The Daily Beans – "The Public Interest"

Date: December 11, 2025
Hosts: Allison Gill (AG) & Dana Goldberg (DG)
Main Theme:
A whirlwind of significant, mostly troubling news stories from the political, legal, and international realms, featuring a major scoop about the Department of Justice’s stance on the Jeffrey Epstein files lawsuit, developments on Trump-era military and border policies, foreign influence in U.S. media, and notable Democratic wins—delivered with the hosts' trademark blend of urgency, snark, and hope.

Episode Overview

The episode is defined by the tension between disturbing headlines—ranging from Pentagon misconduct and DOJ opacity on Epstein to sexual violence by a border officer—counterbalanced at the end by hopeful stories of progressive electoral victories and listener-supplied good news. The hosts’ sharp, irreverent tone brings context and catharsis to the day’s events.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. US Policy Scandals: Pentagon, Border Patrol, and DOJ Maneuverings

• Pentagon's Handling of Boat Strike Survivors ([09:06])

  • Story: After a military strike in the Caribbean, Pentagon officials debated sending survivors to El Salvador’s infamous Seacote Prison to keep them out of U.S. courts—avoiding judicial scrutiny and possible exposure of legal abuses.
  • Quote [11:50, AG]: “If the administration has evidence to show that the people on the targeted boats are smuggling drugs and there are threats to Americans, then why is it not putting survivors on trial in the United States?”
  • Insight: The story underscores efforts to circumvent legal accountability, raising significant legal and ethical concerns.

• DOJ’s Response to Epstein Files Lawsuit ([15:43])

  • AG reveals DOJ's argument that her lawsuit for training videos about removing Trump’s name from Epstein files shouldn't be fast-tracked because there allegedly isn’t ‘widespread public interest.’
  • Quote [17:23, AG]: “They say that we failed to prove that there’s widespread public interest in the Epstein materials.”
  • Memorable Moment [18:53]: The DOJ does concede, begrudgingly, that Daily Beans is a media outlet: “They did concede that I am a real media outlet... But just for this motion. Fuck you guys.”
  • Judge Berman has ordered the release of grand jury materials related to Epstein, but not the full trove due under the new Epstein Files Transparency Act, due Dec 19.

• ICE/CBP Officers Accused of Crimes ([01:37], [08:05])

  • Story: Multiple border and ICE officers arrested lately for crimes. Latest: Chicago CBP officer indicted on 11 counts of gunpoint sexual assaults.
  • DG, visceral reaction [08:49]: “I hope he rots in prison for the rest of his life.”
  • Theme: Pattern of unchecked misconduct in federal law enforcement agencies.

2. Foreign Influence in U.S. Media

• Kushner & Sovereign Wealth Funds’ Attempted Takeover of Warner Brothers/Paramount ([05:16])
  • Story: Saudis, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar—via Jared Kushner’s firm—are major backers of a $77.9 billion hostile bid for Warner Brothers/Discovery and thereby CNN.
  • Quote [07:02, AG]: “Nearly all of Affinity Partners' assets come from the same sovereign wealth funds bankrolling the proposed Paramount takeover... Kushner collects tens of millions in fees from Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries annually.”
  • Insight: Raises alarm about foreign, autocratic influence over American media.

3. US Escalation in Venezuela

• Military Action & Oil Interests ([02:43], [04:00])
  • Trump claims US seized a major oil tanker off Venezuela. Hosts note the administration’s pretext of fighting drug cartels is a cover for oil ambitions.
  • DG [04:11]: “Make up drug problems… Because we can’t be like ‘we’re over your country to steal your oil.’”
  • Contextualizes policy as a repeat of old US regime change tactics.

4. Privacy and Immigration

• US Plan to Scrutinize Tourists’ Social Media ([13:39])
  • Visitors from Visa Waiver countries may have five years' social media, email, and family details reviewed.
  • DG [14:31]: “They’re just trying to kill tourism in the United States.”
  • Expert quoted (Bo Cooper): “The new method involves looking at online speech and then denying travel based on discretion and policy about the kinds of things that get said.”

5. Progressive Victories and Hopeful Political News

• Miami Elects First Woman and Democratic Mayor Since 1998 ([19:41])
  • Eileen Higgins wins big, defeating a Trump/DeSantis-endorsed Republican—22-point swing.
  • DG [20:16]: “She beat him with 60%... Oh my gosh.”
• Democrats Flip Deeply Republican Georgia State House District ([21:01])
  • Eric Geisler wins in a district Trump won by 12 points and Dems lost by 22 last time.
  • AG [21:54]: “That’s another 22 point swing.”

6. Listener Good News and Microdoses of Hope

• Listener-submitted stories ([24:47]–[38:00])
  • Themes: Impeachment articles against RFK Jr as HHS Sec.; birthday shout outs; animal rescue/adoption tales; innovative local programs like LA's $363 million in medical debt relief; entrepreneurship; family and nostalgia.
  • Quote [31:26, Allison R.]: “These are the kinds of programs [that make] such a difference in people’s lives and I’m so proud of my county representatives for stepping up with this innovative project.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [02:25, AG]: “Judge Breyer is with like what we think and what Marty Lederman thinks and, you know, all these other scholars, that regular forces means the military—so that [Trump’s] deployment under this particular law is unlawful.”
• [13:25, AG]: “So we’re at war when they want to murder people, and it’s peacetime when we don’t want to take them to court.”
• [18:53, AG]: (On DOJ conceding Daily Beans’ media status) “They say, ‘Defendant, the government accepts for purposes of this motion that MSW is a person primarily engaged in disseminating information.’ But just for this motion. Fuck you guys.”
• [21:46, DG]: “If you don’t think your vote matters, it matters. 200 votes out of more than 11,000 in final official returns… Holy shit.”
• [22:10, AG]: “Congrats, Miami, on your first woman mayor and your first Democrat since 1998.”
• [34:42+, Listener Submissions]: Storylines include a 75-year-old much-loved blankie, animal rescue, and new business ventures—punctuated by hosts’ affectionate banter over pet photos and personal victories.

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------------|------------| | Headlines rundown, framing the day | 00:23–01:24| | Pentagon & Boat Survivors Scandal | 09:06–13:26| | Kushner/Saudi-Paramount Media Plot | 05:16–07:31| | Chicago Border Officer Assault Charges | 08:05–08:49| | DOJ v. AG’s Epstein Files Lawsuit | 15:43–19:41| | Miami & Georgia Democratic Wins | 19:41–22:28| | US Plans Social Media Scrutiny of Tourists | 13:39–15:34| | Good News Segment (listener stories) | 24:47–38:00|

Tone & Language

• Irreverently angry and darkly funny: Frequent swearing; a refusal to “Bob Woodward” a story by sitting on it; quick, dry patter between hosts.
• Hopeful at the conclusion: Snapback to optimism and community-building at the end.
• Snarky, but deeply informed: Wry comparisons (“only the best people”), frequent acknowledgment of the surreal repetition of political scandals (“We’ve been here before—and that was also a lie.”).

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode:

This episode offers a vivid snapshot of the current U.S. political moment—marked by executive branch secrecy, legal and ethical quagmires, and the aggressive incursion of foreign money and interests into American public life. The hosts tear into these issues with frustration, humor, and calls for accountability, then highlight progressive wins and community-driven good news as a balm and an implicit call to action. If you want a rundown on what’s going wrong (and right) in American democracy, filtered through sharp wit and lived experience, this is a must-hear episode.

Find further details and full stories at muellershewrote.com, MSW Media’s YouTube, and in the show notes.