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)

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.

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.

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."

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

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.