The Daily Beans – American Carnage

Date: January 9, 2026
Hosts: Allison Gill (A.G.), Dana Goldberg (D.G.)
Guests: John Fugelsang, Sasha Abramsky
Main Theme:
A high-energy, deeply informed, and impassioned exploration of the state of American justice, political accountability, far-reaching attacks on the civil service, and the human cost of Trump-era authoritarianism—with a special focus on the ICE shooting in Minneapolis, Republican party fractures, and the new book American Carnage.

Overview

This episode blends urgent news coverage—centered on federal and local investigation tensions following the Minneapolis ICE shooting—with sharp commentary on shifting congressional dynamics, rising authoritarianism, and the systematic dismantling of the federal workforce under Trump and Musk. Featured discussions with John Fugelsang and author Sasha Abramsky add insight and personal testimony to these harrowing developments, all delivered in the signature snarky-yet-heartfelt Beans tone.

Key Topics & Segment Timestamps

1. Major News Stories & “Hot Notes”

00:00–16:44

• Federal vs. State Tensions in Minneapolis Shooting

  • FBI takes over investigation of ICE agent Jonathan Ross’s shooting of Renee Nicole Goode, excluding Minnesota state officials.
  • Frustration over the lack of transparency and the implications for justice.
  • Legal nuances regarding jurisdiction and statutes of limitations for federal and state murder charges.
  • “Justice delayed is justice denied. This is so infuriating and frustrating that Kash Patel and the Trump administration are protecting this murderer.” (A.G., 06:39)

• Congressional Republicans Split

  • Unprecedented GOP defections:
    • 17 House Republicans join Democrats to extend ACA subsidies against party leadership (11:45)
    • Senate Republicans back bipartisan resolution to limit Trump’s military powers in Venezuela (13:45)
    • Breaks with Trump as House fails to override two of Trump’s vetoes, but dozens of Republicans vote to do so (14:25)
    • Thom Tillis brokers unanimous consent to hang January 6th memorial plaque in the Senate, a symbolic rebuke to Trump (08:05)
  • Notable quote:
    • “You voted for it unanimously and now you’re against it. That’s just weird.” (A.G., 16:16)

• Epstein Files Transparency Act Showdown

  • Reps. Khanna and Massie urge a judge to appoint a special master, citing DOJ noncompliance in releasing files (09:09)
  • Detailed explanation of what a special master is and how one might be appointed (10:22–11:45)

• Ongoing Federal Violence and Potential for Martial Law

  • Concerns about escalation and the government’s motivation for provoking unrest to justify invoking the Insurrection Act
  • Call for peaceful protest and vigilance
  • “They want every reason to do the Insurrection act… Try not to escalate.” (D.G., 02:59)

2. FugalSang Friday with John Fugelsang

18:47–39:10

• On “What the Fuck Fatigue” in the Trump Era

  • “We're officially living in what I call the age of what the fuck fatigue… reality has jumped the shark so many times your brain just sighs and orders another drink or a bong hit.” (J.F., 19:48)
  • The endless gaslighting and numbing volume of outrages.

• Connecting the Dots: Trump’s Lies and Their Deadly Consequences

  • “Ashley Babbitt and Renee Nicole Goode are both dead because of Donald Trump’s lies.” (J.F., 20:46)
  • The throughline from ICE violence to January 6th to Trump’s war in Venezuela.

• ICE Shooting Cover-Up and Outrage

  • Ongoing analysis of the FBI’s motives in restricting the local investigation
  • The importance of bystander video evidence in maintaining public scrutiny
  • “This was the inevitable outcome of unleashing these unaccountable, militarized thugs into our cities and telling them they're patriots instead of what they really are—a gang with badges.” (J.F., 21:50)
  • On Kristi Noem labeling the victim as a “domestic terrorist,” and the predictable political aftermath for her

• Media, Accountability, and Historic Amnesia

  • The persistent lack of consequences for government and Wall Street crimes, and the American tendency toward “bi-partisan peace” over justice
  • On Mike Pence being labeled a villain by the Trump White House for refusing to help overturn the election:
    • “You don’t accuse someone of sabotage unless there was a plan they refused to help execute.” (J.F., 35:23)

• Prognosis for Political Change

  • Democrats running on accountability projected to “crush it in fundraising”
  • A call for relentless pressure for truth commissions and real reform:
    • “We have to keep their feet to the fire to make sure they don’t drop the ball on this.” (J.F., 37:13)

Notable Quotes

• “The stupid is greater than the sinister. As evil as they are, they are more dumb than evil.” (J.F., 21:50)
• “It was the inevitable outcome of unleashing these unaccountable militarized thugs into our cities…a gang with badges.” (J.F., 21:50)
• “They want us to become violent so that they can impose martial law, invoke the Insurrection Act, do everything Stephen Miller dreams of.” (A.G., 69:19)

3. Interview: Sasha Abramsky on American Carnage

39:10–69:19

• Origins and Focus of the Book

  • American Carnage explores how Trump, Musk, and DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) gutted the US government by targeting civil servants and federal workforce structures
  • Firsthand stories of federal workers terminated or harassed (“put into trauma”) as a deliberate tactic (40:20–43:05)

• Tactics of Trauma and Workplace Destruction

  • “Vogt is one of the architects of Project 2025…his aim was to deliberately, quote, put federal workers into trauma so that every day when they went to work, their life would be so miserable that they would flee the public sector and never again want to work for government.” (S.A., 44:37)
  • Elon Musk’s involvement—piling on “humiliation rituals” and bizarre accountability exercises, like demanding weekly lists of five things workers did to deserve their jobs

• The Myth of Privatization and False Efficiency

  • DOGE’s “efficiency” measures wasted taxpayer money, slashed vital services, and prioritized political loyalty over competence
  • Mass firings, loss of institutional knowledge, and dangerous hollowing-out of government capacity—especially in anti-corruption, environment, and health
  • “Let nobody think this was about saving taxpayer dollars…We are taking money away from things to do with economic justice or racial justice…giving that money to an expanded national security state.” (S.A., 55:30)
  • Data centralization and theft to empower tech oligarchs (Musk, Thiel) at the expense of public good

• Global Consequences and Historical Scale

  • The dismantling of USAID and related agencies is causing massive loss of life, with excess deaths from preventable crises now reaching “holocaust levels”
  • Disastrous downstream effects on government capacity, hiring, and the trust of skilled future employees

• Motive and Warning for the Future

  • “It’s turning basic government services into a for-profit model. At the end…we’re going to still pay those taxes, but we’re going to get worse public services and then we’re going to be asked to pay on top of that.” (S.A., 57:20)
  • The US’s democratic crisis is now evident to the world; reclaiming democratic government and decent public service will take a generation.

• Resilience and Call to Action

  • “Never, ever forget that there are more of us than them and that authoritarians flourish when they convince people to sit the fight out…There is power in numbers.” (S.A., 68:26)

4. Listener Reactions & Good News

70:21–end

• Submissions reflect heartbreak and anger at the Minneapolis shooting, concerns about rising fascism and martial law, and gratitude for the podcast’s voice and community.
• Pet photos and inspiring stories provide moments of respite.
• Useful resources shared for activism, including ACLU tools to resist ICE funding.

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps & Attribution)

• “Justice delayed is justice denied. This is so infuriating and frustrating that Kash Patel and the Trump administration are protecting this murderer.” (A.G., 06:39)
• “Ashley Babbitt and Renee Nicole Goode are both dead because of Donald Trump’s lies.” (J.F., 20:46)
• “We are officially living in what I call the age of what the fuck fatigue.” (J.F., 19:48)
• “Let nobody think that when we fire or drive out of the public sector 300,000 workers, we're doing it for a cost saving. We're not.” (S.A., 55:30)
• “There is power in numbers…it’s too important. We can’t afford to just sit this one out.” (S.A., 68:26)

Episode Takeaways

• Accountability, Transparency & Resistance: The episode blends grief, anger, and resolve, urging listeners to bear witness, resist authoritarian tactics, and demand restitution and reform.
• Deep Look at Systemic Damage: The civil service “purge” under Trump is exposed as both an ideological crusade and a lucrative handoff to oligarchy, harming millions worldwide.
• Hopeful Defiance: Despite the grim outlook, the Beans hosts and guests rally around peaceful activism, information, and solidarity—insisting that resistance is both possible and necessary.

Further Reading

• Sasha Abramsky, American Carnage: How Trump, Musk and Doge Butchered the US Government (preorder, full release Jan 20)

For New or Returning Listeners:
This episode is a vivid, accessible, and compelling chronicle of the dangers facing American democracy—equal parts news digest, investigative primer, irreverent venting, and call to action. Essential listening for staying informed, motivated, and connected.