B (8:06)

We are likely going to run out of food before you get to the front of the line. So this is our pantry network. Additional places to access food will be back next week. I'm so sorry. All right, thank you. Thank you.

A (8:19)

And so while that was taking place, here was Donald Trump doing his dance, his Jeffrey Epstein Dance in Malaysia. Here, play this. CL and while Donald Trump was whining during his speech in Malaysia also, why the hell is he in Malaysia? This is the first time in American history that a United States president has abandoned the country during a government shutdown. He refuses to speak with Democrats and he has ordered the maga. Republicans do not talk to Democrats yet alone negotiate with Democrats, have no contact. And everybody who took fifth grade government or watched Schoolhouse Rock to know that the way our country has to operate with the government, the parties are supposed to talk to each other. And when Trump orders the magazine, don't talk to Democrats while Trump builds his grotesque golden ballroom, that's what happens in our country. Here, watch Donald Trump talking about in Malaysia, by the way, that he was whining about. Oh, the, the, the escalators weren't working at the United nations. And, and oh, you know, the, the teleprompter wasn't working. Well, here, play this clip.

B (9:37)

I won't forget that day because it was one of the first wars that I got involved in. And I love doing it. I love, it's one, it's like, I shouldn't say it's a hobby because it's so much more serious than a hobby, but it's something that I'm good at and it's something I love to do. The United nations should be doing this, but they don't do it. You know, they don't do it. They turned off my teleprompter when I made a speech. I had to make a speech without a teleprompter. They're good at that. The escalator wasn't working too well. It came to a complete halt.

A (10:07)

And while Americans are starving, Donald Trump lies and claims that he's brought in $20 trillion. He says with the tariffs, he's already brought in 17, he'll be bringing in 20 trillions. All of this is a lie, by the way. He's brought in nothing close to this. We've run the biggest deficits ever. Right now the deficit is 7% higher year over year now than under former President Biden. But here's Donald Trump claiming that $20 trillion of investments are in. All of this is a lie. Play this clip.

B (10:39)

Critical minerals and other industries. The United States is having its golden age. Last year we were a country that was doing very poorly under a different semi leadership. I don't even go to leadership. But this year we're doing numbers that, that nobody ever thought it was possible for any country to do will be at the end of my first year, over $20 trillion worth of investment into the United States. There's no country anywhere that's ever done anything close to that. The United States last year for the four years it was announced, did less than $1 trillion. And we're going to be doing over 20. That's quite a difference.

A (11:23)

And by the way, the areas that are often getting hit the hardest are red states that have voted for Trump, like here in Clinton, Missouri. CBS Evening News reports that rural food bank lines are some of the biggest throughout the country. Here, play this clip. If you want to know how big of a problem hunger is in rural America, spend time at a mobile food bank.

B (11:45)

It's 90% of what I consume.

A (11:48)

74 year old Lorna hall made sure to be the first at this line in Clinton, Missouri. You've been here since last night? Yeah. It's that important to get what you need? Yes.

B (11:59)

And I don't keep the car running. I can't afford the gas.

A (12:03)

I'll take you to a Washington D.C. food bank line right here. Play this clip.

B (12:08)

How you doing today, Sir? In southeast D.C. this food bank line just for federal workers, you have to have your government ID stretches around the block. Many furloughed federal employees like Anthony Speight now waiting hours for help.

A (12:22)

I have children to feed.

B (12:24)

I have a family to take care of. I have a mortgage to pay. So it's a lot of uncertainty.

A (12:29)

Here's another food bank line of federal workers just so you can see for yourself. Play this clip.

B (12:34)

Some of them are lining up at food banks like this one in Alexandria, Virginia. This line goes around the block and they pretty much turn, circle around here. You want to follow me? And then they wait and they get one of these boxes delivered into their car. There's only about 300 boxes today. And the concern is that in the future, especially as SNAP benefits expire, more and more people will be showing up to events and they won't be able to get their supplies. We talked to federal workers about how they're feeling about all this. It's very emotional right now, seriously, because it's impacting so many people in so many different places. And I don't think the administration truly knows what the country is really going through from a federal employees perspective. They truly don't.

A (13:21)

They sit there and say that they.

B (13:22)

Do, but they don't. Honestly, I didn't know I'd ever be here. You know, I think like with federal job, you expect a lot of security. And my family's been working either civilian positions or military positions in the government. And it feels like, you know, that's kind of a job that you can just do and be in a very stable financial place. So having to be in this situation now, it's been very different. It's been a surprise.

A (13:50)

And here's another line right here. Play this clip.

B (13:53)

Federal funding for food programs like SNAP and WIC in danger of running dry.

A (13:57)

By the end of the month to.

B (13:59)

Last all the way for the next month, even to cover December. It won't. We will be starving. Our NBC affiliate in Kansas City breaks down what that assistance looks like for the 41 million Americans who rely on the program. I'm Megan Abundance grocery shopping in south Kansas City. This cart full of staples, some fresh produce, fresh fruit, some meat and bread represents what the average, average person on SNAP benefits or food stamps can afford for an entire week. The national average benefit for a breakdown per person per week is about 46 to $74. That's what we've spent here, $48.68 for this cart full of groceries. How you doing, ma'? Am?

A (14:43)

You can choose one item.

B (14:44)

With no end to the shutdown in sight, many now preparing for what could be a long road ahead. To put. What can I do about it but just keep pushing forward? As they say, push until something happens.

A (14:57)

A food bank employee told MSNBC that in her entire life working at food banks, she can never remember where the shelves have been so empty while the demand has been so high. Americans are literally starving to death. Here. Play this clip.

B (15:15)

I can't remember a time when our shelves have been so empty. I mean, over the last nine months, I mean, we've been seeing prices raised pretty high. And so families are already struggling. So when you take that additional money away, food is going to become scarce. And I think families are also going to have to make difficult choices because you can't, if you can't eat it, you can't buy it. So think about hygiene products, toilet paper, all of those things that you're using a limited budget for now. Now you're going to have to split those things with food.

A (15:46)

And as California Governor Gavin Newsom said, reflecting on all of this, he goes, trump is an invasive species, an invasive species. He's here to literally be a wrecking ball and destroy our country and destroy the world. And we must stand up to him. Play this clip. I mean, he's an invasive species for.

B (16:08)

California, for the country, for the world. He's a wrecking ball. Not just the symbolism and substance of the East Wing. He's wrecking alliances. Truth, trust, tradition, institutions.

A (16:21)

Congresswoman Pine Gris, she explains what's going on with these SNAP benefits. Here. Play this clip right here.

B (16:28)

The announcement that SNAP benefits would be cut is unconscionable in my opinion. And I just want to be 100% clear. We are not cutting SNAP because we are shut down. We are cutting SNAP because the administration had decided not to spend the reserves at the USDA in November and to deny people their benefits. So we have the money. We don't have to do any fancy, you know, complicated thing that we can't do during a shutdown. There's $5 billion there in reserves, in case you haven't heard. We had $20 billion to give to Argentina and we're building a new ballroom on the White House. So we seem to have plenty of money these days. We just have decided not to do that. And that's one of the cruelest things I've ever witnessed happening because as you heard, there are people who are already getting close to the end of the month and saying, but I've only got 30 bucks left, but what am I going to do? And to put the fear in people while there's a political debate going on in Washington. Again, that's not a topic for today. But I just want to be clear. It is going on right now and we've got the money to do it. We can absolutely fund SNAP benefits.

A (17:30)

Also, while Donald Trump was out there in Malaysia, the prime minister of Malaysia was, I guess, joking with Donald Trump about going to prison. Here, play this clip.

B (17:42)

And to achieve that, you have to break some rules, as you did today. When president arrived, he asked me to join him in the car.

A (17:53)

I said, that's against the security and protocol rules.

B (17:56)

And he was delighted to break the rules. And I, it was a nice ride.

A (18:04)

And we share a lot of things in common. I was in prison, but he almost got there.

B (18:11)

But very good exchanges on a number of issues.

A (18:16)

But don't worry, everybody. Donald Trump's Treasury Secretary, Scott Besant says that he's suffering, too. He wants everybody to know that actually he's a soybean farmer. Yeah, Bessence is soybean farmer, everybody. And he suffers like the other soybean farmers. No, you are a landlord in North Dakota and you collect rent from farmers. That that doesn't make you a soybean farmer. You are a private equity, currency trading, almost billionaire who could care less about what 99% of Americans are going through. Here's what he had to say about being a soybean farmer play this clip.

B (19:01)

The president has also said he does want our farmers to be taken care of. You did mention that China has been boycotting American soybeans and American farmers have really suffered. Do you see a real light at the end of the tunnel there? The may allow soybeans again. Well, Martha, in case you don't know it, I'm actually a soybean farmer, so I have felt this pain too. And there are a couple of things happening here. One, the Chinese have substantially dropped their purchases to almost zero. So they unfortunately have been using American farmers who are amongst President Trump's biggest supporters. I think he had more than 90% support. And then this was one of the.

A (19:46)

Biggest crops in 20 or 30 years.

B (19:48)

So it was a perfect storm.

A (19:50)

But I think we have addressed the.

B (19:52)

Farmers concerns and I'm not going to get ahead of the President.

A (19:55)

But I believe when the announcement of.

B (19:59)

The deal with China is made public that our soybean farmers will feel very good about what's going on both for this season and the coming seasons for several.

A (20:14)

Absolutely ridiculous right there. In any event, we'll keep you posted every step of the way here on the Midas Touch Network. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 6 million and have a wonderful day. Want to stay plugged in? Become a subscriber to our substack@midasplus.com you'll get daily recaps from Ron Filipkowski, ad free episodes of our podcast and more exclusive content only available@midasplus.com.