October 7, 2025 • 11 mins
MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas has an exclusive interview with Congresswoman Elect Adelita Grijalva who responds to GOP Speaker MAGA Mike Johnson claiming he was going to swear her on live tv and then saying he won’t do it.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
So I'm here with the congresswoman elect that
everyone is talking about, Congresswoman elect Adelita
Grijalva. We want you to be the
congresswoman from the 7th Congressional District so you
can represent your constituents.I know that Speaker Johnson
pretends that he's thinking about maybe having that happen,
and then he says things in public, but then behind the
(00:22):
scenes has been preventing you from being sworn in, which goes
against all of the precedent that existed before, when even
when Congress wasn't around, they would swear people in.
In pro forma sessions, you won your district by over 40 points.
This is overwhelming. It's done.
And one of the reasons people suspect why they're not swearing
(00:44):
in is that you would be the two 118 signature on the discharge
petition for a vote to release the Epstein files.
Lots of people believe that thisis the reason that Mike Johnson
and the Republicans don't even want to gavel in and have a
session. So Congresswoman elect, let me
play for you, but just went downand I want to get your response
(01:04):
because this is what Mike Johnson said moments ago.
Let's play there. Was a vote earlier this year.
You sworn in two Republican members during the pro forma
session, so why not swear in outof the degree Alba who would
selected two weeks ago during a pro forma session?
Does it have to do with her 218 signature on the discharge
petition the Epstein? District No has nothing to do
(01:24):
with that at all. We will swear her in when
everybody gets back. It's a ceremonial duty.
Look, I we'll schedule it, I guess, as soon as she wants.
It has nothing to do with it. I, I we're in pro forma session
because there is nothing for theHouse to do.
The House has done its job. People say, why don't you do
more? Let's do more now.
You should do something. We already did something.
It was passing a clean CR. So, Congresswoman Elect, where
(01:49):
do things stand and what's your message to Speaker Johnson right
now? If he's serious, just give me a
date and I will be there period.Like pro forma call us in the
the frustration for me is that it seems as if Speaker Johnson
(02:09):
is not willing to swear me in because my our politics are a
little different or because I'm going to be the 218th signer
that, you know, he can continue to drag this along for with no
end insight. And that is not a foundation of
our democracy. And we need to, I need to fight
(02:32):
for the almost 800,000 people inour community that right now do
not have a voice in Congress anddon't have the support from our
district. So Speaker Johnson said publicly
when pressed by Manu Raju. Right there, let's schedule it.
He couldn't have we heard it? It couldn't be more clear what
(02:52):
he said. Just have her call me.
We'll schedule it. We'll get it on the books.
But then shortly thereafter, it was reported by Kate Santolese
that a leadership aide tells me that Speaker Johnson's posture
hasn't changed on swearing in. Grijalva, quote, as the full
content of his remarks make clear, the posture hasn't
(03:14):
changed on swearing her in once the Democrat shutdown is over
and in the House is back in session.
So they turn it into this political game with your life
where he says one thing on camera and then this is kind of
how they're dealing with the Trump shutdown.
Then they do something behind closed doors.
(03:34):
Welcome to Congress, congresswoman elect Adelite de
Grijalva. What's your response to that?
You know, the the bedrock of ourdemocracy is free and fair
elections. And I, we take this oath
seriously. This is, this is about saving
people's lives and fighting for the right to be able to advocate
(03:56):
for this community. And I was overwhelmingly elected
to do this job. Let me do my job and swear me
in. Wait, did you know you could get
your windows replaced for free if you're 62 or older and own a
home, the government is offeringgrants that could cover the cost
of window repairs or even. You know, and one of the issues
(04:17):
also is that you're a mom with three kids.
You've been campaigning. You know, it's not like you've
been out there, you know, havinganother job.
And when he previously would saythings like, hey, maybe I'll
swear you in, maybe I don't. What do you do?
(04:38):
Do you take a trip to Washington, DC for them to say,
you know, OK, no, we're not going to do it.
Then you have to fly back. You know, he's all.
There's also an aspect of this where they're playing with your
life, you know, and, and your family and now your extended
family, your constituents, the 800,000 people from Arizona's
(05:01):
7th. So just so we're all clear, so
that MAGA Mike hears it directlyfrom you.
So Mike Johnson hears it directly from you that if he can
just confirm to the world that he would swear you in on
Wednesday or Thursday or Friday,just say it.
You'll fly there and we'll do itand we'll get this over with,
(05:23):
right? But stop playing with your life
and your family and your constituents, huh?
Yep. No, once he confirms a date, I
will get there whether my familycan go with a different story
because this toying with this date has been incredibly
frustrating for so many people. And respectfully, the attention
(05:45):
that he's getting about this is well deserved because instead of
adding to the transparency of this issue with the Epstein
files, instead of using the samesort of process that he did for
three previous members of Congress that were sworn in on a
special in under 24 hours, he ischanging the rules for this
(06:08):
Chicana from Tucson. And we're not going to stand for
it. And in many ways, it also sheds
light on the fact that this is aTrump shutdown and a Republican
shutdown and the same lies and lack of transparency and games.
I just think the American people, we don't want games,
(06:31):
stop posting AI of sombreros, stop treating us like we're
stupid. I think in many ways it's
further being highlighted with these just unnecessary, petty,
lowbrow Trumpy games they're playing with your life and the
lives of the constituents in Arizona 7th.
(06:54):
Yep, and I myself and representative Ledger Fernandez
in addition to leader Jeffries all saw these means with
sombreros. It's just racist and it's low
class and unnecessary. And how do you stand next to and
behind a president that is putting that sort of stuff out
(07:15):
there when real lives are in jeopardy, when people are not
getting a paycheck, when they'renot sure when they're going to
be able to pay their rent, buy groceries?
I mean, these are real life situations of people that are
working right now without being compensated or being threatened
to lose their jobs. So stop playing around and
(07:36):
toying with American people. And all of the things they've
been saying, I don't even understand what they're, they
seem all over the place. It just looks really weird and
and weak at a time when Americans are really scared.
I mean, I'm sure you're hearing from constituents there's not
much you can do because they aren't swearing you in about
(07:58):
their premiums increasing if these tax credits are not
extended or their healthcare being ripped away if they're on
Medicaid. And then it's just like every
time Trump posts the stupid sombrero thing, or they blame
migrants, or they start talking about transgender people in
Peru, or Trump posts about all the gold in the White House.
(08:20):
You know, it Just like like it viscerally, like hits me like
this is just a gross. They're just behaving gross and
it's not funny, it's not clever,it's mean spirited.
It's weird. People are feeling that this is
a life, rightfully so. This is a life or death moment
for them. This is how you're handling it.
(08:41):
You know, it's, it's, but it's why you ran though, right?
Like, it's why you want this position, why you ran for
office. So you can fight for your
constituents, but they want to deprive you of that.
You know, I think that it's so important that when we're
talking about what is actually going on, stop clowning around
and playing games. There is a lot that we need to
(09:03):
do as a country to rebuild. And when you have Trump being
asked, hey, this community, our nation is very divided, what are
you going to do to bring people together?
And his answer is, like, that's not my problem.
But I hope it opens the eyes of people who looked at him and
thought, this is going to be a different kind of leader.
(09:25):
It is a different kind of leader, one that doesn't have
any morals or values other than what it means to his own
pocketbook book and his billionaire friends.
Congresswoman elect soon to be Congresswoman Grijalva.
I think the whole country, the whole world hears you loud and
clear. Maggie.
(09:45):
Mike Johnson just put a date on the schedule this week.
Stop playing games with the constituents of Arizona.
Seventh, stop playing games withcongresswoman elect Adelita
Grijalva and her family who justwant to also be like, just be a
human being. Like let her family wanted to be
there with her in DC and see theswearing in.
(10:05):
This is an incredibly important moment.
Dad passed away recently. You you this seat what what he
meant to the community. You've taken over the seat.
You even won the district by more than anybody ever, which he
would have been so proud of. And they're just they're it's
it's it's evil. It's a mean.
If this is it, it should just anger all Americans, regardless
(10:26):
of what political part. This should be a special moment
for you and MAGA. Mike is behaving like such a
such a Trump, such a little petty, weak little man.
I'll let you get the final word in.
Well, I just appreciate you putting attention to it.
I think it's important that moreoften he hears it and it's
hammering home. What you're doing is not OK.
(10:48):
This is not normal and it's not the way you have treated three
other people that are in this position.
So do the right thing, do the moral thing and the just thing,
and give me a date so I can get sworn in and get to work for
Arizonans. Congresswoman elect Adelita
(11:09):
Grijalva appreciate you. Looking forward to you being
sworn in. Thank you so much.
Everybody hit subscribe. Let's get to 6,000,000.
Thanks for watching. You want to stay plugged in?
Become a subscriber for our Sub Stack at midasplus.com.
You'll get daily recaps from RonPhilipkowski.
Add free episodes of our podcastand more exclusive content only
(11:29):
available at midasplus.com.
So I'm here with the congresswoman elect that
everyone is talking about, Congresswoman elect Adelita
Grijalva. We want you to be the
congresswoman from the 7th Congressional District so you
can represent your constituents.I know that Speaker Johnson
pretends that he's thinking about maybe having that happen,
and then he says things in public, but then behind the
(00:22):
scenes has been preventing you from being sworn in, which goes
against all of the precedent that existed before, when even
when Congress wasn't around, they would swear people in.
In pro forma sessions, you won your district by over 40 points.
This is overwhelming. It's done.
And one of the reasons people suspect why they're not swearing
(00:44):
in is that you would be the two 118 signature on the discharge
petition for a vote to release the Epstein files.
Lots of people believe that thisis the reason that Mike Johnson
and the Republicans don't even want to gavel in and have a
session. So Congresswoman elect, let me
play for you, but just went downand I want to get your response
(01:04):
because this is what Mike Johnson said moments ago.
Let's play there. Was a vote earlier this year.
You sworn in two Republican members during the pro forma
session, so why not swear in outof the degree Alba who would
selected two weeks ago during a pro forma session?
Does it have to do with her 218 signature on the discharge
petition the Epstein? District No has nothing to do
(01:24):
with that at all. We will swear her in when
everybody gets back. It's a ceremonial duty.
Look, I we'll schedule it, I guess, as soon as she wants.
It has nothing to do with it. I, I we're in pro forma session
because there is nothing for theHouse to do.
The House has done its job. People say, why don't you do
more? Let's do more now.
You should do something. We already did something.
It was passing a clean CR. So, Congresswoman Elect, where
(01:49):
do things stand and what's your message to Speaker Johnson right
now? If he's serious, just give me a
date and I will be there period.Like pro forma call us in the
the frustration for me is that it seems as if Speaker Johnson
(02:09):
is not willing to swear me in because my our politics are a
little different or because I'm going to be the 218th signer
that, you know, he can continue to drag this along for with no
end insight. And that is not a foundation of
our democracy. And we need to, I need to fight
(02:32):
for the almost 800,000 people inour community that right now do
not have a voice in Congress anddon't have the support from our
district. So Speaker Johnson said publicly
when pressed by Manu Raju. Right there, let's schedule it.
He couldn't have we heard it? It couldn't be more clear what
(02:52):
he said. Just have her call me.
We'll schedule it. We'll get it on the books.
But then shortly thereafter, it was reported by Kate Santolese
that a leadership aide tells me that Speaker Johnson's posture
hasn't changed on swearing in. Grijalva, quote, as the full
content of his remarks make clear, the posture hasn't
(03:14):
changed on swearing her in once the Democrat shutdown is over
and in the House is back in session.
So they turn it into this political game with your life
where he says one thing on camera and then this is kind of
how they're dealing with the Trump shutdown.
Then they do something behind closed doors.
(03:34):
Welcome to Congress, congresswoman elect Adelite de
Grijalva. What's your response to that?
You know, the the bedrock of ourdemocracy is free and fair
elections. And I, we take this oath
seriously. This is, this is about saving
people's lives and fighting for the right to be able to advocate
(03:56):
for this community. And I was overwhelmingly elected
to do this job. Let me do my job and swear me
in. Wait, did you know you could get
your windows replaced for free if you're 62 or older and own a
home, the government is offeringgrants that could cover the cost
of window repairs or even. You know, and one of the issues
(04:17):
also is that you're a mom with three kids.
You've been campaigning. You know, it's not like you've
been out there, you know, havinganother job.
And when he previously would saythings like, hey, maybe I'll
swear you in, maybe I don't. What do you do?
(04:38):
Do you take a trip to Washington, DC for them to say,
you know, OK, no, we're not going to do it.
Then you have to fly back. You know, he's all.
There's also an aspect of this where they're playing with your
life, you know, and, and your family and now your extended
family, your constituents, the 800,000 people from Arizona's
(05:01):
7th. So just so we're all clear, so
that MAGA Mike hears it directlyfrom you.
So Mike Johnson hears it directly from you that if he can
just confirm to the world that he would swear you in on
Wednesday or Thursday or Friday,just say it.
You'll fly there and we'll do itand we'll get this over with,
(05:23):
right? But stop playing with your life
and your family and your constituents, huh?
Yep. No, once he confirms a date, I
will get there whether my familycan go with a different story
because this toying with this date has been incredibly
frustrating for so many people. And respectfully, the attention
(05:45):
that he's getting about this is well deserved because instead of
adding to the transparency of this issue with the Epstein
files, instead of using the samesort of process that he did for
three previous members of Congress that were sworn in on a
special in under 24 hours, he ischanging the rules for this
(06:08):
Chicana from Tucson. And we're not going to stand for
it. And in many ways, it also sheds
light on the fact that this is aTrump shutdown and a Republican
shutdown and the same lies and lack of transparency and games.
I just think the American people, we don't want games,
(06:31):
stop posting AI of sombreros, stop treating us like we're
stupid. I think in many ways it's
further being highlighted with these just unnecessary, petty,
lowbrow Trumpy games they're playing with your life and the
lives of the constituents in Arizona 7th.
(06:54):
Yep, and I myself and representative Ledger Fernandez
in addition to leader Jeffries all saw these means with
sombreros. It's just racist and it's low
class and unnecessary. And how do you stand next to and
behind a president that is putting that sort of stuff out
(07:15):
there when real lives are in jeopardy, when people are not
getting a paycheck, when they'renot sure when they're going to
be able to pay their rent, buy groceries?
I mean, these are real life situations of people that are
working right now without being compensated or being threatened
to lose their jobs. So stop playing around and
(07:36):
toying with American people. And all of the things they've
been saying, I don't even understand what they're, they
seem all over the place. It just looks really weird and
and weak at a time when Americans are really scared.
I mean, I'm sure you're hearing from constituents there's not
much you can do because they aren't swearing you in about
(07:58):
their premiums increasing if these tax credits are not
extended or their healthcare being ripped away if they're on
Medicaid. And then it's just like every
time Trump posts the stupid sombrero thing, or they blame
migrants, or they start talking about transgender people in
Peru, or Trump posts about all the gold in the White House.
(08:20):
You know, it Just like like it viscerally, like hits me like
this is just a gross. They're just behaving gross and
it's not funny, it's not clever,it's mean spirited.
It's weird. People are feeling that this is
a life, rightfully so. This is a life or death moment
for them. This is how you're handling it.
(08:41):
You know, it's, it's, but it's why you ran though, right?
Like, it's why you want this position, why you ran for
office. So you can fight for your
constituents, but they want to deprive you of that.
You know, I think that it's so important that when we're
talking about what is actually going on, stop clowning around
and playing games. There is a lot that we need to
(09:03):
do as a country to rebuild. And when you have Trump being
asked, hey, this community, our nation is very divided, what are
you going to do to bring people together?
And his answer is, like, that's not my problem.
But I hope it opens the eyes of people who looked at him and
thought, this is going to be a different kind of leader.
(09:25):
It is a different kind of leader, one that doesn't have
any morals or values other than what it means to his own
pocketbook book and his billionaire friends.
Congresswoman elect soon to be Congresswoman Grijalva.
I think the whole country, the whole world hears you loud and
clear. Maggie.
(09:45):
Mike Johnson just put a date on the schedule this week.
Stop playing games with the constituents of Arizona.
Seventh, stop playing games withcongresswoman elect Adelita
Grijalva and her family who justwant to also be like, just be a
human being. Like let her family wanted to be
there with her in DC and see theswearing in.
(10:05):
This is an incredibly important moment.
Dad passed away recently. You you this seat what what he
meant to the community. You've taken over the seat.
You even won the district by more than anybody ever, which he
would have been so proud of. And they're just they're it's
it's it's evil. It's a mean.
If this is it, it should just anger all Americans, regardless
(10:26):
of what political part. This should be a special moment
for you and MAGA. Mike is behaving like such a
such a Trump, such a little petty, weak little man.
I'll let you get the final word in.
Well, I just appreciate you putting attention to it.
I think it's important that moreoften he hears it and it's
hammering home. What you're doing is not OK.
(10:48):
This is not normal and it's not the way you have treated three
other people that are in this position.
So do the right thing, do the moral thing and the just thing,
and give me a date so I can get sworn in and get to work for
Arizonans. Congresswoman elect Adelita
(11:09):
Grijalva appreciate you. Looking forward to you being
sworn in. Thank you so much.
Everybody hit subscribe. Let's get to 6,000,000.
Thanks for watching. You want to stay plugged in?
Become a subscriber for our Sub Stack at midasplus.com.
You'll get daily recaps from RonPhilipkowski.
Add free episodes of our podcastand more exclusive content only
(11:29):
available at midasplus.com.
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