Beans Talk | Did Trump Turn the Reflecting Pool into a Toxic Mess?

Summary

---

The Daily Beans – Beans Talk | Did Trump Turn the Reflecting Pool into a Toxic Mess?

Date: June 22, 2026
Hosts: Allison Gill & Dana Goldberg
Podcast: The Daily Beans (MSW Media)

---

Episode Overview

This episode explores the controversy surrounding environmental mismanagement of Washington D.C.’s Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during Trump’s administration, focusing on the algae bloom caused by the use of city water and subsequent toxic risks. The hosts blend political critique with their trademark humor while breaking down how a simple maintenance mishap became both a health hazard and a viral meme, and what this says about broader stewardship failures.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Patreon Gala Highlights & Upcoming Events

• The episode opens with gratitude for Patreon supporters and a recap of the recent Chicago gala, featuring Dana Goldberg and Tig Notaro.
• Announcement of the next gala for election night in San Diego and Dana’s upcoming comedy show at The Den Theater in Chicago (02:08).
• Call for listeners to share gala photos.

2. The Reflecting Pool Crisis—The Algae Apocalypse

• The show’s central topic is the viral spectacle and environmental crisis at the Reflecting Pool.
• The National Guard is humorously reported as being posted to “guard the paint that’s chipping up” at the pool (03:39).
• Viral right-wing outrage surfaces over a senior former Olympian being arrested for touching peeling paint; hosts find it absurd and mock calls for him to be “haunted forever” (04:00).

“They posted a photo of this guy who was arrested by park police for touching the paint that was peeling up... He hasn’t been in the Olympics in over 24 years. He’s 67 years old and that’s hysterical.”
— Allison Gill (04:00)

a. The Blue-Green Algae Disaster

• Audience learns that the cause of the neon green algae bloom is not just heat or dark paint, but the use of city water treated with orthophosphates (algae food) to refill the pool (07:07).

• Dana is shocked at this revelation:

  “Oh my God.” — Dana Goldberg (07:08)

• A scientist with a PhD in cyanobacteria warned of potential cyanotoxins, fatal if ingested by wildlife, pets, or people (07:45).

• The hosts lament the administration’s poor environmental stewardship and note the risks as the toxic water is being dumped into the Potomac River (08:13).

“Many species of cyanobacteria are capable of producing cyanotoxins, which can be fatal if ingested. People, wildlife, pets, all can come in contact with this water... If it contains cyanotoxins... it could be fatal.”
— Quoting scientist via Allison Gill (07:45)

b. Predictions Come True: Wildlife Casualties

• Confirmation that a dead duckling was found at the Reflecting Pool (08:26), a likely victim of cyanotoxin poisoning predicted by the scientist just days before.
• Dana emphasizes the disregard for science and environment within the administration (08:58).
• Allison notes this problem was avoidable, referencing a previous similar incident when city water was used (09:40).

3. Additional Examples of Mismanagement

• The saga continues with Trump’s comically counterproductive responses to other defacements—like painting over numbers burned into National Mall grass, only to make them more visible (11:01).
• The hosts ridicule the administration's “move fast and break things” approach, highlighting its incompetence.

“Why paint the fucking grass? Just take some time, redo whatever you need, irrigate the grass, feed it some food, water the damn thing.”
— Dana Goldberg (11:02)

• Both hosts agree that these acts seem intended to “de-beautify” and “destroy” D.C. (12:05).

4. Memorable Quotes & Snark

• On National Guard at the Algae Pit:

  “If I trained to be National Guard in this country, and I was posted at the reflecting pool to guard the paint that’s chipping…”
  — Dana Goldberg (03:39)

• On Online Reactions:

  “The art of the peel.” — Allison Gill (05:01)

• On the Color of the Algae:

  “It’s Nickelodeon slime green. Or Slimer from Ghostbusters.”
  — Allison Gill (06:02)

5. Lighter Moment: “Moxie Moment” Cat Roomba Battle

• A short, humorous outro as a “palette cleanser,” featuring two cats having a “tank battle” atop Roombas (12:08).
  • “What a great use of Roombas.” — Dana Goldberg (12:41)

---

Notable Quotes with Attribution & Timestamps

• Allison Gill:

  “They posted a photo of this guy who was arrested by park police for touching the paint that was peeling up... He hasn’t been in the Olympics in over 24 years. He’s 67 years old and that’s hysterical.” (04:00)

• Allison Gill (quoting scientist):

  “Many species of cyanobacteria are capable of producing cyanotoxins, which can be fatal if ingested... If it contains cyanotoxins... it could be fatal.” (07:45)

• Dana Goldberg:

  “Why paint the fucking grass?... Just take some time, redo whatever you need, irrigate the grass, feed it some food, water the damn thing.” (11:02)

• Allison Gill:

  “It’s Nickelodeon slime green. Or Slimer from Ghostbusters.” (06:02)

• Dana Goldberg:

  “If I trained to be National Guard in this country, and I was posted at the reflecting pool to guard the paint that’s chipping…” (03:39)

---

Key Timestamps

• 00:40 – Show open, hosts’ intros
• 01:44 – Upcoming events in Chicago and San Diego
• 03:39 – National Guard at the “algae pit,” National Mall memes
• 04:00 – Arrest over peeling paint; right-wing outrage
• 07:07 – Scientist explains orthophosphates and algae bloom cause
• 07:45 – Dangers of cyanotoxins highlighted, warning of risk to wildlife
• 08:26 – Confirmation of dead duckling, connection to toxic algae
• 09:40 – Administration repeats past mistakes with city water
• 11:01 – Painting over burned numbers in grass debacle
• 12:08 – Moxie Moment: Cat Roomba battle for comic relief

---

Summary

This episode of The Daily Beans is a sharp, snarky, and deeply critical look at mismanagement of a national landmark under Trump’s administration, laced with humor, viral moments, and a sobering dose of environmental science. Through the story of the toxic Reflecting Pool, the hosts draw a broader indictment of negligent, anti-science policy—while offering listeners moments of cathartic laughter and reminders to engage with the community.

---

Transcript

[A]

It's no surprise that newsmakers try to manipulate the audience. They want you to believe that they are the one holding the line, and they'll use any trick they can to get you there. But don't let them fool you. Get Unspun. I'm Amanda Sturgel. I've been a reporter, and today I teach future reporters to cut the spin and think critically about what newsmakers say. My podcast, Unspun, shows you how to know when you're being manipulated by the news, learn to spot the tricks, and how to make up your own mind about what's true. So if you're tired of being fooled by the news, subscribe to Unspun today. Unspun. Because you deserve the truth.

[B]

Hey, Everybody, it's Monday, June 22nd, 2026. I'm Allison Gill.

[C]

And I'm Dana Goldberg. And this is Beans.

[B]

All right, everybody.

[D]

Hello.

[B]

First of all, thank you, thank you, thank you to all of our patrons who came to the gala on Saturday in Chicago. Our party, it was incredible. We had 200 seats filled. We had some amazing food. We drank cocktails and mocktails. And we got to watch the incredible and incomparable Dana Goldberg deliver a comedy routine. And then we got to see Tig Notaro.

[C]

Yeah, Tig was awesome. Thank you for bringing her in. And just an incredible night. Our community is pretty damn extraordinary. So if, if you ever hear, if you're a patron, first of all, wonderful. But if you ever hear Allison say, we're having a gala for our patrons and I'm going to send out an email. Get your tickets soon. Get your tickets soon. I think this one. In 48 hours, they were gone.

[B]

Two hours.

[C]

In two hours? Yeah. In two hours they were gone. Pardon me. In two hours, they were gone.

[B]

They were swept up. Our next gala is election night. You can come and watch election results live with me and San Diego. Now, another thing that's going to be happening in Chicago, and if you haven't been to Chicago or you've been meaning to go back, September 23rd is the day that you want to go back, because Dana Goldberg is going to be doing a full hour of comedy. Where are you at?

[C]

In the.

[B]

In that fine Windy city?

[C]

It is the Den. The Den comedy. So the Den theater, It's a great 300 person venue where tickets are already going fast. So if you are watching this, you want to be in Chicago, you're near Chicago, go to danagoldberg.com hit my tour schedule and you can get tickets. They're super reasonable. So I'm Looking forward to seeing some familiar faces that went last year and some new people that weren't able to buy tickets because last year sold out so quickly. So I just can't wait to see you. Chicago. It's one of my favorite cities.

[B]

Mine too. Top five, at least. Had such a wonderful time. And we're going to be sharing photos here on Beans Talk over the coming days. But we're. We're still putting all that together. So we will check back if you want to see and send your photos into us daily beans.com and click on Contact and send us some good news and attach your photos. All right, we have some funny news news and then some bad news and then some more funny news. So we're gonna give you a sandwich. A sandwich. Right? A funny, bad funny. Because Trump has now posted he's got the National Guard standing watch over the algae pit. As my friend Angry staffer so eloquently put it on Blue sky, which now apparently has a fan club. Look at this. That is the algae cheerleading squad.

[C]

Allison. Do you know how I pissed. I would be if I trained to be a National Guard in this country. And I was posted at the reflecting pool to guard the paint that's chipping

[B]

up the throngs of antifa peeling up radical left.

[C]

I can't.

[B]

One of somebody on the right wing, some right wing asshole was like, they posted a photo of this guy who was arrested by park police for touching the paint that was peeling up. Right? Yeah. Hopefully it goes nowhere. But he's a former Olympian, a canoeist. And somebody posted a picture of him canoeing in the Olympics and said, I hope you never go to the fucking Olympics again. I hope you have this criminal record and it haunts you forever. And. And somebody pointed out he hasn't been in the Olympics in over 24 years. He's 67 years old and that's hysterical.

[C]

Maybe the senior Olympics, we don't know.

[B]

But anyway, just take. Just take two seconds if you're gonna run your mouth.

[C]

No kidding.

[B]

And just do a little bit of research. Just a tiny bit.

[C]

Yeah. Or don't.

[B]

And look like fucking asshole.

[C]

I don't care either way.

[B]

With me.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So they arrested him grabbing that piece of the blue coating that had floated at the top. Somebody. Somebody commented on the photo, by the way. The art of the peel.

[C]

Oh, my God.

[B]

Is what they're calling it.

[C]

I mean, the Internet for the win. I mean, there's so many good things that we see on the Internet. And by the way, did you see the neon this is actually not. Haha. They are literally dumping neon green slime from this thing into the Potomac. Look at this. It's like Nickelodeon green. That's what the chip. Jesus Christ. Going into that. It's like a. Like a. Like an Otter Pop. It's the same color as the lime Otter Pops that we used to drink or eat in the summertime. This is horrible. And there's reasons why. Alison, you're gonna cover that now?

[B]

Yeah, but yeah, the whole. You can't do that on television. And what was the other show, the game show that they had? I can't remember. But yeah, that's what it reminds. That's the color of. It's. That is the color.

[C]

It's Nickelodeon slime green.

[B]

It is. Or slimer from Ghostbusters.

[C]

There you go.

[B]

Same same. But I. So I was all set to show a list of memes because over the weekend there have been some really incredible memes that have come out about the swamp. I had the whole script today with. With all these photos of memes mocking the administration and the reflecting pool. But I was sent some news. Something that a scientist predicted four days ago, or warned about four days ago seems to have come to pass. And that gives me cause for concern. Watching them drain that neon slime green water and you know, down the, down the sewer there.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Because the scientists who can be found on blue sky at 7 Sugars first explained that the likely reason the bloom occurred isn't what we initially thought it was. We all thought it was because you had darker paint, you get more heat, but it was actually the nutrients, as it turns out. It seems that the administration refilled the pool with city water.

[C]

Oh my God.

[B]

Which is treated with orthophosphates. Orthophosphates are algae food. It's algae food. They love it, they eat it, it blooms. Now this scientist, she got her PhD in cyanobacteria, which is blue green algae. She has her PhD in this. In the growth of blue green algae and the treatment of it, and works in the. In the water treatment industry, by the way. So she posted in a thread about the blue green algae quote. And while I am thoroughly enjoying pointing and laughing at this administration's avoidable failures just like the rest of you, I would like to see this problem solved sooner rather than later. Why? Many species of cyanobacteria are capable of producing cyanotoxins, which can be fatal if ingested. People, wildlife, pets, all can come in contact with this water. And if it contains cyanotoxins such as microcystins, which is more likely than not, given its appearance. And someone's pet dog drinks from it, it could be fatal to the dog.

[C]

And it's being dumped into the Potomac.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah. And I mean, that's just beyond. Right. And so that. That is what gives me this concern. This was four days ago.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

But I do have some bad news that that prediction has come true. Content warning. Before we put this photo up for. For dead wildlife. Today, we have a dead duckling in the water, Rob Curley says at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. I'm sorry to report we have a dead duckling. Last week, the test suggested the algae was harmless, but an expert now tells me we could be having signs of cyan cyanobacteria, which are the cyanotoxins. Yeah, that. That. That scientist was mentioning.

[C]

That's why science matters, which apparently they don't believe in. In this administration. All of this matters. But we're talking to people that don't give a. About the environment. They don't care about wildlife. They don't care about any of this stuff. They care about the bottom dollar. That's it. And I don't know, giving it away to a company that didn't know what the hell they were doing with the reflecting pool. It's just. It's disgusting to me what has happened. You know, I saw a picture where they removed the UFC thing that they had built on the lawn, and that's destroyed. You know, the. The. It's. I hope we can get all of this back and rebuild and just retake. Take back everything that they've done. It's just. It makes me so sad.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah, me too. And here's the thing, Dana. They did this before. This was a learned lesson, or it should have been. When they. The last time they filled the reflecting pool with city water, the same thing happened. So it's not so much the heat, because right now is a great time for all algae. It doesn't have to be fair. Dark on the bottom of the thing. It's. They fed it. They fed it with city water. Phosphates.

[C]

Oh, my God.

[B]

And the bloom. The thing that causes the cytotoxin or the cyan cyanotoxins is the. The harmfulness of the amount of the bloom.

[C]

Got it.

[B]

Of the blue algae. So when they fed this algae, they've created the toxicity. That's what that scientist was worried about.

[C]

They actually continue to create more problems every time they try and fix one. And so this is a lighter note. We Told you that more lightness would be coming. Remember when someone burned 8647 into the lawn at the National Mall and you could barely see it? It was barely visible unless you were looking at it at the right angle, and it looked like this. Okay, so then Trump decided to paint the grass green. Paint the grass green a couple of days later, which just made the numbers stand out even more. Look at what it turned it into.

[B]

Well, now I can read it now.

[C]

I couldn't really see it before. You definitely could barely see the four. And that four is very clear right now. I mean, why match a color? Why paint the fucking grass? Just take some time, Redo whatever you need to it, irrigate the grass, feed it some food, water the damn thing. I just move fast and break. And then look what they do.

[A]

I.

[C]

It's just. It blows my mind.

[B]

Yeah. And I mean, if they're burning that stuff into the grass with chemicals like you said, and then they paint the grass green because it was brown, but then the grass dies and goes away. You're going to highlight the.

[C]

Yeah. Oh, my God. They're idiots. They're all idiots.

[B]

They are. It's very frustrating, like you said, seeing all the destruction at the Ellipse, seeing the destruction of the east wing. Who knows what it'll look like if he can build that stupid arch. But I think the point is to, like, de. Beautify dc. Like, I think he's trying to make it ugly.

[C]

I think so too. I think they're trying to destroy it.

[B]

All right, we've got a moxie moment for you. Just thanks the baby Jesus palette cleanser so we can get out of here too, today. Mom, why do we need two Roombas? Why, for cat tank battles, of course. Watch this.

[C]

What a great use of Roombas. I love that the cats are so common. They're just like.

[B]

It's like battle cats, right? Oh, my God, that's so funny. That comes to us, by the way, Courtesy of Bruce PX Wells 495 on Threads. We got pulled out from Threads this day. Thanks to Joelle for sending it to me. You can follow danadg comedy on Instagram. You can follow me at Muller, she wrote. And we'll be back tomorrow. Thanks so much for watching. I'm Allison Gill.

[C]

And I'm Dana Goldberg. And that's Beans Talk.

[E]

I'm Brian Caram, and I've spent decades covering politics. Now I'm taking you behind the scenes one interview at a time.

[D]

Join us as each week, Brian confronts the issues that matter posing the questions you wish you could ask. No filter, no agenda. Just the truth.

[E]

We're not here for sound bites. We're here for substance. Join me, Brian Caram every week as we cut through the noise and get straight to it. This is Just Ask the Question where curiosity will lead us to the facts.

[D]

Subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform and remember, when you want answers, all you have to do is just ask the question.