justify the administration giving this.

[Ron Filipkowski]

Big, massive bailout to Argentina as well.

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As calling for an increase?

[MAGA Mike Johnson]

Look, we give foreign policy, the execution of foreign policy to the executive branch, and that's what the President is doing right now. There's lots of nuances about that. He's involved in negotiating trade agreements around the country to the great success and benefit of the American people right now, dozens of them being worked out. He's over overseas right now doing the same thing. And what he accomplished in Japan is a remarkable thing for the American people. And by the way, they've invested, agreed to invest $550 billion into America, and that's good for everyone. So I can't get into the nuances of every single trade agreement with every country around the world, but we're going to trust the President to do what he's doing. He's had a remarkable track record of success for the American people, and nobody in this room can refute it. So I'm going to leave it right there. Let's talk about the government. Shutdown is the main important thing right here, Jack.

[Ron Filipkowski]

Let's bring in Democratic Congressmember from Massachusetts, Seth Moulton. Congressmember Moulton, good to see you as always. He also made the big announcement running for that Senate seat in the Democratic primary. We'll talk about that as well. But you hear MAGA Mike says nobody can refute it. This has been an incredible track record. He's out there unilaterally doing these trade deals, and we're just gonna just trust him and just give away our Article 1 authority as well. Apparently, when you see this humiliation ritual that he goes through every morning like this, and just the lies, I mean, what's your response to it?

[Seth Moulton]

He's auditioning to be the weakest speaker in American history. And actually, maybe it's not an audition anymore. He's affirmatively the weakest speaker in American history. He's completely throwing out the Constitution. He might as well not be in Congress because Congress he's just sent on vacation. You know, we're not doing our jobs. As far as I know, he's still taking a paycheck. I'm not taking a paycheck. I'm defer him a pay. But apparently most of his Republicans are. A lot of Democrats are too. But the point is, it's ridiculous that he refuses to do his job. And maybe no one in that room in Washington is going to refute his claims. I mean, he's standing amongst a bunch of Republicans. But guess what? You hear from a lot of farmers who are pretty upset about these trade deals because they're getting screwed. You hear from a lot of Americans who count on food assistance, including veterans, who count on snap payments, who are going to go hungry in a few days while they're sending $40 billion to Argentina. I mean, it's just absurd.

[Ron Filipkowski]

Now, Trump made an announcement where he gave away the game when he was in South Korea. We all knew what it was. And he says, I want to go back to the days where you announce good news and the stock market goes up is what he basically said. He said that word for word. And you know, he MAGA Mike mentions, you know, Japan has committed to do this. Well, didn't they say that three months ago also? And then, you know, I know Trump's going to be talking to Xi Jinping and there's that aspect of this trip. I went back. There was a framework announced in May with China, then there was a framework announced in June, then another one over the summer, then another one's going to be announced right now. And then the same thing with all these back to South Korea, a deal with South Korea, another deal with South Korea, the same deal with. And no one knows what these terms are. They just keep announcing the same thing because it Seems the focus is just pump the crap out of the stock market while American people who are living on Main street suffer.

[Seth Moulton]

Yeah, I mean, guess what? A lot of Americans don't care about the stock market because they don't have stocks. They care about the prices at the grocery store. I mean, I looked at the grocery bill from yesterday at my house just to buy hamburger meat for pasta sauce and spaghetti. And, I mean, well, north of $100 with a little bit of milk and some eggs and some other things thrown in. I mean, it's just. This is what matters to Americans. But it's so telling. That is not where the focus of this administration is. The administration and maga, Mike and other Republicans, they are focused on the stock market. They're focused on helping out their billionaire pals. They're trying to distract attention from two things. The fact that Americans are about to go hungry this weekend. The troops are barely getting paid, and they're also trying to distract from the Taco Trump president who has to keep renegotiating these deals because he always chickens out on his own threats. That's why they keep getting renegotiated.

[Ron Filipkowski]

You know, you're a veteran, you served four tours, you're overseas, active combat areas. When you see someone like Trump say that he's bringing in $130 million from some reclusive billionaire, part of, I guess, the Melon family or something like that, which, when you actually do the math, pays for six hours of active duty reserve payroll and doesn't address the broader systemic issues. It just feels like it's part of this broader Ponzi scheme going on. Look, the number sounds big. I brought in $130 million from, you know, whoever this guy is. But also going around Congress, like, why is a billionaire giving 130 million? Do we get to see the numbers? Is it really going to troops? Is it 100% tax deductible? Is it part of some other deal like, where's this money?

[Seth Moulton]

I mean, the answer is simple, because billionaires have bought this government. He's beholden to billionaires. That's the only class of people that Trump cares about. And whether it's the billionaires who get to rape, know innocent girls with Jeffrey Epstein and get away with it, just like the president, or whether it's billionaires who just get tax break after tax break at the cost of working people in America. That's. That's what matters to this administration. In the meantime, he's also trying to buy the army. I mean, he's trying to have A private army, which is, you know, like rule number one in the playbook for authoritarianism. He wants a military that's completely politicized and completely beholden to him, not the Constitution. And that part not only makes me angry, it makes me sad, because that's not what anyone signed up to do in the military. It's not the oath that we took to protect and defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic.

[Ron Filipkowski]

I know there's going to be a briefing in the Armed Services Committee coming up about what's going on in Venezuela with Trump shooting these fishing boats. We've heard from the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, that these innocent Colombians potentially were individuals who were killed. Then there was individuals who survived one of the bombings by the United States, and they just got to go back to their countries. No. No prosecution, apparently.

[Seth Moulton]

Just like, apparently they were innocent.

[Ron Filipkowski]

You know, it's like the hunger. If you survive, you're good. Yeah, exactly. There's this. There's. There's nothing that happens. So I know this is an important issue to a lot of Americans, but I don't think it's getting enough attention. Attention? What's. What, what. Can you let us know where. Where we are right now in this?

[Seth Moulton]

Well, sir, it's almost like the best case scenario is that they're just killing innocent people. And not only are innocent people dying, you know, fathers, mothers, whoever, sons, you know, getting killed without any proof of the fact. The fact that they're even transporting drugs or they didn't just get bamboozled into piloting these boats. We know for a fact that two of the people who miraculously survived one of these strikes were just released because they apparently weren't guilty of anything. That's like the best case scenario. The worst case scenario is that Trump is going to start a war with Venezuela. And I don't know the answer to that, but we've never had more combat power in the Caribbean than in the last 50 years or something. So you don't bring in subs and aircraft carriers to intimidate. To intimidate people in little speedboats. I don't know what's going on, but I'm very concerned that Trump right now has the blood of innocent people on his hands, but he's about to have the blood of American troops if this goes forward.

[Ron Filipkowski]

Talk to us. Congressman, about your Senate race. Big announcement there. There'll be a Democratic primary. There's a Democratic Senator Markey in the state. Talk to us about your decision to run. One of the things you expressed is it's just time for new leadership. But can you speak to that?

[Seth Moulton]

Yeah, absolutely. So I just don't think we can afford to wait six more years for new leadership in our party or in the country. And with all due respect to Senator Markey and his in his half century of service, the playbook is not working. The status quo is not getting it done. And he's been elected longer than I've been alive. I think it's time for a new generation of leaders in our party. The current generation has got us a second term of Donald Trump and he's hurting a lot of people all across America. So as someone who's never been afraid to stand up to my own party when I think we need to change, I'm running to bring a new generation of leadership to our party to stand up harder to Donald Trump and to show a way forward, to show that Democrats are investing in the future and that we can lead. That's, I think, what we need to do going forward.

[Ron Filipkowski]

Where can people find out more about the Senate campaign?

[Seth Moulton]

Yeah, please go to Sethmolten.com and you know, some people may ask, okay, why is a Democratic primary happening when we need to focus on the midterms? Look, I still observe America a few years ago, back in 2018, the last time we were in this position with Trump in the White House, Republicans controlling the House and the Senate Serve America accounted for more than half the seats that we flipped as the entire Democratic Party to take back the House. So I know a lot about winning midterms and supporting new leaders like Mikey Sherrill, Abigail Spamberger, they were all in that 2018 Serve America class, are now running for governor and two important elections just about to come up here. So I know about winning the midterms and I actually think that this primary that's about the future of the Democratic Party, you know, are we going to stick with the old playbook and the status quo or are we going to pass the torch to a new generation of leaders? This is an essential debate for our success in the midterms. So I'm excited to be running and I invite you to come to Sethmolten.com to find out more.

[Ron Filipkowski]

Congressman Seth Moulton, thanks for joining us as always.

[Seth Moulton]

Thanks for having me back, everybody.

[Ron Filipkowski]

Hit subscribe. Let's get to 6 million subscribers. Want to stay plugged in? Become a subscriber to our [e-mail]. you'll get daily recaps from Ron Filipkowski ad free episodes of our podcast and more exclusive content only [e-mail] now.

[MAGA Mike Johnson]

Our son's new girlfriend is a former student.

[Ron Filipkowski]

Don't miss Anniversary.

[Seth Moulton]

You know, I used to be afraid of you. I don't think I am anymore.

[Ron Filipkowski]

Starring Diane Lane and Kyle Chandler.

[Seth Moulton]

We need to be careful. She's trying to obliterate us.

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