Podcast Summary: The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Trump Gets Rebuked on House Floor…By The GOP!!
Date: February 12, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

Episode Overview

This episode centers on an extraordinary event in Congress: the House of Representatives, including several Republicans, rebuked former President Donald Trump by voting to overturn his tariffs on Canada. The Meiselas brothers break down the vote's significance, Trump's furious reaction, the impact on U.S.-Canada relations, and the larger implications for trade, Congressional authority, and the state of the GOP. The tone throughout is lively, sharp, and unapologetically pro-democracy, as is characteristic of the brothers' banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Historic House Vote Against Trump’s Tariffs

• [00:30–03:50] The House passed a resolution 219–211 to revoke Trump’s tariffs against Canada, with six Republicans joining Democrats—an unusually explicit GOP rebuke of Trump.

  • Republicans voting with Democrats: Thomas Massie, Don Bacon, Brian Fitzpatrick, Jeff Heard, Kevin Kiley, Dan Newhouse.
  • Trump and “MAGA Mike” Johnson (Speaker of the House) attempted to block this vote, threatening dire political consequences for GOP defectors.
  • Importance of Congressional power: “The privilege is in Article 1 of the Constitution. The power belongs to Congress.” (Ben Meiselas, 04:30)

• Memorable Quote

  • Ben: “Folks, the dam has broken, and Donald Trump is losing each and every day.” [04:12]

2. Trump’s Reaction and False Claims

• [03:52–06:10] Trump issued angry social media posts threatening political payback and making “absurd” economic claims.

  • False claims: “Our trade deficit has been reduced by 78%. The Dow Jones has just hit 50,000 and the S&P 7,000, all numbers that were considered impossible just one year ago.”
  • Ben: “You’re just making up numbers.” [05:05]

• Trump’s callousness towards Canada:

  • Immediately after a tragic school shooting in British Columbia, Trump doubled down on attacking Canada, showing no sympathy.
  • Ben: “What makes this specifically disgusting is that…Donald Trump, rather than showing sympathy, posts this attack.” [06:36]

3. Republican Lawmakers Assert Congressional Authority

• [06:50–08:18] GOP Congressman Don Bacon emphasizes Congress's constitutional responsibility over tariffs and opposes “outsourcing” that power to the executive.
  • Bacon: “As an old fashioned conservative, I know tariffs are a tax on the American consumers… This debate and vote should occur in the House.” [07:15]
  • Policy experts cited: “U.S. consumers bear 95% of the Trump tariffs.” (Citing CBO and other economic data.)

4. Economic Impact on American Families

• [08:00–08:18] Data reveals Trump’s tariffs have raised the cost of living for average American families by ~$2,000 per year in some GOP congressional districts.

5. MAGA Mike Johnson’s Deflections

• [09:55–11:07] Speaker Maga Mike tries to downplay the rebuke, claiming Trump “will just veto it.”
  • Maga Mike: “He understands what’s going on. … He can veto these things if they come to him.” [10:36]
  • Ben: “Even if he vetoes it, we now have all Republicans on record about where they stand on causing these massive tax increases on the American people.” [10:54]

6. Weaponization of DOJ - Double Standards

• [11:07–13:12] Johnson is pressed by CNN’s Manu Raju about the Trump DOJ investigating six Democratic lawmakers for encouraging military personnel to follow lawful orders (a legal stance).
  • Maga Mike equivocates: “I am very much and very consistently opposed to the DOJ being weaponized… But I would tell you that a line is crossed… It’s a very dangerous gambit.” [12:09–12:23]
  • Ben calls out the hypocrisy and reviews how grand juries frequently reject politicized indictments brought by Trump’s DOJ.

7. U.S.-Canada Relations & Public Perception

• [14:24–16:31] CNN segment highlights Canadian opinion of Trump and the mutual popularity between the U.S. and Canada—contrasting with Trump’s hostile rhetoric.
  • Stats: 66% of Canadians give Trump’s first term a grade of “F.” His popularity in Canada plunges across all parties.
  • Ben: “Canada is more popular than Donald Trump in Donald Trump’s own country.” [15:33]
  • Tariff fallout: Canadian tourism to the U.S. drops by 25% (2025 vs. 2024).

8. Supreme Court Outlook

• [16:48–17:29] Prediction markets place a 70% likelihood the Supreme Court will eventually overturn Trump’s tariffs, rendering congressional battles somewhat moot.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Major Rebuke: "Congress has Article 1 constitutional responsibility on tariffs. We cannot and should not outsource our responsibilities.”
  — Rep. Don Bacon [07:10]

• Economic Data: “The Congressional Budget Office just came out… U.S. consumers bear 95% of the Trump tariffs.”
  — Cited by Ben, relating to CBO and economic research [07:55]

• GOP Breaks Ranks: "The dam has broken and Donald Trump is losing each and every day.”
  — Ben Meiselas [04:12]

• On Congressional Records: “Even if he vetoes it, we now have all of the Republicans in the House and soon to be in the Senate on record about where they stand on causing these massive tax increases...”
  — Ben Meiselas [10:54]

• Canada’s View: "66% [of Canadians] give [Trump] a big F, compared to just 6% who give him an A… It doesn’t matter if you’re on the left or the right, you do not like Donald Trump if you are a Canadian.”
  — CNN segment cited [14:49]

• On Trump's Tactics: “Donald Trump always attacks Canada, defames Canada, calls it the 51st state, attacks its sovereignty.”
  — Ben Meiselas [06:24]

Key Timestamps

• 00:30–03:50: House vote to overturn Trump tariffs
• 04:12: “The dam has broken…Trump is losing...” – Ben
• 06:36: Trump attacks Canada after BC tragedy
• 07:10: Don Bacon on Article 1 Constitutional authority
• 07:55: CBO data – U.S. consumers bear 95% of tariff costs
• 09:55–11:07: Maga Mike's response, House GOP positions, veto talk
• 12:09–12:23: Johnson defends Trump's DOJ actions
• 14:49–16:12: CNN on U.S./Canada public sentiment and Trump
• 16:48–17:29: Supreme Court prediction on tariffs

Tone & Takeaways

• The Meiselas brothers maintain a mix of sharp humor and serious analysis, emphasizing the historic and bipartisan rebuke of Trump’s economic policies.
• They highlight the real economic cost of tariffs to everyday Americans, call out GOP hypocrisy and Trump’s erratic statements, and repeatedly center the episode around the importance of Congressional authority over taxes and trade.
• The episode also highlights how Trump’s international antagonism—especially toward Canada—is both unpopular and counterproductive.

Bottom Line:
This episode demonstrates a significant moment of Congressional resistance to Trump’s influence, underscores the real-world consequences of his trade policies, and exposes cracks forming within the GOP—presented with the MeidasTouch blend of wit, data, and democratic fervor.