The MeidasTouch Podcast - GOP Witnesses Lose Control Under Cross-Exam at Hearing

Episode Date: June 12, 2025

MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on Republican witnesses like Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth getting destroyed under cross examination by Democrats who finally came to fight. Get you FREE Quote today at https://SelectQuote/meidas com today! Visit https://meidasplus.com for more! Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast The Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Coalition of the Sane: https://meidasnews.com/tag/coalition-of-the-sane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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underdog win, buzzer beater, shootout, walk-off, and absolutely every play in between is amazing. From football to basketball and hockey to baseball, Democrats going on the offense in the House of Representatives and the Senate, cross-examining Trump's cabinet members, putting them in their place, exposing them on live TV during these hearings. I want to show you what went down in both the House and the Senate. So you had Donald Trump's Treasury Secretary, Scott Besson, testifying before the House of Representatives Democratic Congress member Gomez starts off by saying, how are you doing Treasury Secretary Scott Besson?

Because I heard that Elon Musk rugby style, what checked you, he checked you in your gut as they got into a physical fight. Here's what went down. Play this clip. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Secretary, how are you doing? So far, so good. Okay. I was just curious because I know Elon Musk body checked you at the White House. I just know I know, I see Elon Musk. You know that? That's what I heard.

So you believe what you read on Breitbart is what you're telling this congressman. I didn't know. If it's too sensitive for you, I won't ask that question, but let me move on. I will take South Carolina over South Africa any day. Yeah, go for it. Just call out these people to their face. And I love Democratic Congress member Tom Swasey from New York's third congressional district, using his questioning to show that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Donald Trump go against literally every single expert and economist in the United States and the world. This is how it's done with good cross-examining.

Play this clip. Now you don't agree with the CBO. We've heard that several times. You also disagree with the Committee for Responsible Budget, who said that there's going to be a $3 trillion deficit from this. You disagree with that also, right? And you disagree with the Yale Budget Lab. You went to Yale. You don't agree with the Yale Budget Lab. They say there's going to be a $3 trillion deficit from this. Do you disagree with them also? There are a lot of things I disagree with Yale on these things.

You disagree with the Penn-Warton budget model, who said there's going to be a $3 trillion deficit from this bill? Yes. Do you disagree with Elon Musk, who you supposedly do get along with now? It will massively increase the already gigantic deficit to $2.5 trillion and burden American citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt. Do you disagree with Mr. Musk on that issue? Yes.

Do you disagree with Ray Dalio who said that this is unsustainable? I agree with Ray Dalio that we need to get our fiscal house in order. Do you disagree with Jamie Dimon, who says this is going to cause a crack in the bond markets? I met with Mr. Dimon the other day, and he wasn't necessarily referring to government finances. Well, he said there's going to be a crack that's going to take place in either six months or six years. Let's ask you the question that I think we all want to know. Like, aren't you just embarrassed with your life? Scott Besant, Treasury Secretary Besant, aren't you just

embarrassed and shamed to just be you right now and have to come up here and lie and act like the GDP is doing great when it's actually, we were in a contraction of our economy last quarter. Here, play this clip. The administration is in retreat from key policy areas. I want to say, given your successful past, isn't this embarrassing? Is there a question there, sir? There's a question. Isn't this embarrassing? Oh, is it embarrassing? Well, I'm sorry, Congressman, but you seem not to have seen the economic data.

The GDP growth has been quite substantial. Job growth is solid. GDP growth is half what it was last year, sir. Job growth is solid. Job growth is a third what it was all last year, sir. No, no, no. And private sector job growth, especially. And if you'd like to talk about inflation, would you? The inflation has been coming down. The inflation is good so far.

We will see every economic thing I read, which is much every day, suggest the impact of the tariffs is not yet. Well, why don't we look at the data rather than the hysteria, which is how I made my career. So while the Democrats were doing that, you had the MAGA Republicans like Marjorie Taylor Greene delivering speeches like the following play this clip. He is now being charged on multiple felony counts for human trafficking. As a matter of fact, we're thrilled to bring him back and prosecute him and make you guys

continue to own them. Remember he's your Maryland man. Enough of that. Going back to the Democrats, here's Democratic Congresswoman Sowell. And here she is questioning Treasury Secretary Scott Besant and just watch what he does. And then she just is like, did I just hear what you said? Here, play this clip. The last question that I was asked to ask you was, when will we hit the debt ceiling?

I know that this big beautiful bill also means a debt, an increase in the debt ceiling. And frankly, I heard you say that that is something that's an imperative. I would agree with that. When do we foresee us hitting the debt ceiling? Congresswoman, I want to congratulate you. You have a very sophisticated constituency to ask questions like this. That the so-called ex-date is a- With all due respect, just because you're poor doesn't mean you're ignorant.

As I said, very sophisticated. Yeah. So just can you answer the question? mean you're ignorant. As I said, very sophisticated. Yeah, it was a habit of saying thank you to compliments that the so-called X date is a moving target. So when do you for I mean, you're the you're the Secretary of Treasury. So tell me, when do you predict, given where we are right now, will we hit the ceiling? Some point in the middle to late summer. Is that August, July? Again, it is imprecise.

Well, sir, I just think that it is an abomination that we are actually giving bigger tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans who don't need a tax cut. The gentlewoman's time is expired. Meanwhile, we're taking away food assistance and healthcare from people who desperately need it. The gentlewoman's time is expired.

Thank you and I yield back. So you have that taking place. Then meanwhile, you have Marjorie Taylor Greene on the house floor doing this. Play this clip. Take for example, their favorite MS-13 gang member, Kilmar Arbrego Garcia. This MS-13 gang member, Wifebeater, was deported to El Salvador for countless violations of our laws. Democrats labeled him wrongfully deported Maryland man, Obu Hu, and they flew to El Salvador to meet with him.

Thank you. And Democrats couldn't wait to go on vacation to go down and pretend like they cared about this MS-13 gang member like they really actually do. No more of that. Democratic Congresswoman Plaskett said the following to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent when he tried to talk over her play this clip. We have seen since January 20th that the stark market overall has gone down 1.3% and gas has gone up. Ma'am, that's incorrect. Excuse me. Let me get something straight with you first here. I've seen you interrupt everyone. When you come to someone's house, you respect their

rules. And in this house, we don't interrupt individuals. And you're not going to interrupt my time. I'm going to give you time to respond. You may want to jot down some notes about things that you don't agree with me on so that you can respond to them at that time. But while I'm speaking, as the person holding this time, you will refrain from speaking, sir, until I am done. Until I'm done, and then I will give you time to speak. OK? Look forward to the facts.

Thank you. I'll look forward to your response, whether they're factual or incorrect either. Back to Democratic Congress member Gomez. Let's play it. The big billionaire bill, because it benefits mainly billionaires at the expense of working people. You're cutting their healthcare.

You're making sure that they're either going to be paying more than 20 billion over the next 10 years if you're making 30,000 or less. And you guys are don't care. And I think you don't care. Well, because your net worth is $521 million. Okay, your time has expired. That would be a false assumption. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.

That would be a false assumption. I think the people who didn't care were the Biden administration, who wiped out working families and lost in a massive referendum on November 5th. I would like to remind the committee that this is the Ways and Means Committee and have discussions on policies, not personalities. And don't call another member out by their name.

If you're referring to another member, you say what state they're from. That is the roles of this committee. Thank you. And then here we have Treasury Secretary Scott Besant admitting that Trump will likely extend the pause on his tariffs past the July 90-day tariff deadline. Remember 90 days, that's it. 90 deals in 90 days. Watch what Treasury Secretary Scott Besesson says play this clip.

He gave an answer that was frankly all over the place and difficult to understand. We're less than a month away from Liberation Day part two. Very few of the trade deals have been announced yet. I think most people in Congress and around the world would like to know what's going on. Should America be preparing for Liberation Day 2.0? Should we plan, what do we plan for January, July 9th, and July 2nd? I would say, as I have repeatedly said, that there are 18 important trading partners.

We are working toward deals on those. And it is highly likely that those countries that are negotiating or trading blocs, as in the case of the EU, If you're like me, instead of learning to skateboard, you wish you were learning to write code. And instead of scraping through college, you wish you bought Bitcoin at less than a cent or secured a few Nvidia shares before they boomed. We might be the FOMO generation, but don't miss out on protecting your future. For around the same price per month as one of your streaming services, you can break

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Here's his questioning of Treasury Secretary Scott Besant. Brilliant. Play this clip. Treasury and state were rolling out new sanctions designations every few weeks, much of last year. How many new Russian entities have you designated under your sanctions authority since January? I will get back to you with that number. The answer is zero.

How many entities worldwide have you sanctioned for doing business with Russian companies in ways that undermine our sanctions and export controls? I will get back to you with that number. I believe the answer is zero. I hope I'm wrong. I'd love it if you'd get back to me and tell me I'm wrong. But the PRC is helping Russia's defense industry by providing dual use components and advanced technologies. Last week Chancellor Mertz briefed a bipartisan group of us on Russia's alarming rearmament with help from China, Iran and North Korea. How many Chinese firms have been designated for doing work directly with Russia's defense industry? I will get back to you on that.

I will tell you that we have sanctioned numerous Chinese companies for receiving Iranian oil and we have been working on the shadow fleets are not independent. Now back to the House of Representative, Democratic Congresswoman Sanchez. Here's what she had to say. I was alarmed to hear this morning that Trump said that the US-China deal was done after just two days of talks in London. Mr. Secretary, the press release on this so-called deal looks more like a framework. Congress, who has the constitutional authority over trade, needs the details of this

supposed deal. So I'm asking if you will provide this committee with the actual details of this deal because there has been, unlike what was said earlier, there has been no consultation with our side of the aisle at least on the China negotiation. Will you commit to giving us the specifics of that deal, the details? The Congresswoman, I flew back at 4 a.m. this morning to be here this morning and we are It's a simple yes or no question. No, it is not a simple yes or no question. We are in the midst of constructing it and back to your question, China has proven an unreliable

partner in strategic... Will you commit to consulting with us on trade deal with China? Generalwoman's time has expired. I would ask the witness to answer that last question. Generalwoman's time has expired. It's a yes or no question. It's very simple. Representative, I raise many of your concerns to the Chinese delegation and Here's Congresswoman Sanchez again to Besant. did nothing. But excuse me, the question is whether or not you would be sold with members of Congress. Here's Congresswoman Sanchez again to Besant. Let's play it. Do you still believe that the president's tariffs are going to be a one-time price adjustment for American families? If prices go up, they will be one time. Okay. Well, unfortunately you appear to be talking out of both sides of your mouth because

you yourself have admitted after conversations with Walmart that some tariff costs are going to get passed on to consumers. And in fact, we've already seen that prices are rising on many everyday goods. No, Congresswoman, please don't interrupt me. The time is mine. The time is mine. Please don't interrupt me. I will ask you questions and I will grant you an opportunity to answer them, but please

don't interrupt me during my time. I know I'm a woman, but please try to limit yourself to answering my questions. No, I'm sorry, but we get talked over all the time and I don't want that to happen at this hearing. I would remind members. The gentlelady is recognized. Please proceed. Thank you. The time is mine. Oh, I love this moment when a Democratic Senator

Reid from Rhode Island cross-examining Pete Hegseth, the former Fox host, who's now somehow the secretary of defense. Let's play. There's a general understanding that you have taken possession of this Qatari aircraft, the 747, but there are public reports that Qatari's have not yet signed a memorandum of understanding which would specify that the agreement was initiated by the Trump administration and Qatar is not

responsible for any future transfers transfers the plane's ownership Are you in possession of the Qatari airplane now? Any specifics about future aircraft that could be Air Force one can't be discussed here, but sure There is a conversation about a memorandum of understanding a memorandum of understanding remains to be signed senator You have signed a contract with a company to reconfigure the aircraft. What is the price of that contract? That cannot be revealed in this setting. Why can't it be revealed in this setting?

This is the appropriation committee of the United States Senate. We appropriate the money that you will spend after it's authorized by my committee. And you cannot tell us how much the contract is for. You will have that number, Senator, it just can't be talked about in the public realm. You want it now. The contract has been signed, correct? The contract has been signed? The memorandum of understanding is not complete and therefore it's not complete. No, no, I'm talking about the contract with the American contractor. Has it been signed? It's nothing on that front that I'm aware of as being executed.

Well, that's contrary to what we've all heard. Second thing, what's the delivery time in the contract? Again, the delivery time of anything of that sensitive nature is not for public consumption. Can you tell me the delivery time for the Boeing aircraft that were being prepared for Air Force One? Was that in the contract? One of the problems is that the way we actually procure aircraft in this country takes so long. Oh yeah. When it's ordered it's seven, eight, nine, ten years late requiring the necessity for a stopgap

alternative. Well no. What you've just said is that the Boeing information was public knowledge. The delivery date, the cost, the cost overruns, but this is not because this is not only a bad deal for the American public. It is just gratifying the president's ego. That's all it is. Thank you. Here he is again, questioning Hegseth about what the hell are you doing with the Marines in Los Angeles?

Play this clip. The more accountable you are, the higher your standards are. How much? It all makes you more lethal. So you're... The mission in Los Angeles, as you know well, sir, is not about lethality. It's about maintaining law and order on behalf of law-enforced agents who deserve to do their job without being attacked by mobs of people.

And so we're very proud that the National Guard and the Marines are on the streets defending the ICE agents and they will continue to do that. Law and order is a civil function under the Constitution of the United States. Civil enforcement, law enforcement authorities, not the US military. And there's plenty of precedent for the US military support law enforcement officers. And what your military is doing right now is laying concentrino wire, guarding buildings, maintaining vehicles for other services. This is not only, I think, think illegal but also a diminution of the readiness and the focus of the military. I thought this was great

questioning by Democratic Senator Schatz. Here he is questioning the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Kane. Play this clip. I'll start with General Cain. Is the United States being invaded by a foreign nation? Sir, thanks for your question. I think at this point in time, I don't see any foreign state sponsored folks invading. But I'll be mindful of the fact that there has been some border issues throughout time and defer to DHS who handles the border along the nation's contiguous outline.

Is there a rebellion somewhere in the United States? Sir, I think there's definitely some frustrated folks out there. I mean, frustrated folks were a rebellion. Eerie is again questioning Hegseth, play this clip. And I guess that goes to my question for the secretary. Two things, there should be some sort of paper flow that the committee, the Congress, the public can look at in invoking Title X, Section 12406. So can you give us some clarification on whether the on whether the orders that were issued apply to specifically Los Angeles, to California generally, or is this a nationwide order? The orders that have been issued, which are publicly available and known, relate to an ongoing ongoing

situation in Los Angeles, which could expand to other places. But it's quite easy to point out that there has been an invasion of 21 million illegals in our country under the previous administration. So this administration was elected to get a hold of that. And when you have ICE officers being attacked

with concrete blocks, they should be allowed to do their job. Secretary, I would really like to not try to create a viral moment for either of us. I'm actually trying to understand kind of the scope of this order. And then finally, we have Democratic Senator Murray, I think just summing it all up in her questioning

to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, let's play it. Secretary Hegseth, you oversee one of the largest and most important organizations on planet earth. More than anything, the Department of Defense needs stable, competent, and strategic leadership. And much as I had feared back in January is not what we are seeing under your leadership. In a matter of months, you have lost top aides and reportedly struggled to hire new ones. You have fired highly respected top military officials.

You shared highly sensitive attack plans over Signal and apparently with people in your own personal circles, and you've not taken responsibility for those mistakes. All the while, the security challenges we face have grown larger, not smaller. And then in the face of these challenges, you've taken a series of actions that weaken our posture. For example, in my home state of Washington,

which is home to many DOD installations, critical to our Indo-Pacific strategy, you have pushed out almost 2,000 highly trained civilian employees, including at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Mr. Secretary, you talk about returning the department to its mission of warfighting, but I am repeatedly hearing that your policy and personnel changes at the Pentagon are undermining, not strengthening, our military's preparedness to protect our country.

You are deploying the American military to police the American people. You're sending the National Guard into California without the governor's request. Sending the Marines not after foreign threats, but after American protesters. And now President Trump is promising heavy force against peaceful protesters at his DC military parade. Those sorts of actions and that sort of rhetoric from a president of the United States should stop every one of us cold. Threatening to use our own troops on our own citizens at such scale is unprecedented.

It is unconstitutional and it is downright un-American. We should all be speaking out against this and demanding accountability. Yeah, powerful questioning indeed. Oh, that's what I want to see. I want to see Democrats go on the offense like this. It's good to see. I want to see them fight. Let me know what you think. Hit subscribe. Let's get to five million subscribers, and thank you so much for watching.