The Daily Beans: “Bessent Into Madness”

Date: October 27, 2025
Hosts: Allison Gill (A.G.), Dana Goldberg
Podcast: MSW Media

Episode Overview

Today's episode delivers a sharp, snarky rundown of key political developments, highlighting stunning revelations about Pentagon funding from billionaire Timothy Mellon, U.S. military escalation off South America, ongoing voter suppression efforts, and a bevy of legal, electoral, and social justice updates. Interwoven throughout are the hosts’ signature humor and outrage, along with a touch of pop culture and community good news.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Timothy Mellon Revealed as $130 Million Pentagon Donor

• Main Story: The New York Times confirms that Timothy Mellon, heir to the Mellon banking fortune and a major Trump supporter, is the mystery donor who gave $130 million to pay troops during the government shutdown.
  • Background: Mellon has funded both Trump and RFK Jr., and is implicated by association in the Bank of New York Mellon’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein’s financial activities.
  • Anti-Deficiency Act Violations: Accepting private donations for federal payroll is unlawful under the Anti-Deficiency Act, raising questions about the legality and motivations for the donation.
  • Quotable Moment:
    • A.G. (17:22): "Help pay the troops, my ass. Okay, that's not from The New York Times. That's from me."
  • Epstein Connection:
    • Recent lawsuits allege Bank of New York Mellon helped sustain Epstein’s sex trafficking. Mellon’s name was recently removed from the bank in apparent rebranding.
    • A.G. (20:29): “Anything that you think is a distraction from the Epstein files probably has something to do with somebody who's either in the Epstein files or financed Jeffrey Epstein.”
  • Contextual Humor:
    • Dana (18:54): "Jesus Christ," upon hearing about another massive Mellon donation.

2. U.S. Military Deploys Aircraft Carrier to South America

• Escalation: The Pentagon sends an aircraft carrier to South American waters as the Trump administration intensifies strikes against alleged "illicit" boats—many actually fishing vessels, with reports of civilian casualties and lack of due process.
  • Dana (14:32): "They've killed 43 civilians in these attacks...and Trump is just like, I guess we're just gonna kill people."
  • A.G. (14:39): "That's the lack of due process. That's why this is murder."
  • Political Fallout: Even some hardline Republicans such as Rand Paul are privately voicing concerns but are not going public, prompting the hosts to call out their cowardice.

3. Trump’s Attempt at Election Monitoring—Voter Suppression Redux

• Federal Intimidation: Trump’s Justice Department will deploy election monitors to California and New Jersey, particularly targeting heavily Latino and immigrant-populated areas.
  • Voter Suppression Angle: Moves seen as attempts to scare eligible voters—especially immigrants and minorities—away from the polls under pretense of fighting nonexistent voter fraud.
  • Quote: Dana (24:06): “That’s all this is, voter intimidation.”
  • A.G. (24:37): “We saw this heavily in 2020, 2024...they went after black counties in Michigan and Wisconsin."

4. Planned Parenthood Funding Restored by States

• State Response to Federal Cuts: Following Trump’s ban on Medicaid payments to clinics offering abortions, governors of New York and California pledge tens of millions in state funding to keep Planned Parenthood clinics open.
  • Impact: One-third of all Planned Parenthood locations at risk of closure nationally due to the federal ban.
  • A.G. (26:41): “There’s so much more that Planned Parenthood does.”

5. Letitia James and Legal Maneuvering

• Legal Update: NY Attorney General Letitia James pleads not guilty to mortgage fraud. She seeks a speedy trial and questions U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan’s legitimacy. Her motion is consolidated with a similar one from James Comey, to be heard by a Clinton-appointed judge in South Carolina.
  • A.G. (08:34): Details the legal strategy and wider implications.
  • Unjustified Podcast: Ongoing detailed coverage of these cases.

6. ICE Abuses & Court Showdown

• Court Orders: Judge Ellis in Chicago enforces orders to limit ICE brutality at protests. Orders Kristi Noem to produce ICE official Gregory Bevino to testify after video evidence shows tear gas deployed without warning.
  • A.G. (11:13): Provides backstory of Bevino’s pattern of mendacity and abuse.

7. Don Jr.'s Drone Company Lands Major Defense Contract

• Nepotistic Deal: Florida-based Unusual Machines, linked to Don Jr., scores a huge no-bid Army contract during a government shutdown, with further deals imminent.
  • B (13:09): “This is just gross nepotism... surprised it’s not called Coke Drones.”

8. Irish Presidential Election

• Progressive Win: Catherine Connolly, a left-leaning independent backed by several progressive parties, is elected Ireland’s president by a landslide—the third woman to hold this largely ceremonial post.
  • Dana (27:02): “People just conceding the vote without actually challenging...what I know."
  • Connolly vows to champion diversity and inclusivity.

9. Pop Culture Sidebars & Announcements

• Martin Sheen Podcast: New podcast featuring stories and poetry from Martin Sheen, with hosts praising its artistic, patriotic tone.
  • A.G. (02:29): “It’s art and it’s fantastic...like if President Jeb Bartlett was reading you bedtime stories.”
• The Breakdown & Unjustified: Promotions for Allison’s and MSW Media’s other progressive content, including deep dives into the Mellon-Epstein connection.

10. Community Good News & Listener Engagement

• Listener 'Good Trouble': Recommendations for actions like emailing the USDA to protest partisan misinformation on SNAP.
• Listener Antics: Mailing pro-LGBTQ stickers back to Turning Point.
• Protest Highlight: Listener Lisa leads chants at a Bethlehem, PA rally, sharing the empowering experience.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump’s Social Media Rants (Tylenol):

  • A.G. (06:45): “Trump is on truth social today...Don’t ever take Tylenol...He’s just completely gone off the deep end, I think. I swear to God, he’s about to launch Trump aspirin or something.”
  • Dana (07:06): “Probably call it Asspirin because I just wanted to say the memes off Trump aspirin.”

• Host Banter & Snark:

  • A.G. (03:40): "It's like if President Jeb Bartlett was reading you bedtime stories."
  • Dana (13:09): "Don Jr's company just called Coke Drones...I mean, that would be Coke drones."

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Headlines rundown | | 03:40 | Martin Sheen Podcast plug | | 05:53 | Trump’s delusional claims about Speaker/President | | 07:54 | Letitia James legal proceedings | | 09:03 | Kilmar Abrego Garcia deportation, ICE abuses | | 11:13 | Judge Ellis orders Gregory Bevino to court | | 12:09 | Don Jr.’s drone company lands army contract | | 13:30 | Aircraft carrier to South America, escalating strikes| | 17:22 | Times story: Mellon Pentagon donation and implications| | 20:29 | Mellon–Epstein banking lawsuit & timeline | | 21:40 | Voter suppression via election monitoring by DoJ | | 24:37 | Expanded voter suppression analysis | | 26:41 | Planned Parenthood funding replaced by states | | 27:02 | Catherine Connolly wins Irish presidency |

Tone and Language

• Progressive, Snarky, Concerned: The hosts maintain their signature blend of sharp progressive analysis, humor, and occasional exasperation, particularly when confronting administration cruelty or Republican hypocrisy.
• Engaging & Relatable: Regular pop culture references, candid listener messages, and open calls for activism keep the show accessible and energizing.

Conclusion

This episode exemplifies The Daily Beans’ commitment to holding power to account, spotlighting connections between big donors, election integrity threats, healthcare and immigrant rights, and legal accountability. With humor, outrage, and community, the hosts foster both information and action.

For Listeners Who Missed the Show

You’ll come away with:

• A detailed account of the Mellon–Pentagon–Epstein financial web
• The latest in Trump-era military deployment and legal fallout
• Insight into the strategies and impacts behind current voter suppression
• A survey of progressive political wins and resilience at state and international levels
• Plus, everyday activism, protest humor, and heartwarming community good news

Recommended further listening:

• Martin Sheen Podcast (MSW Media)
• The Breakdown with Allison Gill
• Unjustified (for deep-dive legal coverage)

Them’s the beans.