Whoa!! GOP Hearing Goes Off the Rails… Dems Respond

Summary

The MeidasTouch Podcast: "Whoa!! GOP Hearing Goes Off the Rails… Dems Respond" Release Date: May 8, 2025

In this episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, hosts Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas delve into the chaos of a recent GOP congressional hearing titled "Unfair Play: Keeping Men out of Women's Sports." The hearing, chaired by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, became a focal point for the brothers as they dissected the tactics and implications of the proceedings.

1. Introduction to the Hearing and Initial Impressions

Ben Miceli sets the stage by highlighting the contentious nature of the hearing. He emphasizes that the focus was on USA Fencing, an organization that “receives literally zero federal funding” (01:32). With Marjorie Taylor Greene at the helm, Ben anticipates that the session would quickly become unruly.

Ben Miceli ([01:32]): "This hearing went off the rails very quickly."

2. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Dominance and Disruption

The heart of the episode revolves around Greene's disruptive behavior during the hearing. Ben points out her tendency to monopolize the session, making it difficult for Democrats to reclaim their time and ask substantive questions.

Ben Miceli ([04:36]): "She's always completely unhinged. So bizarre. Yeah. Who are the weirdos there? Marjorie Taylor Greene, you may want to look in the mirror."

Clips from the hearing illustrate Greene repeatedly banging her gavel to silence Democratic members, underscoring her aggressive approach.

Unknown Commentator ([02:16] & [04:47]): "Madam Chair, this hearing will come to order."

3. Misrepresentation and Attacks on USA Fencing’s Chairman

A significant portion of the episode addresses the GOP's targeted attack on Damien LaFelt, the chairman of USA Fencing. Ben accuses the Republicans of manipulating images and facts to discredit LaFelt.

Ben Miceli ([06:37]): "This is how deceitful and devious these MAGA Republicans are."

A critical clip showcases LaFelt clarifying that "USA Fencing doesn't receive a penny in federal funding" (11:05), which Ben uses to highlight the absurdity of the committee's focus.

Damien LaFelt ([11:05]): "USA Fencing doesn't receive a penny in federal funding."

4. The 'Trump or Trans' Tactic by Democrats

Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett employs a controversial tactic dubbed "Trump or Trans," aiming to juxtapose policies and figure out their impacts.

Jasmine Crockett (03:00): "Let's call it Trump or Trans, and let's see who's really hurting the American people here."

This segment showcases the polarized strategies within the hearing, as Democrats attempt to navigate the hostile environment set by Republicans.

5. Focus on LGBTQ+ Issues Over Genuine Oversight

Ben criticizes the committee for prioritizing LGBTQ+ issues and the scandal involving transgender fencing over pressing matters like economic policies and healthcare.

Ben Miceli ([12:26]): "Republicans are so obsessed with demonizing trans people that we are wasting time in our government efficiency committee talking about trans people like fencing."

He further highlights Republican Representative Nancy Mace's excessive focus on transgender issues, questioning the committee's priorities.

Ben Miceli ([13:02]): "Nancy Mace was saying, oh I'm for the LGBTQ community. [...] She posts this crap over and over again."

6. Broader Implications: MAGA Republicans’ Strategy

The episode concludes with Ben's broader critique of the MAGA Republican approach, asserting that they manipulate issues to divert attention from significant governmental and economic challenges.

Ben Miceli ([17:31]): "Why are you bullying transgender people? Go spend your time doing something else, like maybe actually making trade deals or making the economy work for everyone."

He emphasizes that the fixation on marginal issues like fencing and transgender policies distracts from critical topics such as:

• Protecting Social Security
• Lowering living costs
• Ensuring affordable healthcare
• Addressing housing and economic stability

7. Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Ben wraps up the episode by urging listeners to stay informed and engaged, highlighting the importance of understanding the manipulation within political hearings.

Ben Miceli ([22:14]): "Donald Trump does not get to decide what the law is. [...] It runs totally counter to the very fundamental nature of our constitutional and democratic values."

He encourages the audience to subscribe and support the podcast's mission to promote democracy and hold leaders accountable.

---

Key Takeaways:

• Disruptive Leadership: Marjorie Taylor Greene's aggressive control of the hearing impeded constructive dialogue.
• Misplaced Focus: The committee's attention on USA Fencing and LGBTQ+ issues is viewed as a strategic distraction from more pressing governmental concerns.
• Manipulative Tactics: Allegations of image manipulation and misrepresentation highlight the contentious nature of current political hearings.
• Broader Critique: The episode underscores a belief that MAGA Republicans are diverting attention from economic and social issues by targeting marginalized communities.

Notable Quotes:

• Ben Miceli ([01:32]): "This hearing went off the rails very quickly."
• Damien LaFelt ([11:05]): "USA Fencing doesn't receive a penny in federal funding."
• Jasmine Crockett ([03:00]): "Let's call it Trump or Trans, and let's see who's really hurting the American people here."
• Ben Miceli ([17:31]): "Why are you bullying transgender people? Go spend your time doing something else..."

This episode provides a critical examination of recent GOP strategies in congressional hearings, emphasizing the need for balanced oversight and the dangers of political manipulation.

Transcript

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[Ben Miceli]

Yeah, this hearing went off the rails very quickly. Marjorie Taylor Greene is the chairwoman of the Doge Committee here. The hearing that was held was called Unfair Play Keeping Men out of Women's Sports, and it focused on USA Fencing, which receives literally zero federal funding. And you know with Marjorie Taylor Greene as the chairwoman of this committee, that it was going to go off the rails and get unhinged very, very quickly. So she just takes her gavel and just starts banging it over and over again as Democrats are just trying to reclaim their time and ask questions. Watch how unhinged Marjorie Taylor Greene is here. Play this clip.

[Unknown Commentator]

Stand with you with the LGBTQ + community. We stand with you. And you can raise your eardrums all you want, Madam Chair, but we stand with the LGBTQ + community. Community.

[Ben Miceli]

Well, she's always completely unhinged. So bizarre. Yeah. Who are the weirdos there? Marjorie Taylor Greene, you may want to look in the mirror. I want to show you this moment Here, though, where Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett had the most incredible series of questioning. She said, okay, let's play a game. Congresswoman Crockett said. She goes, let's call it Trump or Trans, and let's see who's really hurting the American people here. Play this clip.

[Jasmine Crockett]

So, Ms. Goss Graves, I want to play a game. It's called Trump or Trans. You ready?

[Unknown Commentator]

Okay.

[Jasmine Crockett]

So I'm going to ask you a question, and I want you to tell me whether or not it is Trump or trans people that are responsible. You understand?

[Unknown Participant]

Got it.

[Jasmine Crockett]

Okay, Very good. The first one. Good at medical research.

[Unknown Commentator]

Trump.

[Jasmine Crockett]

Kidnapping Americans and sending them to foreign countries, AKA deporting them.

[Unknown Commentator]

Trump.

[Jasmine Crockett]

Driving us into a recession.

[Unknown Commentator]

Trump.

[Jasmine Crockett]

Increasing the cost of everything.

[Unknown Commentator]

Trump.

[Jasmine Crockett]

Waging an idiotic tariff war.

[Unknown Commentator]

Trump.

[Jasmine Crockett]

Harming farmers.

[Unknown Commentator]

Trump.

[Jasmine Crockett]

Ignoring the Constitution.

[Unknown Commentator]

Trump.

[Jasmine Crockett]

Proposing to take away Social Security.

[Unknown Commentator]

Trump.

[Jasmine Crockett]

Cutting health care.

[Unknown Commentator]

Trump.

[Jasmine Crockett]

Firing government workers who keep our country safe.

[Unknown Commentator]

Trump.

[Jasmine Crockett]

Encouraging an environment of hate and divisiveness.

[Unknown Commentator]

Trump.

[Jasmine Crockett]

Thank you so much. This committee could be engaged in actual oversight of fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement. So let's talk about waste. Like Trump's plan to spend almost $100 million for his little birthday parade or how he spent 25% of his first 100 days golfing, costing taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. In fact, it's a little bit over 30 million at our last estimation. In fact, President Trump is on pace to spend more than a billion dollars of taxpayer dollars just on golfing. Yet the Republicans have been silent, so they must think spending taxpayer dollars on the president's golfing trips is more important than providing health care to their constituents. And when I talk about constituents, we don't talk about the ones on this committee.

[Ben Miceli]

And then over here, more Marjorie Taylor Greene yelling at Democratic Congress members and saying, you're taking my time. You don't have the ability to speak. Just watch how odd this is. Play this clip.

[Unknown Commentator]

The gentle is expired. Want to acknowledge your. The gentle lady's time is expired. I now recognize. Ms. Mlan allocated. You took a minute of my time wasting my time on a non. Point of order. The gentle lady's time has expired. I now recognize running during the. Point of order. Your time was not wasted. And to the trans. We stand with you. With the LGBTQ + community. We stand with you. And you can eard drums all you want, Madam Chair, but we stand with the LGBTQ + community. And you can gavel me to order this. This hearing will come to order. This hearing will come to order. Madam Chair, this hearing Will come to order. Madam Chair, this hearing will come to order. I now recognize Mlan. Thank you, Madam Chair.

[Ben Miceli]

And yeah, this committee that Marjorie Taylor Green sharing goes more off the rails. Let's play this clip.

[Unknown Commentator]

Thank you, madam.

[Damien LaFelt]

Let me tell you, Madam Chair, I.

[Ben Miceli]

Had a point of order. Could we just have the timekeeper, you know, log the time between both the Democrats and Republicans, and then we rebalanced them so that we each have equal time? That's. That's pretty basic.

[Unknown Commentator]

Well, we will. We will consider that. Thank you. No, no, no, no. You took a minute of my time. That's not a suggestion.

[Ben Miceli]

Those are the rules.

[Unknown Commentator]

Enough, enough.

[Ben Miceli]

No, no, no, no.

[Unknown Commentator]

You're wasting your time. That's fine.

[Ben Miceli]

Either we go.

[Unknown Commentator]

By the way, we're keeping equal time.

[Ben Miceli]

We're out of here.

[Unknown Commentator]

We're keeping equal time. Ms. McClain from Michigan is now recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. Let me tell you what I'm here for now.

[Ben Miceli]

There was one moment as well, and this just shows you how deceitful these MAGA Republicans are. So one of the people who were subpoenaed to show up is a guy named Damien LaFelt, and he's the chairman of the board of USA Fencing. Now, you may say USA Fencing, but what the hell are they even doing here? Well, one of the state regime, media, Fox things that they were pushing was like two years ago or something that there was a transgender fencing person, and that the transgender fencing person was this major scandal. So this was on Fox all of the time. So as a result of Fox basically doxing this chairman of USA Fencing because there was a. I think one transgender fencing person. I don't think it was even recently. This guy got death threats. LA felt got death threats over and over again. The head of USA Fencing, so they subpoena him to try to attack him, and then they try to defame him. So the MAGA Republicans show a photo of him that makes it look like he's giving the camera the middle finger, but they manipulate the image where if you actually look at what the image is, you'll see that he was showing two fingers, but they chop it off so it looks like he's giving the middle finger. This is how deceitful and devious these MAGA Republicans are. Play this clip now.

[Unknown Commentator]

One big fight. Martha has been over a picture of the chairman.

[Ben Miceli]

Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene actually brought it.

[Unknown Commentator]

Up during the hearing. And Democrats said this was a big misrepresent represent representation.

[Ben Miceli]

Watch this.

[Unknown Commentator]

Mr. Lael came in here today saying that this is game day. You're right, Mr. Lelt. This is game day. The document that you have up behind you is a misrepresentation of the actual post. It appears that you're trying to misrepresent a witness here who you use subpoena power.

[Ben Miceli]

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[Damien LaFelt]

Now, this committee is supposed to be about saving taxpayer dollars. And let's be really clear, Mr. Layfeld, USA Fencing doesn't receive large taxpayer funded grants and doesn't really receive federal funding. Is that correct, sir?

[Ben Miceli]

We do not receive a penny in federal funding.

[Damien LaFelt]

So you don't receive a penny of federal funding. And we're spending our time in a government efficiency committee debating a fencing tournament and your association, that of you, which receive no federal dollars.

[Ben Miceli]

So what the hell is this government efficiency doing? They're spending their time going after USA Fencing, which is not subsidized by the federal government at all. This is what they're spending our taxpayer money on. While you are suffering, while. While people are living paycheck to paycheck, while mortgage rates are close to 7%, while inflation is on the rise again as we're heading towards stagflation, as our GDP is shrinking, as frickin Donald Trump and all these MAGA morons are out there saying that you should only get $1 and 5 pencils for your little girl or granddaughter and that she needs to pay more for it because why would she want more than one toy or whatever the hell they're talking about? This is what they're focused on. Democratic Congressmember Garcia had an important point to make here as well. Let's play this clip.

[Damien LaFelt]

People are aware there is some bipartisan consensus. Here's a quote from one of my Republican colleagues who's actually on this committee today, which I want to read. I find it encouraging. It says, I strongly support LGBTQ rights and equality. No one should be discriminated against. I have friends and family that identify as lgbtq. Understanding how they feel and how they've been treated is important. Having been around gay, lesbian and transgender people has informed my opinion over my lifetime. Now, Ms. Goss Graves, do you know who said this by any chance?

[Unknown Commentator]

I don't know.

[Damien LaFelt]

This was actually Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who I know waved onto our committee today. Now, Madam Chair, I'd like to insert into the record this article on CNN that says titled Nancy Mace now targeting Transgender Lawmaker, calls herself Pro transgender rights in 2023. Madam Chairwoman.

[Unknown Commentator]

Without objection.

[Damien LaFelt]

Thank you. Now, Congresswoman Mace of Course is here today. Now, in November of just last year, Congresswoman Mace posted 326 times on social media about trans people and their access to bathrooms in just one 72 hour period. That's a fact. So I'd like to introduce another article from Newsweek, and it's entitled, this is the title. Nancy mace has posted 326 times in the last 72 hours about bathrooms. Madam Chair, can I introduce this into the record?

[Unknown Commentator]

Without objection.

[Damien LaFelt]

Thank you. I point this out because it's actually important context. Republicans accuse Democrats of focusing too much on on LGBTQ + issues or trans issues. But we want to talk about protecting Social Security. We want to talk about protecting the cost of living. We want to talk about lowering prices. We want to make sure that all people have health care. But Republicans are so obsessed with demonizing trans people that we are wasting time in our government efficiency committee talking about trans people that like fencing.

[Ben Miceli]

Yeah. He showed the words of Nancy Mace because once upon a time, when she was pretending to to be a centrist in her district in South Carolina, before it was gerrymandered to be one of the most extreme MAGA Republican districts, Nancy Mace was saying, oh, I'm for the LGBTQ community. Of course I am. Now she posts what. What do you say? 347 times in a day, anti trans, anti LGBTQ stuff. And here she is post like, this is weird behavior. Set aside politics. This is weird human behavior. This is not how people behave. And she goes spotted in Austin all gender restroom on a recent trip to Texas. No, there are only two. Hold the line. Biology isn't bigotry. This is what she does. She posts this crap over and over again. She got community noted. This is a single occupancy ambulant toilet, which is a lockable door. These are also known as disabled toilets. What are you taking pictures of and posting yourself of this? Why are you bullying transgender people? Why are you bullying gay people? What? Go spend your time doing something else, like maybe actually making trade deals or making the economy work for everyone. Maybe just focus your fricking time on dealing with housing so that people don't have to work multiple jobs to live paycheck to paycheck. But if they work one job, they can get paid with dignity and they can afford a house and they can afford their mortgage and they don't have to worry about living paycheck to pay. Why don't you guys focus on those issues then maybe once you get through the basics, if you want to start talking about USA fencing, let's let's go through a bunch of other issues first, shall we? Right there. Here's Congressmember Cassar. Let's play this clip.

[Unknown Participant]

So, of course, Republicans on the Government Efficiency Committee are holding an emergency hearing on semi pro fence fencing. Not fences like the kind that goes around a building, but like the sport with the swords. And I've knocked on thousands of doors and talked to thousands of Republican, independent and Democratic voters in my career, and not a single time has someone flung open their door and said, thank God you're here, Congressman, I want to ask you about transgender people fencing. It's just never happened. I've never even met a fencer before. I've just seen it on the Parent Trap. I'm sure it's a great sport, but what the hell are we doing here? Seriously? We are here because Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene thinks that if she picks on vulnerable people like trans folks, she can avoid having a discussion about the allegations of insider trading against her. She thinks that she can distract from the fact that Trump and MAGA Republicans are raising your costs every single day, suppressing your wages every single day, stealing your taxpayer dollars every single day and threatening your health care. That's the reason we're at this crazy hearing today.

[Ben Miceli]

And of course, the MAGA Republican Congress members like here, Congressmember Fallon basically, though, goes and attacks the head of USA Fencing here for not being transparent. Here, play this clip right here for transparency. Let's go. Did you recently change your social media profile from public to private? I did, sir. Okay. Was that before or after you got when that you might end up being here today?

[Unknown Commentator]

That was around the time that I.

[Ben Miceli]

Was receiving death threats and anti Semitic messages. Also happened to be right after you found out that you might be here, correct?

[Unknown Commentator]

I can't recall, sir, specifically when I went private.

[Ben Miceli]

4-4-14Th. And you did it after. So I'm going to give you another F2 counts for transparency. Let's talk about more Marjorie Taylor Greene attacking Congresswoman Crockett. Let's show you this clip right here.

[Unknown Commentator]

Now, let's. Let's go. Let's go a little bit further with this.

[Jasmine Crockett]

Madam Chairwoman, your time has expired.

[Unknown Commentator]

You're not recognized. Ms. Crockett, Mr. Leel, you wrote a blog post where you said that one day your daughter.

[Ben Miceli]

Madam Chair, on a point of order.

[Unknown Commentator]

This is my time and I'm the chair.

[Ben Miceli]

No, that was your time. Your time is over. And now we're asking a week.

[Unknown Commentator]

The chair has discretion. I have lost.

[Ben Miceli]

As long as we have that understanding that's fine.

[Unknown Commentator]

I've lost time.

[Ben Miceli]

I yield two and a half minutes to the chair, lady, Mr. Lefell Maga, Republican Congresswoman McClain also kind of going through this saying like you're living in a fake reality or whatever the hell she's talking about here. Play this clip.

[Unknown Commentator]

The issue that I have for the young girls is you can live in your reality. You can live in your reality, but when your reality intrudes on my safety and puts another person at harm or in harm's way, that's when I have a problem with it.

[Ben Miceli]

Now, if you go to another committee hitting committee hearing that was taking place as well, you have Andy bit, you have Andy Biggs, who's chairing this committee over here attacking Democratic Congressmember Goldman. Let me show you this when he's banging the gavel over and over again as well. Let's play this clip right here. Finish answering the question. You attack to reclaim. You have no additional time. You are out of order.

[Unknown Congressman]

He's answering.

[Ben Miceli]

Quiet. You are out of order.

[Unknown Congressman]

I would like to reclaim.

[Ben Miceli]

You cannot. No, he's answering the question because you personally attacked him. I've said he can answer the question. We, I give that courtesy.

[Unknown Congressman]

I personally attack him, Mr. Chairman, you attacked his credibility.

[Ben Miceli]

We're not going to get into, we're not getting, we're not getting into this right now.

[Unknown Congressman]

What we're going to get witness this credibility matter.

[Ben Miceli]

Sir, you are out of order. You are out of order. You're done. You can't say anything else right now. Then finally we got to hear from Democratic Congressmember Goldman about how he feels about that hearing. Let's play this clip right here.

[Unknown Commentator]

This interview over the weekend that he doesn't know if he would uphold, should.

[Ben Miceli]

Uphold the Constitution in the situation with due process with undocumented immigrants. What's your reaction to what the president said this morning?

[Unknown Congressman]

Look, I think this is so misguided. The notion that because he won an election that he should be able to ignore the Constitution or violate our laws is preposterous. Every president wins an election. That does not mean that they get to just make up whatever laws they want and decide which ones they're going to comply with and which ones they aren't. Donald Trump does not get to decide what the law is. The Supreme Court and the judiciary does, as well as immigration judges for deportation cases. And so the issue here is he wants to use the alien Enemies Act 1798 law from a completely different era that says only those who represent, who are essentially soldiers for a different country in wartime can be removed from this country. But there hasn't been established in any way, shape or form that there's any war that Venezuela is waging on us. In fact, the intelligence community has determined that Venezuela is not directly supporting the Trendabra, the gang, the foreign terrorist organization that's been designated now. So there is no factual basis to think that the Alien Enemies act should apply. And for Donald Trump to just say, oh well, I won in my election, therefore I get to determine what the Alien Enemies act says is preposterous. It runs totally counter to the very fundamental nature of our constitutional and democratic values.

[Ben Miceli]

Well, there you have it folks. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 5 million subscribers and thank you all for watching. Have a good one. Can't get enough Midas? Check out the Midas plus substack for ad. Free articles, reports, podcasts, daily recaps from Ron Filipkowski and more. Sign up for free [e-mail].