Senator Baldwin Addresses Trump’s Attacks on Wisconsin

Summary

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The MeidasTouch Podcast: Senator Baldwin Addresses Trump’s Attacks on Wisconsin

Date: September 14, 2025
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas
Guest: Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)

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Episode Overview

In this episode, the Meiselas brothers are joined by Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin for a candid discussion on the impact of Donald Trump’s policies—particularly tariffs, health care, and corruption—on Wisconsin families and Americans at large. The conversation provides ground-level insight into the widespread feelings of betrayal toward Trump among Wisconsin constituents and highlights upcoming legislative leverage points for Democrats. The tone is direct, urgent, and often laced with the podcast’s trademark banter and gallows humor, yet it’s rooted in real stories from the field and first-hand political experience.

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Main Discussion Points & Insights

Public Frustration with Trump’s Economic Policies

• Voter Backlash: Ben opens by noting an increase in public anger, especially after summer town halls where Wisconsin Republican Congressman Brian Steele faces strong pushback for defending Trump's tariffs ([02:26]-[03:21]).
• Constituents' Questions: Local residents challenge the rationale behind tariffs affecting over 190 countries, pressing for tangible reasons for increased economic hardship.

Quote:

"My main concern is the tariffs that are coming up. I would like to know what dire economic circumstances put Trump in a position of throwing tariffs on over 190 countries."
– Wisconsin Town Hall Attendee [03:21]

Senator Tammy Baldwin’s Perspective: Betrayal and Rising Costs

• Sense of Betrayal: Senator Baldwin underscores how Trump’s promises to lower everyday costs have not only gone unfulfilled, but have resulted in the opposite—costs, especially for groceries and health care, are soaring ([04:54]-[06:14]).
• Rural Impact: She relays stories from rural hospitals and free clinics, describing fears of closures and job losses as Medicaid cuts loom.
• Magnitude: Nearly a quarter-million Wisconsinites stand to lose health insurance if current policies continue ([06:14]).

Quote:

"What I'm hearing from Wisconsinites is they just honestly feel betrayed by Donald Trump... People are seeing their costs go up and they're seeing him take actions like the tariffs that are having major impacts on the cost of groceries, the cost of things."
– Senator Tammy Baldwin [04:54]

Trump’s “Most Favored Nation” Drug Price Pledge—A Fraud?

• Broken Promises: The hosts highlight Trump’s earlier executive order promising Americans the lowest prescription drug prices in the world—and call it a “Trumpian fraud” as prices continue rising ([06:41]-[07:55]).
• Policy vs. Reality: Baldwin agrees the concept has merit if implemented, but asserts it was merely a slogan with no follow-through, leaving Americans to pay much more than those in other developed countries ([07:55]-[09:36]).
• Attack on Medicaid: Baldwin details a nearly $1 trillion planned cut to Medicaid, warning of devastating effects far beyond “fraud, waste, and abuse.”

Quotes:

"He dangled that idea of most favored nation status... The idea isn't a bad one. You just have to make it happen... It was words, it was a lie, it was betrayal."
– Senator Tammy Baldwin [07:55]

"In that signature piece of legislation that Trump put forward, it is a massive attack. Almost a trillion dollars out of Medicaid over the next decade."
– Senator Tammy Baldwin [08:55]

Economic Disparity and “Club Rose Garden”

• Corruption and Elitism: Both hosts and Baldwin criticize Trump’s normalization of self-enrichment—referencing meme coins, luxury dinner ticket sales, and the so-called “Club Rose Garden,” drawing a stark contrast to Wisconsinites living paycheck to paycheck ([09:36]-[12:01]).
• Lost American Dream: The segment highlights families struggling to save money and Baldwin suggests Trump correctly identified the problem during his campaign, but then exacerbated it as President.

Quote:

"Ways in which Donald Trump has enriched himself through the normalization of corruption, frankly, meme coins and multimillion dollar tickets to dinners with him, it's just grotesque."
– Senator Tammy Baldwin [10:39]

Democratic Opposition and Next Steps

• Legislative Strategy: With Republicans controlling government, Baldwin points to upcoming moments where Democrats have leverage—specifically bills requiring a 60-vote supermajority in the Senate. She suggests Democrats can demand an undoing of some harm done to Medicaid and insist on prescription drug price reform as conditions for cooperation ([12:23]-[14:36]).
• Enforcing Accountability: Baldwin emphasizes the need for built-in safeguards to prevent Trump from unilaterally undoing congressional deals.

Quotes:

"We have a moment like that coming up, and I think we are going to see one of two scenarios ... They agree to reverse some of the harm that has been done in Trump’s signature budget bill... or it's our way or the highway."
– Senator Tammy Baldwin [12:23]

"It's not enough to achieve those goals ... we have to curtail Trump's lawlessness, because we can't get an agreement, a bipartisan agreement ... and have Trump just the next day undo them unilaterally."
– Senator Tammy Baldwin [13:13]

Disappointment in Trump-Aligned Republican Senators

• GOP Physicians' Dilemma: The hosts criticize Republican senators who, though medical doctors (Cassidy, Barrasso), publicly condemn the administration’s health policies as “killing constituents” yet refuse to stand up to Trump in public ([14:36]-[16:14]).
• Hypocrisy and Loyalty: Baldwin calls out these senators for failing to act on broken promises made by Trump’s appointees (notably RFK Jr. as health secretary), indicating a broader culture of enabling Trump despite grave policy concerns.

Quote:

"Even if my colleagues won't stand up to President Trump, they should at least be standing up to RFK Jr and calling on him to resign or calling on the president to fire him."
– Senator Tammy Baldwin [17:14]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump's “Most Favored Nation” Health Care Promise:
  “It was words, it was a lie, it was betrayal.” — Senator Tammy Baldwin [07:55]

• On Economic Hardship in Wisconsin:
  “They're not sure they're going to be able to keep the doors open.” — Senator Tammy Baldwin, referencing clinics and hospitals [06:14]

• On Republican Senators’ Hypocrisy:
  “Why are we giving agency to crazy people? Why are smart people seemingly doing that?” — Host Ben Meiselas [16:02]

• Call to Action:
  “Just keep up. Keep up the fight. We have to keep up the fight.” — Senator Tammy Baldwin [17:37]

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Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:26] — Introduction of economic dissatisfaction and town hall pushback in Wisconsin
• [04:54] — Senator Baldwin describes feelings of betrayal over increased costs
• [06:14] — Impact of health care cuts on rural clinics and hospitals
• [07:55] — Discussion of Trump’s “most favored nation” drug price pledge as a fraud
• [10:39] — Conversation about Trump’s corruption and Club Rose Garden imagery
• [12:23] — Baldwin explains legislative strategy and leverage opportunities
• [14:36] — Debate on Republican doctors in the Senate failing to oppose Trump’s policies
• [17:37] — Baldwin’s closing message to listeners

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Summary

This episode offers a passionate, detailed critique of the economic and health care realities faced by Wisconsinites and many Americans under Trump’s second term. Senator Baldwin delivers firsthand anecdotes and policy warnings, particularly around skyrocketing costs, major Medicaid and health care cuts, and a political culture that seemingly normalizes corruption and broken promises. The episode’s tone is sobering yet infused with the Meiselas brothers' signature banter and a call for vigilance, truth-telling, and continued democratic engagement.

Closing Note:
Senator Baldwin urges listeners to "keep up the fight" for democracy and accountability—reinforcing the vitality of grassroots political pressure and legislative vigilance.

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Transcript

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[Host/Interviewer]

Americans are absolutely livid at Donald Trump and his regime and since the summer has ended I think we've been seeing more and more people just say enough is enough. I don't know if it's just the ending of summer has signified a, you know, a rallying call going forward, but there's definitely democracy in the air and a despising what this Trump regime is doing. I'll just show you, though, what went down before the summer ended. To remind you in Wisconsin, you had a MAGA Republican Congress member Brian Steele getting booed as he tries to defend Trump's disastrous tariffs. Let's play it. My main concern is the tariffs that are coming up. I would like to know what dire economic circumstances put Trump in a position of throwing tariffs on over 190 countries.

[Brian Steele]

This really, at its core, needs to be an opportunity to make sure that other countries are treating the United States fairly. The United States.

[Host/Interviewer]

We'Ve seen how that's gone, especially as additional economic data has come in at the beginning of September. And really some of the worst economic data we've seen in a, in a generation. From that same town hall in Wisconsin, you can see Brian Steele getting further dragged by his constituents. Let's play it.

[Senator Tammy Baldwin]

Why are they wearing masks? And why are they.

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UNIDENTIFIED.

[Brian Steele]

We'Ll probably agree to disagree on some of my answer here. But what I view is the moral hazard created by the Biden administration by allowing the US Mexico partner to remain unsecure. And so.

[Host/Interviewer]

Let'S bring in Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin. It's great to see you again. It's great to be with you. I think the people in Wisconsin and across the country are pissed. Like Trump's been saying, oh, the tariffs have no impact. Don't worry. We're in a golden age. And I think here we are after the summer and people are like, okay, this is ridiculous. Like, this is worse than the worst fears. What are you seeing, Senator?

[Senator Tammy Baldwin]

Well, so what I'm hearing from Wisconsinites is they just honestly feel betrayed by Donald Trump. And because he ran on this idea of I'm going to bring down your costs, your grocery costs, your energy costs, your health care costs, I'm going to bring down all these costs a day one as well as, I think, end two wars. But people are seeing their costs go up and they're seeing him take actions like the tariffs that are having major impacts on the cost of groceries, the cost of things. And, and then his signature piece of legislation is going to result in everyone's health care costs going up. And not just, I mean, people are going to lose health care because of the Medicaid policies and the tax credits that help people afford their private insurance through the Affordable Care Marketplace. But everyone's healthcare costs are going to go up because that's what happens, cost shifting. And they're going to see it really soon. My trip through Wisconsin, actually multiple trips through Wisconsin during our August break brought me to rural hospitals and free clinics.

[Host/Interviewer]

And.

[Senator Tammy Baldwin]

Places that employ people who provide services to those on Medicaid who will lose their jobs if Medicaid dries up. I heard from them. And the impact it's going to have on nearly a quarter million Wisconsinites who will lose their health insurance over the next few years. And those who, you know, run clinics that they're not sure they're going to be able to keep the doors open.

[Host/Interviewer]

I remember back in May, Donald Trump made a post on social media. Effective immediately, by way of this executive order, we are instituting a most favored nation provision where Americans will now be paying the lowest prescription drug price that the pharmaceutical company charges anywhere in the world. So if in Europe or India, whatever country it is, they charge 50 cents, then the drug in America would be 50 cents, which, if you're an American, you, that's a great thing. When we're talking about people's healthcare and lives and, and that promise is a matter of life or death. It's a pretty screwed up thing to lie about and to defraud people. So I'm not sure people were like, oh, he's lying about. Because who lies about killing people? Donald Trump. He does. And here we are in September. The most favored nation concept is a total Trumpian fraud. Prices are going higher and people in Wisconsin are, are getting screwed. And I think now they're like, oh, wait, I'm getting screwed too. Yeah, you're getting screwed too. What do you think?

[Senator Tammy Baldwin]

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, if you just limit the discussion to health care. He dangled that idea of most favored nation status for the, you know, the idea isn't a bad one. You just have to make it happen. Right. Why should Americans pay more than any other country, citizens of any other country for prescription drugs? Well, in every other country, they have a nation that is negotiating lower prices for their citizens. Except in America, except for a very slim number of medications that Medicare now negotiates. But we could be expanding this greatly. I mean, his idea isn't horrible, right? It just isn't being implemented. It was words, it was a lie, it was betrayal. And then, of course, we're seeing it throughout health care with all of these other things, you know, that he promised would be better. And oh, no, don't worry about Medicaid. We're just cutting fraud Waste and abuse and throwing off people who may not be documented citizens. That is not what they're doing. In that signature piece of legislation that Trump put forward, it is a massive attack. Almost a trillion dollars out of Medicaid over the next decade that is going to throw people who are eligible for Medicaid off of it. And we're going to, we're going to see a lot of consequences with regard to health costs.

[Host/Interviewer]

And their approach to everything is when Americans, Wisconsinites, people in other states are experiencing these things. Like, we know groceries are up. If you go to a grocery store and you're living, you know, things are less affordable. You just, you know, because you go out into the world. And then he goes, I've solved inflation. We're actually in a golden age. Healthcare costs have plummeted. We're doing amazing. And. And we. We are. We objectively aren't. So then he goes, let's fire all of the data people, because I don't like the data. So let's get rid of the data people. And that's their approach to everything. And then in the White House, they open up Club Rose Garden, an elite club for Republican cabals to spend our taxpayer dollars, like partying in the area where the Rose Garden. I'm just thinking about the. That image of Club Rose Garden and the people of Wisconsin who are living paycheck to paycheck, who were made all of these promises, who now feel very nervous.

[Senator Tammy Baldwin]

Yeah, the, you know, ways in which Donald Trump has enriched himself through the normalization of corruption, frankly, meme coins and multimillion dollar tickets to dinners with him, it's just grotesque. When I think of all the people that I represent who are just trying to make ends meet and who know they used to be able to put a little bit in savings and feel like they were getting a little bit ahead, and now it feels just the opposite, that there's not enough to make it through the month before the next paycheck comes. And I think, as I said in the outset, people feel really betrayed, because I will give Trump credit. During the election, he diagnosed the problem. People were upset with the cost of things, and he promised solutions. But now that they. They seen his actions contribute to the matters getting much worse.

[Host/Interviewer]

So what can we do? You know, there's legislation you're championing to extend ACA premium tax credit. I mean, how do we call. How do we call the bluff and say, here's what we're doing, here's what they're voting against. If they truly wanted to make Prescription drug prices cheaper. Here's what they do, here's what they would do.

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And.

[Host/Interviewer]

And I'll prove to you this is what they're not doing.

[Senator Tammy Baldwin]

Yeah, well, let's start by just acknowledging facts here. Republicans have the presidency, they have the Senate, and they have the House. So we have to find places where we have leverage. And there's a moment like that coming up, because, as you know, in the Senate, for some legislation, you need a super majority, you need 60 votes, which means Republicans have to work with Democrats to get certain things done. And we have a moment like that coming up, and I think we are going to see one of two scenarios. We're going to see the potential for Republicans and the president saying, it's our way or the highway, take it or leave it.

[Host/Interviewer]

And.

[Senator Tammy Baldwin]

We have some things that we need to get done. The other path is that they agree to reverse some of the harm that has been done in Trump's signature budget bill, harm to Medicaid, that they agree to extend the premium tax credits that allow people to be able to afford to pay for their health insurance, that they work with us on measures that will seriously bring down the cost of prescription drugs. And not only that, but it's not enough to achieve those goals. In addition, we have to curtail Trump's lawlessness, because we can't get an agreement, a bipartisan agreement, to do these things that are really important that we need to do and have Trump just the next day undo them unilaterally. It has to have the safeguards that say Congress acts, Congress creates the budget for the agencies. You have to implement and administer what Congress passes. And so those are the two paths, but we will have some leverage at that moment.

[Host/Interviewer]

You know, there's a lot of things that concern me, but as I think about that RFK Jr. Testimony, and I saw Republican senators, physicians, Cassidy, Barroso, others, you know, we're pushing back, saying, you know, you're killing my constituents. You know, this is. What you're doing is so dangerous. So on the one hand, I'm like, okay, well, we've got some Republican senators who are physicians saying that you're killing my constituents. In terms of things the health secretary can be doing, killing my constituents probably be pretty, pretty bad, you know, pretty bad thing to say. And. And he.

[Senator Tammy Baldwin]

He is.

[Host/Interviewer]

I mean, with. With all of his actions at the CDC and the vaccination board. But then they get interviewed outside, and I saw whether it was Barroso, whether it was Cassidy. So do you have no confidence in what Trump's doing? Ah, you know, we got to trust Trump. We got to, I'm like, you got to trust. What do you mean? Why? What did I just see? How, what are you talking about? That makes, that makes no sense. So I, I, I want to leave you with your observations there. Being colleagues with these people who are physicians who know that he's killing people. But then don't get to the next step of saying I'm a freaking senator. Like, that's a pretty big deal. Like, you're a senator of the United States. Like, not a small job. Like, one of the biggest, if not the. So, like, why not stand up to the guy? Like, why give all of your agency to this guy who's telling us that, that he didn't sign the Epstein birthday book when it's his signature? Like, why are we giving agency to crazy people? Why are smart people seemingly doing that?

[Senator Tammy Baldwin]

Right. Well, you know, just, I would. We started by talking about how my constituents feel that Trump betrayed them. He ran on one thing, and he's doing just the opposite. But I think my Republican colleagues, especially the doctors that you were identifying, it's doctor. And Senator Cassidy Barrasso is a doctor as well as a senator. And they, I believe, in fact, Cassidy recited the commitments he got from RFK Jr. As a condition of becoming a yes vote to confirm his nomination. I remember as clear as, you know, yesterday we were in committee, and he went through the various commitments that RFK Jr made to him that would lead to his voting yes on his confirmation. Kennedy has broken every single one of those commitments in full view. So even if my colleagues won't stand up to President Trump, they should at least be standing up to RFK Jr and calling on him to resign or calling on the president to fire him.

[Host/Interviewer]

Senator Tammy Baldwin, before we go, anything else you want to say to our 6 million subscribers that I missed?

[Senator Tammy Baldwin]

Oh, my goodness. We could talk for the rest of the day. Just keep up. Keep up the fight. We have to keep up the fight.

[Host/Interviewer]

Senator Tommy Baldwin from Wisconsin.

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Thank you.

[Senator Tammy Baldwin]

Thank you, everybody.

[Host/Interviewer]

Hit subscribe. Let's get to 6 million subscribers. The truth is more important than ever. Check out our new Truth Over Lies collection at store Midas Touch.com all 100% USA Union made.

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