The Daily Beans: "A Coequal Branch (feat. Rep. Mike Levin)" – Detailed Summary

Release Date: May 8, 2025
Hosts: Allison Gill and Dana Goldberg
Guest: Representative Mike Levin (California's 49th Congressional District)

1. Opening Headlines [00:00 – 02:12]

Allison Gill kicks off the episode with a rundown of the day's significant news stories:

• North Carolina Supreme Court Race: Republican Jefferson Griffin concedes to Democratic incumbent Alison Riggs.
• Military Update: A second US Navy FA-18 Super Hornet jet is lost at sea from the USS Harry Truman aircraft carrier.
• Intelligence Activities: The Trump administration intensifies spying efforts on Greenland.
• LGBTQ+ Rights: Salt Lake City and Boise adopt official pride flags in defiance of state laws banning them.
• Immigration Cases: Various court rulings impact immigration detention and migrant removal processes.
• Discrimination Incident: A woman reports being harassed by a hotel security guard in Boston over her gender.

Allison teases a later conversation with Congressman Mike Levin, highlighting it as a "relatively good news day."

2. Discrimination and LGBTQ+ Rights [01:17 – 07:48]

Dana Goldberg and Allison Gill delve into a troubling incident at the Liberty Hotel in Boston:

• Incident Details: Lesbian couple Ansley Baker and Liz Victor were confronted by a male security guard in a women's bathroom, who demanded proof of their gender.
• Aftermath: The hotel suspended the security officer and pledged to retrain staff on inclusive practices, along with donating to a local LGBTQ+ organization.
• Host Reactions:
  • Dana: Emphasizes the increasing attacks on cisgender individuals who don't conform to traditional gender norms, expressing solidarity with the affected couple.

    "Cis people are going to be attacked in numbers way higher because people just assume if you don't conform to society's definition of femininity or masculinity, they're going to start questioning your sex." [01:25]

  • Allison: Criticizes the hotel’s response as insufficient, advocating for the officer’s termination instead of mere suspension.

3. Military Incidents and Critique of the Trump Administration [04:19 – 05:56]

Dana reports on military-related incidents:

• Second Super Hornet Lost: Another FA-18 jet from the USS Harry Truman has crashed into the Red Sea due to a potential arrestment failure during landing, resulting in minor injuries to the pilot and weapons system officer.

  "It's not entirely clear what happened yet as the investigation is ongoing..." [04:19]

• Houthi Rebel Attack: The Iran-backed Houthi group fired at the USS Truman despite a recently announced ceasefire by the Trump administration.
• Hosts’ Commentary: Both Allison and Dana express frustration and disappointment with Trump's handling of military affairs, highlighting the contradictions and perceived incompetence.

4. Intelligence Gathering on Greenland [07:48 – 09:07]

Allison discusses a Wall Street Journal report on the US ramping up intelligence efforts in Greenland:

• Details: The intelligence community is directed to monitor Greenland's independence movement and American resource extraction interests.

  "They are finding a little workaround here, which is awesome." [07:48]

• Dana's Reaction: Criticizes the diversion of intelligence resources amidst other global conflicts, mocking the administration's priorities.

5. North Carolina Election and Legal Proceedings [09:07 – 10:30]

Allison covers the resolution of the North Carolina Supreme Court race:

• Court Ruling: A federal judge orders the North Carolina Board of Elections to certify Alison Riggs' victory, rejecting Republican Jefferson Griffin's attempt to invalidate 60,000 votes.

  "Don't think your vote doesn't matter. 734 votes." [09:27]

• Significance: This marks the end of litigation over the 2024 election cycle, affirming Riggs' position.

6. Immigration and Legal Cases [10:30 – 14:31]

Allison and Dana discuss recent immigration-related legal developments:

• Rumesa Ozturk’s Case: A Tufts University student detained in Louisiana is ordered to return to Vermont for further hearings, following a federal appeals court ruling.
• Forum Shopping Critique: The administration is criticized for attempting to manipulate legal jurisdictions to disadvantage petitioners.

  "They are trying to... transfer him to the government's chosen forum..." [10:30]

Dana Highlights:

• Emphasizes the importance of fair legal processes and criticizes the administration's tactics in immigration cases.

7. LGBTQ+ Flags in Salt Lake City and Boise [12:01 – 14:33]

Dana shares positive developments regarding LGBTQ+ representation:

• Flag Adoption: Salt Lake City and Boise have adopted official city flags featuring pride symbols despite state bans on non-official flags.

  "The city of Boise will continue to fly the flags on City Hall Plaza that represent our community..." [12:01]

• Impact: These actions are seen as creative workarounds to state laws, promoting inclusion and diversity at the municipal level.

8. "Good Trouble" Protests Against Trump’s Military Parade [14:31 – 16:03]

Allison and Dana discuss upcoming protests organized by the "No Kings" group:

• Event Details: Over 100 nationwide demonstrations planned to counter President Trump’s military birthday parade on June 14th.

  "They’re organizing nationwide demonstrations. There’s over a hundred now." [14:31]

• Hosts’ Critique: Highlight the exorbitant cost of the parade and Trump's personal expenditures, including golfing.

  "Just miss me with this Doge bullshit that they’re trying to find." [15:22]

9. Interview with Congressman Mike Levin [18:06 – 35:21]

Introduction: Allison introduces Rep. Mike Levin from California's 49th district, praising his efforts and dedication.

Key Discussion Points:

• Veterans Affairs:

  • Commitment: Levin emphasizes his dedication to improving veterans' services and opposing the Trump administration’s efforts to privatize the VA.

    "We have to modernize the VA. We need to continue to make improvements to it." [19:52]

  • Funding: Highlights the need for substantial investments ($80 billion) in VA facilities.

• Stock Trading and the STOCK Act:

  • Levin’s Stance: Advocates for stricter regulations to prevent Congress members from trading stocks based on insider information.

    "There’s no way that members of Congress should be trading stock. It should just not happen." [25:38]

  • Legislative Efforts: Discusses efforts to strengthen the STOCK Act, seeking bipartisan support despite challenges.

• Climate Action and Appropriations:

  • Local Impact: Describes climate-related challenges in his district, such as beach erosion affecting Camp Pendleton and local infrastructure.

    "The rail line connecting San Diego and LA... is closed for maintenance in part because of erosion." [32:02]

  • National Efforts: Criticizes the Trump administration for defunding climate science and pushing fossil fuel interests.

    "They just gut NOAA, just fire all the people there." [34:26]

• Congressional Responsibilities and Coequal Branch:

  • Funding Authority: Emphasizes the importance of Congress controlling appropriations and resisting executive overreach.

    "We are a coequal branch of government. The funding happens in Congress." [24:36]

  • Future Outlook: Expresses optimism that the Supreme Court will uphold the Impoundment Control Act, defending congressional authority.

• Personal Insights:

  • Family: Shares anecdotes about his family, underscoring his personal investment in public service.

    "My wife and I have two kids... my 11-year-old is really pissed off that Trump says she only gets two dolls now..." [35:21]

Closing Remarks: Levin calls for collective action to uphold democratic values, support the economy, and ensure respectful treatment of individuals regardless of their background.

10. "Good News" Segment [37:03 – 48:57]

Allison and Dana transition to sharing uplifting stories and listener contributions:

• Listener Submissions: Photos of pets, personal achievements, and positive community initiatives.

  • Example: Craig Pronouns shares his transition to solar energy, attributing it to the Inflation Reduction Act.

    "I'm getting three fourths of my electricity from the sun." [40:00]

  • Heidi Pronouns: Announces her layoff but celebrates her new job that values cultural competence.

    "NovaCare... values and encourages respect." [46:17]

  • Jeff Pronouns: Thanks the podcast for helping him stay informed and manage his mental health after an election.

• Host Interactions: Hosts engage warmly with the submissions, expressing joy and encouragement.

  "Look at these babies." [41:46]

• Safety Tips: Dana shares advice on protecting personal information while traveling, especially in the context of political tensions.

  "Turn off your bio passwords for your phone and devices." [48:18]

• Community Support: Emphasizes the importance of supporting each other and staying informed without compromising mental health.

Conclusion [47:17 – End]

Allison and Dana wrap up the episode by reiterating their commitment to delivering informative and engaging content. They encourage listeners to share their good news and remain active in their communities, stressing the importance of collective effort in facing societal challenges.

Notable Quotes:

• Dana Goldberg on Gender Discrimination:

  "Cis people are going to be attacked in numbers way higher because people just assume if you don't conform to society's definition of femininity or masculinity, they're going to start questioning your sex." [01:25]

• Rep. Mike Levin on Congress and Stock Trading:

  "There’s no way that members of Congress should be trading stock. It should just not happen." [25:38]

• Levin on Veterans Affairs:

  "We have to modernize the VA. We need to continue to make improvements to it." [19:52]

Conclusion: In this episode of The Daily Beans, Allison Gill and Dana Goldberg provide a comprehensive overview of pressing political and social issues, underscored by an in-depth interview with Rep. Mike Levin. The conversation spans from election integrity and military challenges to LGBTQ+ rights and climate action, all framed within a progressive perspective. The hosts balance critical analysis with moments of levity and community support, culminating in a heartfelt "good news" segment that fosters a sense of solidarity among listeners.