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Monday, September 22nd, 2025 Today, Trump’s Border Czar Tom Homan took a $50K cash bribe for government contracts but Pam Bondi’s DOJ dropped the investigation; the US Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia resigns in protest after refusing to indict Leticia James and Jim Comey; Justice Department officials tell NBC Charlie Kirk's shooter has no connections to left wing groups; the UK, Australia, and Canada vote to recognize a Palestinian state; RFK Jr’s new vaccine skeptics panel votes against recommending vaccines for children; Democrats unveil an alternate government funding bill; a Phoenix man was arrested after threatening to shoot up a gay bar near his apartment; Trump asked the Supreme Court to restore birth sex passport requirements; uniformed military members are asking whether the boat attacks in the Caribbean are lawful; the Pentagon muzzles reporters by requiring pre-authorization; Trump’s new $100K visa fee sets of panic and confusion; California lawmakers prote...
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- [00:00]
Alison Gill
MSW Media. Hello and welcome to the Daily beans for Monday, September 22, 2025. Today, Trump's border czar Tom Homan took a $50,000 cash bribe in a paper bag for government contracts. But Pam Bondi's DOJ dropped the investigation. The U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia has resigned in protest after refusing to indict Letitia James and Jim Comey. Justice Department officials tell NBC there are no ties between Charlie Kirk's shooter and left wing groups. The UK, Australia and Canada vote to recognize a Palestinian state. RFK Jr. S new vaccine skeptics panel votes against recommending vaccines for Democrats. Unveil an alternate government funding bill. A Phoenix man was arrested after threatening to shoot up a gay bar near his apartment. Trump asked the Supreme Court to restore birth, sex, passport requirements. Uniformed military members are asking whether the boat attacks in the Caribbean are lawful. The Pentagon muzzles reporters by requiring pre authorization for their stories. Trump's new $100,000 visa fee sets off panic and confusion and. And California lawmakers protect medical data for transgender people. I'm Alison Gill.
- [01:31]
Dana Goldberg
And I'm Dana Goldberg. Just a couple. Not busy at all. And I do love that every time there's just shit in the world, one of these blue states, as we like to call them, stands up and goes, not on my watch.
- [01:49]
Alison Gill
Yeah, yeah, he just. Governor Newsom just signed a bill for that. ICE agents can't wear masks. And now we know we have these protections for transgender people's medical records, which it's called hipaa.
- [02:01]
Dana Goldberg
Everyone's got their medical records protected.
- [02:04]
Alison Gill
Yeah, it's, it's bonkers. All right, so we have a lot of news, as you can tell from the headlines. Also, Adam Klassfeld's going to join me later. He's going to give us an update on the Kilmar Abrego case. There's a big hearing coming up this week, and it's going to have implications for tons of these immigration cases. So he and I are going to talk about that. There's also a new episode of Unjustified out with me and Andy McCabe. And we have, you know, we talk about more DOJ failures, including a jury that acquitted a man accused of assaulting a Border Patrol agent in, in Los Angeles said the border. The officer lied on the stand and the video showed it. So that in under an hour, the jury was like, not guilty. Get the fuck out. So we talk about that on Unjustified and we talk about Jack Smith. He spoke out in public at George Mason University for like an hour.
- [02:54]
Adam Klassfeld
Wow.
- [02:55]
Alison Gill
About corruption at the doj. And he said the DOJ was my home for many, many years. And that home is on fire. And it's like really, really, like harshly goes after this administration for weaponization. So we can hear Andy talk about that. He was in the audience for that speech, so. All right, well, like I said, we have tons of headlines to get to, but first we have some quick hits.
- [03:18]
Adam Klassfeld
And to make a long story short, Too late.
- [03:20]
Alison Gill
All right. Lightning NBC. The federal investigation into the assassination of Charlie Kirk has yet to find. I don't call it an assassination. The federal investigation into the murderer of Charlie Kirk has yet to find a link between the alleged shooter and left wing groups on which President Trump and his administration have pledged to crack down. That's according to three sources. Three sources familiar with the investigation. One person familiar said thus far there's no evidence connecting the suspect with any left wing groups. None.
- [03:49]
Dana Goldberg
No evidence they're going to run with this narrative. I'm actually impressed that it's this Justice Department that came up and said that, to be honest with you. And they didn't just make up some bullshit. All right, this one's from the Associated Press. The UK, Australia and Canada, they formally recognized a Palestinian state on Sunday, prompting an angry response from Israel, which ruled out the prospect. The coordinated initiative from the three commonwealth nations and longtime allies reflects growing outrage at Israel's conduct of the war in Gaza and the steps taken by the Israeli government to thwart efforts create a Palestinian state, including by the continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank. More countries are expected to join the list recognizing a Palestinian state at the UN General assembly this week, including France and Portugal.
- [04:36]
Alison Gill
All right, important steps. Next up. Congressional Democrats released bill text Wednesday night for their own stopgap spending proposal. You know, the government funding runs out at the end of this month and this is, you know, they're digging in against a House Republican backed measure that would just fund the government as it is until late November. The new Democratic proposal links funding the government through October 31 to 2 of the party's priorities, healthcare assistance and placing limits on Trump's ability to unilaterally roll back funds already approved by Congress. Now, you know what? I think no Democrat should vote to fund this regime as is and let the Republicans shut it down. That's my personal opinion. There are good arguments against my opinion. Had great discussions on this with a lot of friends, including the fact that if we shut down the government, the courts would shut down. It would take a few weeks, but the courts could shut down. And the courts are doing a lot of good work right now. So there are good arguments on both sides of this. I, I think that the courts take about six weeks to catch up, and by then you have to have another stopgap spending bill. So I'm, I'm kind of for letting the Republicans shut it down because it's broken as it is.
- [05:44]
Dana Goldberg
Yeah, I'm agreed on that for sure. This one's from POLITICO. The CDC's outside vaccine advisors. They voted Thursday to overhaul the recommendation for one immunization long targeted by allies of Health Secretary RFK Jr while delaying action on its most controversial proposed change. Kennedy's handpicked panel, many of whom share his vaccine skepticism and have absolutely no scientific background or medical, voted not to recommend the MMRV vaccine to children younger than four. Instead, it advised that the group receive two separate vaccines, the MMR vaccine and the varicella or chickenpox vaccine.
- [06:24]
Alison Gill
Yeah, why they don't just call it the chickenpox vaccine is beyond me. But yes, this group, this panel, remember he had, he fired the whole actual panel of scientists and then put his friends, his, his buddies who go out with him and kill baby bears and cut the heads off of dead whales. Those folks are now in there and they are recommending against measles. Yeah.
- [06:48]
Dana Goldberg
Which is on the rise.
- [06:50]
Alison Gill
Geez. It's just, I hate it here. All right, next up from Politico, the Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court for an emergency ruling. It's an emergency, Dana. To permit the State Department to require passport applicants to select their sex assigned at birth.
- [07:05]
Dana Goldberg
Give me a break.
- [07:06]
Alison Gill
Rather than permitting them to choose a gender or select an X. Now, a federal judge enjoined the administration's passport policy in June, saying it's probably unconstitutional and it violates the constitutional rights of transgender and non binary people to not let them select X or, you know, their preferred gender. Trump Solicitor General John Sauer. Get this. Said the ruling, that ruling where she, she said it's, you know, you can't take that away from transgender people because it's unconstitutional and non binary people.
- [07:36]
Adam Klassfeld
That ruling.
- [07:37]
Alison Gill
District Judge Julia Kobic made that ruling. John Sauer, Trump's Solicitor General, said that her ruling was directly harming the administration's foreign policy interests.
- [07:48]
Dana Goldberg
What?
- [07:49]
Alison Gill
I guess not having your birth sex is a national security on your. So you travel abroad. I don't, I, I can't even put those two things together in my head.
- [08:02]
Dana Goldberg
I sure hope they press them on. Can you explain that? Give me an example. Thanks.
- [08:07]
Alison Gill
Right Right. If my friend Madison goes to France with the X marker for non binary on how are we endangering national security in the United States? I just don't fucking get it at all.
- [08:21]
Dana Goldberg
It's a great fucking question that they don't have an answer to. This next story is from NBC. The surprise order from the Trump administration imposing a new hundred thousand dollars fee on some visas. It set off a day of frantic travel as workers, companies and foreign governments scrambled to respond to Washington's latest immigration crackdown. By the time the White House clarified that existing holders of H1B visas for skilled workers were not affected, the chaos had already been sown. US Allies expressed concern that their nationals abandoned holidays, business trips and plans to see family as they race back to America before the new rules took effect Sunday. Trump signed the proclamation Friday requiring companies to pay the fee to obtain the visas, which major tech companies rely on to fill high skilled jobs and a lot of of hospitals rely on that do not have the money to pay that sort of thing. Now, the order offered little clarity, however, on whether the steep new charge applied only to fresh applications or might also ensnare renewals and even those already holding valid visas. And I read on this, that fee used to be less than $5,000.
- [09:28]
Desiree McFarlane
Yeah.
- [09:28]
Dana Goldberg
And he jumped it to 100 grand.
- [09:30]
Alison Gill
Yeah. And days later, after everyone traveled around and came back to the United States or whatever or canceled their holidays and stuff, they clarified it's not for existing H1B visa holders, just new ones. But they didn't clarify that on renewals. And so it's just a huge clusterfuck per us for this administration. They just do things and don't realize six or seven steps down the road what that means for a ton of people anyway. We're going to keep following that. It's just, he's just selling, he's selling visas.
- [10:03]
Dana Goldberg
Yeah, right.
- [10:04]
Alison Gill
He only wants people who can afford $100,000 to come here. Next up, congressional Democrats want answers on the Pentagon's boat attacks in the Caribbean. Adam Schiff promised to force a vote on war powers legislation that would require Congress to authorize ongoing military actions against cartels. The goal is, quote, to put the Senate on record whether they're going to support this kind of lawless action. Overall, Republican lawmakers have shown little interest in challenging the boat strikes. Senator Tim Kaine sent a letter demanding information on the initial strike, the first one, and whether it had any legal basis. Alyssa Slotkin disclosed, quote, we have uniformed military members asking their chain of command for letters that ensure they don't have personal liability for any illegal actions in these operations. Now the Post reports the Trump administration unveiled a new crackdown Friday on journalists at the Pentagon. Folks who want to report on this saying it's going to require those journalists to pledge, make a promise, pinky swear, that they won't gather any information, even unclassified, that hasn't been expressly authorized for release and will revoke the press credentials of anyone who doesn't obey. So, you know, muzzling protected free speech and journalism.
- [11:21]
Dana Goldberg
It is just controlled by the state. That's what it is. It's not just an attack on freedom of speech. It's also the information that we're allowed.
- [11:29]
Alison Gill
To hear that's state run media. And for, for a member of the military to be like, I need you to put a letter in my file that says I'm not legally liable for murdering people if I press the button to bomb a boat in the Caribbean.
- [11:42]
Dana Goldberg
Yep.
- [11:44]
Alison Gill
Frightening, awful. All right, we have more news to get to, but we have to take a quick break. Stick around, we'll be right back after these messages.
- [11:53]
Dana Goldberg
We'll be right back.
- [11:55]
Alison Gill
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- [13:40]
Dana Goldberg
Yep.
- [13:41]
Alison Gill
Now the White House borders are recorded him accepting $50,000 in cash after indicating he could help the agents who were posing as business executives win government contracts in a second Trump administration. That's according to multiple people familiar with the probe and internal documents reviewed by msnbc. FBI and Justice Department both planned to wait to see whether Homan would deliver on his alleged promises once he became the nation's top immigration official. Because in order to be, you know, public corruption unit and accept a bribe as an official, you have to be an official. But the case indefinitely stalled after Trump became president, according to six sources familiar with the matter in recent weeks. Trump appointees officially closed the investigation after FBI Director Kash Patel requested a status update on the case. The it's unclear what response FBI and Justice Department officials gave for shutting down the investigation, but a Trump Justice Department appointee called it a deep state probe from early 2025 and no further investigative steps were taken. The federal investigation was launched in western Texas in 2024, middle of 2024, after a subject in a separate investigation claimed Homan was soliciting payments in exchange for awarding contracts should Trump win the presidential election. That's according to internal Justice Department summaries of the probe reviewed by MSNBC and people familiar with the case. The U.S. attorney's office in the Western District of Texas, working with the FBI, asked DOJ Public Integrity Section the Pin to join its ongoing probe into the border czar and former acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Tom Homan and others, based on evidence of payment from FBI undercover agents in exchange for facilitating future contracts related to border enforcement. Undercover FBI agents posing as contractors communicated and met several times with a business colleague who introduced them to Tom Homan and with Homan himself. They met and he indicated he would facilitate securing contracts for them in exchange for money once he was in office. Now, on September 20, 2024, with hidden cameras recording the scene at a meeting spot in Texas, Homan accepted $50,000 in bills, according to an internal summary of the case. The Homan wasn't a government official at the time, but it is still a crime whether you're an official or not. But the doj, like I said, wanted to wait and see if he'd do it in his official capacity. And I do have to kind of hand it to the Department of Justice under Biden there in 2024 after investigating someone else and getting a tip that Homan was doing that for putting undercover FBI agents dressed up as businessmen, except willing to accept bribes, to go to talk to Homan. So that's a cool thing that the FBI and the DOJ did at the end of 2024 there. And of course, the Trump administration shut it down.
- [16:29]
Dana Goldberg
Yes, indeed, they did. All right, this one's from The Times. The U.S. attorney investigating New York's Attorney General, Tish James and the former FBI Director, James Comey, said he had resigned on Friday hours after President Trump called for his ouster. Eric Seibert, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, had recently told senior Justice Department officials that investigators found insufficient evidence to bring charges against Ms. James and had also raised concerns about a potential case against Mr. Comey, according to officials familiar with the situation. Mr. Seibert informed prosecutors in his office of his resignation through an email hours after the president, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, said that he wanted him removed because two Democratic senators from Virginia had approved of his nomination. Trump is running out of time to indict Jim Comey as the statute of limitations on his testimony expires in six days.
- [17:22]
Alison Gill
Days five years ago.
- [17:24]
Dana Goldberg
Yep. Trump has apparently appointed insurance lawyer Lindsey Halligan to be the interim U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia. Now, there was a social media post on True Social that basically is Trump sending it. Has that been verified? That was real. Right, because he put it up and he took it down.
- [17:43]
Desiree McFarlane
Yeah, he put it up and he deleted it.
- [17:45]
Alison Gill
But it seemed like he was trying to DM her.
- [17:47]
Dana Goldberg
Maybe it seemed like it, but also I don't trust. I believe that this. There's part of this that I feel like they did this in public purpose. Because they can get away with anything to distract again from either Epstein or something else, because all the grammar's perfect. So Trump didn't write it, and so someone was penning it for him. So either someone made the mistake and put it on his True Social, or they're pretending as if it was an accident to distract and make it a news story. But either way, it's literally like the tapes from Watergate Being posted on social media. It's insane.
- [18:20]
Desiree McFarlane
Mm.
- [18:20]
Alison Gill
Yeah. That the president is telling the Attorney General, whether through a DM or, you know, meant to be a DM or on social media. You need to do this. You need to investigate these people now, and you need to indict them now.
- [18:34]
Dana Goldberg
Yeah, we're losing credibility. We're being embarrassed. You like Lindsey? Lindsey likes you. Just put him in the position. And it's really damning. It's very damning.
- [18:44]
Alison Gill
Oh, yeah. And, you know, $50,000 in a bag to get contracts. That's what Spiro Agnew did.
- [18:50]
Dana Goldberg
Yep.
- [18:51]
Alison Gill
There's a whole fucking podcast called Bagman.
- [18:53]
Desiree McFarlane
About it, if you were familiar about what Spiro Agnew did.
- [18:58]
Alison Gill
But that's why it's called Bagman, because the money's in a bag. That is what Spiro Agnew had to resign over. It was a big, huge fucking scandal back then, man.
- [19:08]
Dana Goldberg
I can't believe we are where we are in this country, that no one blinks an eye at this stuff.
- [19:11]
Desiree McFarlane
And now it's just like, huh?
- [19:13]
Alison Gill
All right, well, what's the next headline? Yeah, well, I'll tell you the next headline. This is from the Arizona family. A Phoenix man has been arrested after police say he threatened to shoot up a gay bar near his apartment, reportedly because he was angry about recent political violence. On Wednesday, Phoenix police arrested Trevin Michael gokey. He's a 49 year old. On accusations of. By the way, I'm 51 and I've seen this guy's photo, and I'm feeling pretty good about myself today. On accusations of making terroristic threats and using a computer to threaten, both of which are felonies. Court paperwork revealed that officers were called out to Goki's apartment for a welfare check after a crisis hotline reported he made threats to shoot up Cruisin 7th, which is a very popular LGBTQ bar near 7th street and Osborne. I have been to this bar. I have walked past it many times. And because he said he was triggered by political events, he wanted to go and do a mass shooting at this bar. And when officers arrived, Goki reportedly refused to come out of his apartment and allegedly made statements that the radical left violence, it breeds far right respons. Police asked for specifics, and he mentioned the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the school shootings in Minneapolis and Tennessee. In court documents, police stated they asked Goki about those events and how they made him feel, to which he stated it didn't make him happy and he wanted to harm others. To send a message. Police revealed in arresting documents that he said Charlie Kirk was a martyr and he was going to be a martyr for Charlie Kirk and that political violence breeds political violence. Police also detailed several transphobic comments he made. Gokey was booked into the Maricopa county jail on a $250,000 bond. In light of the arrest, Phoenix Pride released a statement which read in part, we are in constant contact with our civic and public safety partners and we're always monitoring potential threats. However, to be clear, Phoenix Pride and the greater Phoenix LGBTQ and allied community will not be intimidated, silenced, suppressed, are subdued. And Dana, this is why I was so pissed at that report from the Wall Street Journal that said what was on the bullets was transgender ideology, because that kind of bullshit reporting and stupid wrong narrative is what causes shit like this. And I'm glad they caught him before he could do any real damage.
- [21:31]
Dana Goldberg
Well said. Thank you, my friend. This last story in the segment is from the Hill. California lawmakers passed legislation last week to prevent health providers from releasing transgender patients confidential medical records in investig of gender affirming care in states that ban treatment for minors. Senate Bill 497, introduced in February by Senator Scott Wiener, and he is a Democrat representing San Francisco, builds upon a 2022 state law that established California as a state of refuge for transgender people. That law, also authored by Weiner, prevents states that have banned gender affirming care for minors from taking legal action against trans youth, their families and their doctors over treatment administered in California. So someone drives from Texas into California, you are protected under this. The latest bill would require law enforcement requesting health information about transgender people in California to provide a warrant. According to Wiener's office, it was also bar medical providers from complying with out of state requests, including subpoenas for information related to gender affirming care. So this is a big step. I believe Illinois also is doing what they can to protect the gender affirming care for our trans community. And this is how it should be.
- [22:43]
Alison Gill
Yeah, agreed.
- [22:44]
Desiree McFarlane
So very good step.
- [22:45]
Alison Gill
I know the governor, as you and I talked about at the top of the show, assigned a couple of great laws that were recently passed by our wonderful state assembly. So thank you very much to our electeds here in California for protecting people. We need it so much now given what's going on in in D.C. all right, everybody. The good trouble today is going to be first up in the good news. But first I'm going to talk to Adam Klassfeld about the upcoming hearing for Kilmar Abrego and some more recent developments. In that case, stick around. We'll be right back. Hey, have you heard about Wild Grain yet? They are the first bake from frozen subscription box for artisanal breads, seasonal pastries and fresh pastas. Everything is ready in 25 minutes or less straight from your freezer. And unlike store bought bread, Wild Grain uses a slow fermentation process that's easier to digest and it's richer in nutrients and antioxidants and it's made with simple ingredients you can actually pronounce. Their boxes are fully customizable and they're always adding seasonal and limited time treats. In addition to their classic box, they now offer a gluten free box and even a plant based box. Thanks to Wild Grain for supporting the show. Check this deal out For a limited time, Wild Grain is offering you $30 off your first box plus free croissants in every box when you go to wildgrain.comdailybeans to start your subscription. Or you can use promo code dailybeans at checkout. Wild Grain recently sent me a delivery. I could not believe how fresh everything was. Everything tasted amazing. I popped their apple cider donuts in the oven and in under 25 minutes my kitchen smelled like fall. The texture was soft, the flavor was spiced. It was delicious. It felt like a full bakery experience at home. I also tried the slow fermented sourdough bread which baked up with a crisp crust and soft, airy interior. Everything arrived perfectly packaged. I love that the delivery saved me a trip to the bakery. For Dana, who's eating gluten free, the dedicated box was a game changer. It's easy, it's delicious and it truly feels like a treat every time it arrives. So this fall, treat yourself and your loved ones to warm sourdough breads and seasonal baked goods from Wild Grain. Rumor has it they have apple cider donuts and pumpkin cinnamon biscuits, so get them before these seasonal items sell out. For a limited time, Wild Grain is offering our listeners $30 off your first box plus free croissants and every box when you go to wildgrain.comdailybeans to start your subscription. You heard me. Free croissants in Every box and $30 off your first box when you go to wildgrain.com dailybeans don't miss their seasonal products.
- [25:13]
Desiree McFarlane
We're live here on the breakdown and at All Rise News. My name is Alison Gill AG Molusherot. You probably know me as I have many, many names and joining me is a man with just one name, a recognizable name.
- [25:27]
Alison Gill
His name is Adam Klassfeld and he.
- [25:29]
Desiree McFarlane
Is the owner and operator of the independent media outlet called All Rise News, which honestly is, you know, as a one man operation going out and, you know, taking part in court hearings and being in the courthouse and reporting out and doing all the traveling, it's just astounding that you, that you do all this independently. And we really, really, I know everybody appreciates it so much so we can get on the ground, like blow by blow action court hearings that are super important for a lot of the high profile cases that you're following.
- [26:07]
Alison Gill
And I wanted to ask you today.
- [26:10]
Desiree McFarlane
Because you sent me a text and you're like, we've got some updates in the Kilmar abrego case. In Mr. Abrego's case, as we all know, Mr. Abrego was taken and put on a plane to El Salvador and spent time in the Sea Coat Torture prison. He was beaten and tortured and inhumane conditions. And, you know, Judge Boasberg tried to bring him back to the United States because the DOJ admitted they made an error in deporting him because he had an order from a court in the United States, an immigration court, not to be deported to El Salvador. But he was. And so they brought him back, but not because they made a mistake. They brought him back to kind of COVID their tracks and stop a discovery hearing that could lead to contempt in Boasberg's courtroom. And they brought him back by charging him with two ridiculous crimes from a traffic stop in 2022 where everybody back then let him go without as much as a traffic ticket. And you've been covering this case from soup to nuts since the beginning. And there's a lot of outpouring from the public for information about what's going on with Mr. Abrego. So I would love to hear what the latest updates are in the case and where you, Mr. Independent Media from All Rise News are headed this week and how people can support that trip. So let's talk about updates in the Abrego case.
- [27:40]
Adam Klassfeld
Thank you so much, Alison. Well, this week there's going to be another court hearing for Mr. Abrego in Nashville, Tennessee. He's charged in the middle district of Tennessee because as you said, Allison, this is a case over that 2022 traffic stop that it stems from that two counts related to smuggling allegations, not trafficking allegations, which is commonly said by Kristi Noem's Department of Homeland Security. But what is expected to happen at this hearing on Friday, there's no Clear agenda. But there are many things in front of the judge. For example, the judge has a pending motion on selective and vindictive prosecution because there are now three tracks of this case, two civil cases and the criminal case. And since the last time, when Abrego was released from criminal custody, briefly was reunited with his family before being taken into immigration custody, there was an offer on the table, a plea offer. And it was kind of one of those offers they gave to ABC News recently. Where can do this the easy way or the hard way? Where you plead guilty, we send you to Costa Rica, and you plead not guilty, and you insist on your right under the Bail Reform act to be released, then we're going to try to send you to Uganda. That was presented as evidence of selective and vindictive prosecution for asserting his rights. We'll see if that comes up at Friday's hearing. There are other issues that are pending before the judge. Now, Abrego at this very moment is in immigration custody in Virginia because pursuant to his habeas case, trying to block his deportation. Now it is not Uganda. Now the Department of Homeland Security is trying to send him to Eswatini, which, by the way, is the only absolute monarchy left on the African continent. So that is where things stand. But because he is detained in Virginia, his attorneys say it's very hard to prepare for trial. So that's happening on another. That's another motion pending before the court, and there's a third motion. We'll see how many of these are adjudicated, but they're all very important, is to get Secretary Kristi Noem to stop disparaging Abrego before trial. Keep posting tweets, keep accusing him of things that he isn't charged with in the indictment? As a matter of fact, the very interesting thing, in the most recent motion, most recent status update by the defense attorneys, they mentioned that Kristi Noem, and this is true, this happened in another case, was asked by Todd Blanche, the, you know, second top official in the Justice Department, asked Kristi Noem to take down all of her posts that were that were violating the presumption of innocence of a different criminal defender, Congresswoman LaMonica MacGyver in New Jersey. They took that down and they said, well, but they're not doing that with a breakup. And so here's the thing. It's innocent until proven guilty, not innocent until Kristi Noem declares you guilty.
- [31:25]
Desiree McFarlane
So did they use that example of Lamonica McIver to illustrate selective and vindictive prosecution or to illustrate that the gag order is in order to absolutely.
- [31:37]
Adam Klassfeld
To illustrate that the gag order is necessary. That right now it seemed that in New Jersey Congress, the congresswoman, they were probably fearing that she would have prevailed on that, so they asked her to. They, the Justice Department asked her to take it down preemptively. They were late to that, by the way. But by the time that motion was filed, I noticed that all of the posts that were sliming the congresswoman were still up. They took them down about a couple of hours after the motion became public, but they took them down. All the posts about Abrego are still up. There's not been any pending requests to actually take them down. And so we'll see if they, the judge might impose a gag order. We'll see if the judge is going to rule or hear arguments on selective prosecution or if this will be a routine pretrial hearing. He hasn't really set an agenda. But that's why I'm heading down to Nashville on Friday to find out just what he does.
- [32:47]
Desiree McFarlane
But so is all the evidence in this case. Most of it is double or triple hearsay. And it's like, I have a friend whose cousin has a boyfriend that saw Ferris Bueller pass out at 31 Flavors last night. It's just, it's all so horribly put together. And judges, magistrate and federal alike have, have agreed on those points, that this is just the evidence is pretty thin. At least they, they thought so in the hearing for a detention hearing and the detention hearing, which actually never happened. But there was a hearing about having a detention hearing with both a magistrate judge and a federal judge. The federal judge came back and said, we don't need a hearing. There might have been minors involved, but it's not enough to go to a detention hearing on this. But regardless, I'm curious as to I know that these disparaging statements by huge administration officials with massive audiences are used.
- [33:44]
Alison Gill
In the gag order.
- [33:45]
Desiree McFarlane
Are they also used in the vindictive and selective prosecution motion?
- [33:48]
Adam Klassfeld
Because Absolutely, yes.
- [33:50]
Desiree McFarlane
It seems to me that, you know, Biden, that kind of lens, it's sort of evidence that they are selectively and vindictively prosecuting it.
- [34:01]
Adam Klassfeld
Yes, absolutely. They appear on both motions. Because the fact is, the selective and vindictive prosecution motions hinge on the argument that he is being punished because he fought back, because when he was spirited out of the country onto a plane in defiance of a judge's order, that he had capable attorneys take the government to court and win all the way up to the Supreme Court. And that's why he's being punished. And they have quotations from top DOJ officials all the way up to Todd Blanche supporting that argument. So some of them are press interviews, but some of them are these social media posts, press releases. But what you were saying with Kristi Noem, that those are the things that, as you said, Alison there, she's accusing him of things that he's not charged with. And I mentioned this a little bit earlier, but I want to just hammer home this point, muddying the waters with what he's actually charged with. Smuggling as a criminal charge in the middle district of Tennessee. The sentencing exposure for that is about one year. You know, on average, trafficking is a totally different charge. And that's what Ghislaine Maxwell is charged with. And they're being very friendly with her. But with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, it's a very different thing. Trafficking is exploitation. Smuggling is transportation. That is how the distinction was, was explained in the ruling, the first ruling saying that the government hasn't met the burden to, to detain Abrego before trial. So that's the, that's the first one. The, the stuff about, about soliciting a nude from a minor, that was something that was rejected from Judge Holmes's ruling that, that it wasn't, you know, that wasn't an allegation that was going that for her to keep him behind bars pending trial. All of the other allegations of where you had cooperating witnesses who are being incentivized by the government to cooperate because they are, you know, we've talked about this so many times, Allison. One of them is a two time felony convict who's been deported five times. The other one has been, has been convicted of felonies as well and has been deported multiple times. Both of them are getting immigration assistance and criminal assistance from the government for cooperating. And they said things to the order of we heard that he was acting inappropriately toward girls. And that was said by these cooperating witnesses to one FBI agent who pass that on to another FBI agent. And I saw one tweet from Kristi Noem saying it has been reported that or it has, you know, where she links to, I believe a New York Post story or something like that about her own rejected allegations in court. And she's doing this drumbeat against a criminal defendant before trial. That's why they're seeking the gag order. They took it down when they tried to violate the presumption of innocence of a U.S. congresswoman. Will they.
- [37:44]
Desiree McFarlane
That's kind of like consciousness of Guilt. Right. Like we know this is.
- [37:51]
Adam Klassfeld
Right. Well, I mean, it's not fair play. It's. It's a dishonorable way of doing. And the, the thing that's, that's really. This did not happen. You know, I don't want to overstate this. In Trump's first term, he was routinely mouthing off on Twitter about criminal defendants, but you didn't have official government accounts going after a criminal defendant. You didn't see the need for motions like these all the time. And you're seeing this happen in multiple cases. And of course, we're talking day after. Trump is demanding the prosecution of his political rivals now in all capital letters, openly on social media. So this is. You know, I keep thinking about the timing of this hearing because as I said when we were starting this, it's this Brendan Carr at the FCC saying to abc, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. And the government saying to Kilmar Abrego Garcia, if you plead guilty right now, well, we'll deport you to a human rights respecting country like Costa Rica. If not, we will find some of the most notorious human rights abusers in the planet to send you to. That is not the way a justice system works in a democracy.
- [39:23]
Desiree McFarlane
Yeah, agreed. And real quick, you said Barbara Holmes, that's the magistrate judge, but that's not the judge who's going to be holding the hearing this Friday. Right. That is a federal district judge. Remind us of who that judge is.
- [39:38]
Adam Klassfeld
That is a magistrate judge. Now, when the case is first assigned, it goes. The district judge refers certain pretrial proceedings to the magistrate, and she was the first person to hear the government's motion to detain Abrego pending trial. And she was. So Abrego one of multiple rounds of the government's attempt to detain him pending trial. But two tiers of judges rejected that. First Judge Holmes and then the district judge will be presiding over the trial. And who will be presiding over the upcoming hearing? Judge Crenshaw. So this case is currently before him. He's been very accommodating, I would say, about Kristi Noem's attacks on Abrego pending trial. He has not ruled out taking action against her. I would say he sent a shot across the bow last time, saying, I don't know if I have the power over the Department of Homeland Security. I think he's trying to maintain a clean record for when he does, if and when he does issue a gag order. But he's the one presiding over Friday's hearing. There's one more wrinkle that I should put out there. There is a pending motion because Abrego is being detained in Virginia. There is a possibility that the hearing will in fact be conducted remotely. But there was a motion there from a long time ago. It's never been decided. And it seems we are less than a week away. I think it's gonna happen live in Nashville.
- [41:23]
Desiree McFarlane
Yeah. And I think I remember there being an order to keep him within 200 miles of where he was detained in Virginia so that he wouldn't be sent to Texas or Louisiana because that would be too far away from Tennessee where he might need to make an appearance.
- [41:39]
Alison Gill
So I think that's kind of why.
- [41:40]
Desiree McFarlane
They put that 200 mile limit on where he could be sent. But I wanted to ask you because I think that, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it was his criminal defense attorney, Shawn Hecker, who said if there was ever a case for vindictive and selective prosecution, this is it. And so I would be very glued to your feed on Blue sky and watching your substack at All Rise News. For what? For how that hearing goes. And remind everybody, because a lot of times we'll watch a hearing and the judge will attack the defense, the good guy, let's say. Sometimes the good guy is the government, sometimes the good guy is the defense.
- [42:26]
Alison Gill
But they'll attack and attack and attack.
- [42:28]
Desiree McFarlane
And ask questions and ask questions and ask questions. And I just kind of want to remind everybody that if you are following along with that particular hearing, that just because the judge, Emmett Sullivan is famous for this goes hard after who you think the good guy is, doesn't mean that they're going to rule against the good guy. To me, that's always been indicative of the judge making sure that every single thread is followed and every single loose end is tied up before he rules against the person he went after really hard in a particular hearing. So I want you to maybe address that. And then also one of the motions talked about how this was just detaining him in ICE custody is just punitive again, punitive for him exercising his constitutional rights. Because now with the no bail for immigration hearings and the length of time it takes for immigration hearings to go through the immigration courts, he could be in prison for up to six months. But after six months, I think there was a previous Supreme Court ruling that says then it becomes punitive. But there was a recent Supreme Court ruling that said you can detain people indefinitely. So I'm just a little confused on the timeline. For how long he could be in prison? Because I believe you told me his trial is scheduled for January.
- [43:55]
Adam Klassfeld
It is. It is. So that's. So this is the kind of the fact that the case is playing out in multiple jurisdictions. It's happening on a quick timeline in the habeas case in Maryland as well. I believe that there was some mention of the prosecutors and the government on the civil side saying that they didn't want to face a very constitutional issue that you had mentioned. And I don't believe that if the case goes to trial on time, we'll see what happens. But one of the things that Sean Hecker said, the lead criminal defense attorney for Abrego, is that it's because they're not having access to their client. They're worried about being ready on time for trial. There was with the criminal defense team you have. So this is going to happen on Friday, I think, early October. We're going to see the habeas case start up again. There's going to be a hearing on that.
- [45:14]
Desiree McFarlane
I just want to interrupt you really quick. The habeas case where he's challenging his deportation to Uganda or now this other country, is that in the immigration courts or is that in federal court?
- [45:27]
Adam Klassfeld
This shows the complicated nature of this case because the reason I asked is.
- [45:32]
Desiree McFarlane
Because immigration judges work for Pam Bondi, whereas federal judges work for the judiciary.
- [45:38]
Adam Klassfeld
Correct. The habeas case is before Judge Paulozinis in federal court. He also, at the same time, there's a separate proceeding happening, but I have no information about what new developments is happening with that. Perhaps they'll be revealed on Friday. That's just the nature of this, the fact that once he's released, they put him right into immigration custody. We're saying that the, we're talking about this as though the, the criminal trial is going to go to trial in January, and that's the expectation. But the government has not said, they have not ruled out taking him out of the country. Again, that's what these habeas proceedings are about. Will they? One, he will be, as you said, be allowed whether the judge will order his release from immigration detention, but also whether the judge will issue some sort of order about the government's plans to deport him to another country. Whether it's Eswatini or whether it's Uganda. This is all playing out very quickly. And the government has not made any representation that they will let this case go to trial. And this could be a very embarrassing trial for the government.
- [46:59]
Desiree McFarlane
You know, embarrassing.
- [47:00]
Adam Klassfeld
You know, I mean, the Two main, We've spoken about this so many times, Allison. The two main witnesses against the government. Now, let's say, let's say they find something from this 2022 traffic stop. Well, they're going to hang their hat on two witnesses who are. I have been one. The first one has been deported from the country five times and has made a deal with the Trump administration. The Trump administration, this anti immigration nativist administration. Their star witness is this guy. They're giving help so he doesn't get deportation number six, quickly. So even if in the best account of their evidence, let's say that they persuade a jury beyond a reasonable get doubt to find Kilmar Abrego Garcia guilty of a crime that might send him to jail for about a year, they are the top witnesses against him are people who by their own admission would be much higher up on the chain. It would raise a lot of questions for a sustained period of time as to why the government is using these witnesses to attack someone who is accused of being a driver. A driver.
- [48:17]
Desiree McFarlane
It would be like Jack Smith making a deal with Donald Trump to testify against Steve Bannon in the G6 assault on the Capitol.
- [48:27]
Adam Klassfeld
Honestly, it would be like Jack Smith convincing Donald Trump to testify to someone who peacefully entered the Capitol. Like not one of the violent rioters, you know, one of the very low level. Absolutely.
- [48:43]
Dana Goldberg
So dumbest thing.
- [48:44]
Adam Klassfeld
So that's the, that's the. Absolutely, you know. Well, we will, if, if we get to trial, we'll see what happens. We'll see what the, what evidence the government has dug up. We do know that the evidence was such that the former head of the Criminal Division in the middle district of Tennessee resigned the day that Kilmar Abrego Garcia was indicted. And we know that that Criminal Division, former Criminal Division chief's former deputy, now represents Mr. Abrego as local counsel. This is a case that whatever happens at trial, if it goes to trial, will have many embarrassments for this administration. And that's, you know, it's reasonable to think that's why the government is not guaranteeing that it'll even get there and why they are fighting so hard for the right to deport him before it even happens.
- [49:47]
Desiree McFarlane
Yeah, they don't want to go to trial. That's why they made him a sweet, sweet deal for Costa Rica if he just pled guilty and would gtfo. So we have a couple minutes left.
- [49:58]
Alison Gill
I just want to ask you what.
- [49:59]
Desiree McFarlane
You'Re going to be looking for in this hearing. You said there are multiple outstanding motions. We know the motion for vindictive and selective prosecution. We know the motion for a gag order. What other motions are on the table that they might. That the judge might address because he hasn't put out an agenda for this hearing. Right, but what are some of the other outstanding motions besides vindictive and selective prosecution and gag order that you might be looking for?
- [50:23]
Adam Klassfeld
Well, there's going to be discovery. There's a discovery motion. The adequacy of the government's disclosure of the evidence, the ability to, as I mentioned earlier, contact and prepare for trial with their client, who's in Farmville, Virginia. And the reason for that is because, as you said, Judge Zinis said, that he must be within 200 miles of the courtroom and not sent outside of the continental United States, given the history of this case. So we'll see. I'm going to be looking for whether new information has emerged about the government's plans, whether. Right now we haven't had new information since the. We're looking at Eswatini now. Disclosure about. Have there been updates with immigration proceedings? Will any of the motions that we've been discussing right now be adjudicated? Is this going to be a scheduling hearing? I think that it's important to be there because there's just so much. There's so many issues of profound consequence at the table at this very moment, because if they discuss the presumption of innocence, there are attacks on presumption of innocence every day, and we're seeing it all the time with Letitia James, the firing of a U.S. attorney or forced resignation, I should say coerced resignation of a U.S. attorney in Virginia at the very moment that ABC News had, in their bombshell story, found that he did not find evidence to charge. So didn't find evidence to charge. You're out. I'll replace it with my insurance attorney. So the issues about the presumption of innocence, the issues on the table about the potential gag order, the access to counsel, vindictive prosecution. Yeah. There's a pending selective and vindictive prosecution motion in Congresswoman McIver's case in New Jersey. And to one point that you made right. A little bit earlier, Alison, you had mentioned that Shawn Hecker said if there's any case for selective and vindictive prosecution, it's this one. The reason he said that is that it is extraordinarily difficult and extraordinarily rare to win a selective and vindictive prosecution motion. And this case will be a real test case to see whether in the age of Trump 2.0. When the vindictiveness is open and notorious, when you have a parade of government officials accusing a defendant who is presumed innocent before trial of crimes that he is not charged with and the ones that he is charged with that it's a very important test to see. Well, is that standard really? Does it have teeth? Do selective and vindictive prosecution motions stand a chance of curbing the impulses of an administration that is going to act openly in a kind of vindictive manner?
- [54:11]
Alison Gill
Yeah.
- [54:11]
Desiree McFarlane
Or will it become Section 3 of the 14th Amendment? You know, if ever, if ever there was a case for disqualifying someone for participating in insurrection, I would think we would have had one. But, yeah, if this particular administration can't be found to have vindictively or selectively prosecuted people, then we might as well just get rid of the motion altogether because no one's ever gonna be. No one's ever gonna win them. Thank you so much for joining us. I'm really looking forward to this hearing. I wanna remind everyone that the only reason that in the third track of you know, of Kilmar Abrego case is the immigration case. The only reason he's able to seek asylum now is because he was mistakenly sent away by the Trump administration. And now he has been in the country for less than a year. The reason he wasn't granted asylum in 2019 is because he had been here.
- [55:01]
Alison Gill
For more than a year.
- [55:03]
Desiree McFarlane
So we will see if that turns around and then bites the administration in the ass for resetting the clock on asylum or if the immigration judge that will be listed be hearing that case is a Pam Bondi sycophant who isn't going to, you know, they work for the executive branch for the Department of Justice and not like what Judge Crenshaw or Judge Sinise or Judge Barbara Holmes do, which is they are independent, working.
- [55:27]
Alison Gill
For the federal judiciary.
- [55:28]
Desiree McFarlane
So I look forward to this. I think everyone was going to want to pay attention because as you said, many of the open motions, pending motions on the table here for, in the Abrego case have huge consequences, not just for Mr. Abrego, but for many, many people who are facing the same, you know, sort of eventuality from this particular administration. And so if you just follow Adam Klassfeld on your social media, wherever you get your social media, I'm a blue sky person, you can follow him there. And if you definitely subscribe, you're going to want to subscribe to All Rise News to get the updates because they go right into inbox and you'll know exactly when it happens. You'll know if the judge rules from the bench or you'll get a sense from Adam Klasveld's reporting maybe how this judge might be viewing some of these outstanding motions before he comes out with a ruling. So subscribe to All Rise News if you feel like it. You can subscribe to the Breakdown, too. I'll be following Adam Klassfeld on this for these hearings on Friday. And if you're able to, if you have the means to financially support Adam Klassfeld's work at All Rise News, he pays for all of his own lodging, all of his own plane tickets, all of his travel so that he can be there in the courtroom to tell us exactly what's happening as it's happening. So if you have the means, please support him and support independent media. Do you have any final thoughts before we get out of here today?
- [56:58]
Adam Klassfeld
Oh, thank you very much, Alison, for that. And I really appreciate that because, yes, I do travel to these places because I think it's important to be on the ground for that, and that does require support. So thank you for saying that. I would just echo your remarks about the issues that are being contemplated now will resonate beyond Kilmar Abrego Garcia. And as I mentioned, Congresswoman McIver, she has the pending motion on the same topic. We'll see whether it has teeth. And that's why it's important to be there and find out how it lands when it's happening.
- [57:47]
Alison Gill
Yeah.
- [57:48]
Desiree McFarlane
And if you want to learn more about the failures this week of the Department of Justice to secure indictments against political enemies, tune in to my live show called the Breakdown. It'll be on the live Midas Touch network feed on YouTube at 3:30 Pacific. Today, 6:30 Eastern. Woot, woot. I'm going to be going over all that and the absolutely ridiculous. Adam, I know you read it. Lawsuit from Donald Trump against the New York Times.
- [58:15]
Adam Klassfeld
Oh, incredible. I will say I want to remark.
- [58:19]
Desiree McFarlane
On the Apprentice is the best thing ever for our times. And pictures of his book and his TV shows. And he even says he's made millions of media appearances, including WrestleMania 5 and all my Children.
- [58:35]
Adam Klassfeld
Well, the judge's takedown of that was, was just incredible. But I will say one thing. You know, there, there have been many things remarked upon about that lawsuit from the fact that he's talking about the fact that Times endorse Kamala Harris. But there, there's one detail, one detail that I think was very underappreciated that the third article that he claims is defamatory. He claims it's defamatory that the Times accurately quoted his former chief of staff calling him fascist to the core. And that really says something. You quote someone accurately calling him a fascist, that's going to be $15 billion.
- [59:21]
Desiree McFarlane
Well, they don't want us to quote Charlie Kirk accurately because it kind of blows their deification and martyrdom of what happened. People have been fired. Karen Attia from the Washington Post for accurately quoting Charlie Kirk. And I know a lot of Matthew Dowd was, was dismissed from his job, but Brian Kilmeade, who, who wants to authorize the involuntary execution by lethal injection of unhoused people, he's fine. So thank you. I think my point here is thank you for supporting independent media us. It is so urgent that we have it now more than ever. So, Adam, thank you for your work support. Adam, if you can, you can support me at the breakdown. All my content is free. You can subscribe for free, but if you have the means, like I said, give us, give us a buck or two, it would really help us out. And, and you can, you know, feel good about supporting independent media because right now, in this media atmosphere, this corporate media atmosphere where fewer and fewer billionaires are in charge of most of the news that we consume, I think it's super important to support folks like you. So thank you again for your time. Thanks everybody. Hit the little heart so that we can get like algorithmic love. Like, what is it? Smash the heart button so that we can get a little algorithmic. I don't know, Dipsy doodle. I don't know how things work. I'm a Luddite. But we really appreciate everybody being here today.
- [60:49]
Adam Klassfeld
Thank you very much. Appreciate everything that you do and everything you said and everyone tuning in.
- [60:57]
Desiree McFarlane
Awesome, everybody. We'll see you soon. Tune in to All Rise News. Tune into the breakdown and we'll catch you next time. See you later.
- [61:06]
Alison Gill
Fall is the perfect time to get your yard in shape. A lot of people think spring is the only planting season, but many plants and trees actually thrive when you plant them in the fall. That is why I go to fastgrowingtrees.com whether you're in a warm climate or starting to feel the autumn chill, their plant experts help you choose exactly what will work in your space. From fruit trees to flowering shrubs to big privacy trees, they have it all. Ordering could not be easier. Instead of wasting a Saturday driving to a garden center and hoping they have what you want, you can order online and have plants delivered straight to your door in just a few days. And their alive and thrive guarantee means they arrive happy and healthy. I ordered a bunch of fruit trees because we made our guacamole garden. I got some new stuff, some hydrangeas from fast growing trees. They came in perfect condition and I saved hundreds compared to what a landscaper would have charged me. Plus these plants are grown in the United States so they're acclimated to thrive here. I love how simple it is to get expert guidance without leaving home too. They provide care instructions so I can keep my plants healthy year round. It is the easiest way I have ever created a beautiful yard. No matter what size your yard Fast Growing trees has over 6,000 plants to choose from ready to fill any space including indoors. So this fall they have the best deals for your yard, up to half off on selected plants and other deals. And listeners to our show get 15% off your first purchase when you use the code DAILYBEANS at checkout. That's 15% off@fastgrowingtrees.com using the code DAILYBEANS at Checkout. Now is the perfect time to plant. Use Daily Beans to save today. Our offer is valid for a limited time. Terms and conditions may apply. Check out the link below or in the show notes and support the show. Everybody.
- [62:37]
Desiree McFarlane
Welcome back.
- [62:37]
Alison Gill
It's time for the good news.
- [62:38]
Desiree McFarlane
Who likes good news?
- [62:40]
Alison Gill
Everyone?
- [62:41]
Adam Klassfeld
Then good news everyone.
- [62:56]
Alison Gill
Good news, good news. And if you have any good news confessions corrections, you want to give a shout out to somebody, maybe a loved one, a spouse, a kid, a parent, yourself. We love self shout outs. Maybe some great community organizing, a small business in your area you want everybody to know about. Maybe a great non profit that you know about or you work with that you want to shine a light on. Maybe a shout out to a government program that's helped you or a loved one. We want to hear all about it. And all you got to do to get your submission read on the air is pay your pod pet tariff. Which means really honestly just attach a photo of whatever you want. But you know a photo of your pet. We can try to guess the breeds in your shelter pup if you want an adoptable pet in your area. If you don't have a pet, maybe just a random photo of an animal on the Internet. If you don't have any of that, we'll take it. A family photo, baby pictures, photos of, I don't know, your garden. What are you making and creating or painting or knitting or crocheting? We want to see it all. We need to Microdose. Hope so. Send your good news to us dailybeanspod.com and click on contact. First up is your good trouble. Then your good trouble. Today comes Adam. Pronouns he and him. Disney needs to hear from us. You can find lots of different ways to contact them. We'll have a link in the show notes for you so you can get that contact information. One way that seems relevant is their corporate social responsibility team and that's responsibilitywdc.com Again we'll have that in the show notes. Let them know how you feel about their capitulation to authoritarianism. And I gotta tell you, Dana, I canceled my Disney, which came along with a Hulu cancellation and it felt really good to do that.
- [64:33]
Dana Goldberg
Same same.
- [64:35]
Alison Gill
So thanks for that good trouble.
- [64:37]
Dana Goldberg
And if it's just two, yep, it makes a difference. They are feeling it. I think they've lost $4 billion. Disney's lost $4 billion in worth since this has happened.
- [64:46]
Alison Gill
I can't wait for the numbers, like the solid numbers to come out and to see what their stock is doing today as you're listening to this on Monday.
- [64:54]
Dana Goldberg
Yeah, seriously. All right, this one's from Anonymous, pronoun she and her. My good news is that I'm going strong after multiple months of chemo and surgery to stop a reoccurrence of breast cancer. Rock on, Anonymous. It has been a success so far in the doctors, nurses, and my own family and friends have supported me the whole journey. I've been a longtime listener of the Daily Beans Jack Unjustified podcast and I've been meaning to write in, but kept putting it off when I found this old timey book at a neighbor's little sidewalk library. I knew the time had come to share some love and appreciation for the news with swearing and, and I'd add, always delivered with empathy. Also, today's my birthday and I'm just so grateful to be alive to celebrate. Anonymous wishing you a very, very happy birthday and cheers to you too. And the book is the Hidden Staircase that looks very much like the Mueller she wrote. Graphic.
- [65:44]
Alison Gill
Yeah, we might have borrowed some inspiration from Nancy Drew. And what's really great about this is you can could finally understand why her feet are placed the way they are in our logo. It's because she's walking upstairs. Ah, so. And she has a spy glass. Now our lady has a cup of coffee and so it just looks like she's got a bad back.
- [66:09]
Dana Goldberg
That's hysterical.
- [66:10]
Desiree McFarlane
Well, we put her on, we put her on flat ground and so she's like bent over like ah. Which is kind of how I feel every day.
- [66:16]
Alison Gill
So anyway, that's great. What a cool old book. Anonymous. Thanks for that and congratulations on your recovery. Next up from anonymous pronoun she and her just crocheting a chump doll for a friend. Look at this.
- [66:29]
Dana Goldberg
Oh my God.
- [66:31]
Alison Gill
You can use these for voodoo dolls or dog toys. That's brilliant.
- [66:35]
Dana Goldberg
Fantastic.
- [66:36]
Alison Gill
And another one from anonymous pronoun she and her Hi AG and dg. Here's some good news. My son in law starts a wonderful new job in a few weeks, weeks after losing his DEI affiliated job during the summer. Oh, I'm sorry they had to lose his job, but I'm glad he's got a new one. The attached is not a photo of my pet, but this little guy is doing some important work and deserves some recognition. It's a bumblebee. Thank you for keeping the light burning for democracy. Thank you Anonymous. I love bumblebees.
- [67:03]
Dana Goldberg
I do too. They're beautiful. I like when they fall asleep in flowers.
- [67:06]
Alison Gill
Yes.
- [67:07]
Dana Goldberg
Then you see little bumblebee pen. All right. This is from Deborah. No pronouns given. I want to give a big shout out to all the food banks across the country. In the richest country in the world, one in five children go to bed hungry every night. Yet the Trump cult cut over $1 billion to food banks which reduces available food including produce, meat, cheese and milk with leads to smaller distribution per household. I volunteer at the Georgia Mountain Food Bank. Thank you for doing that. We have 60 pantry partners serving five rural counties. When I first started volunteering, most of the families we serviced were from the Latino Hispanic community. But because of ice supported by out of state Republican regime, these communities are now too afraid to come to our pantries to get the food they desperately need. Now we see mostly poor white families. Please support your local food banks and pantries. You never know when you'll be the next person in need. My pod pet tariff includes Luna and Roxy, each after three years old and each are offspring to two different breeds. Little Luna thinks she is the size of Roxy and Roxy thinks she's a small pup. Best friends and oh my God they are cute. I think we get to guess the breed, but I'm not sure one or both.
- [68:18]
Alison Gill
That's a big dog.
- [68:19]
Dana Goldberg
It looks like a Pyrenees Saint Bernard.
- [68:21]
Alison Gill
Pyrenees size, but it's Saint Bernard colored.
- [68:25]
Dana Goldberg
Yeah.
- [68:25]
Alison Gill
And that little, I don't know, is it like a Rottweiler Chihuahua? Like look at that little guy.
- [68:31]
Dana Goldberg
It's so cute. I would definitely say there's Chihuahua in there. And yeah Maybe we got.
- [68:37]
Alison Gill
Let's see. Oh, Chiweenie. It's a chihuahua wiener dog.
- [68:41]
Dana Goldberg
And we got a Burmese Pyrenees, so we got one of those. Right?
- [68:44]
Alison Gill
All right, cool. Look at us. It's like a 50%. That's still an F, but whatever. I'll take it.
- [68:53]
Desiree McFarlane
Next up from Sheila.
- [68:54]
Alison Gill
F pronouns. She and her hi, AG and dg. We keep saying that we must build pro democracy support from the bottom up. What? Well, here you go. The other night, two Democratic candidates for local office in our township in upstate New York knocked on our door. One candidate had his kids with him, an adorable boy in a suit with a tie and a little girl in a pink dress. The dads were asking for our vote. This was so great, because since we moved into this community seven years ago, no Republican has ever come to our door to do the same. They rely on lawn signs and other visibility. It's because they don't have a team of people who give a shit. That's why nobody's going to go knock doors for. For that. Fill in the blank here on the Republican side. Nobody's excited about that. Remember when, like, Elon Musk and Trump had to pay people to go out and knock doors and they still faked it all and, like, you know, made, like, lied in the software about how many houses they visit because they just.
- [69:49]
Dana Goldberg
Weren'T into it, and then they wouldn't bust them back if they hadn't reached a certain amount of quota.
- [69:53]
Alison Gill
Yep. And stranded them in the cities anyway. And after having been visited by two cute kids and their dad, we have to think that a lazy Republican approach has worn out its welcome. We will attend our local Democratic picnic on Sunday and a house party next month and give money to their campaigns, not because we're sure they'll win, although they might, but because we absolutely have to have a presence in all local elections every year and never cede them to people or a party that will take our rights away. For my potbet tariff, here's my cat, Birdie, who is a character. She wakes us up at all hours for attention and treats. But we still. Oh, he. But we still love him. Look. Oh, my God. Look at this guy.
- [70:35]
Dana Goldberg
So sweet.
- [70:37]
Alison Gill
Oh, I bet he's super cuddly and, like, makes those little chirpy noises, like the little. Oh, he's so cute. Thank you so much, Sheila.
- [70:49]
Dana Goldberg
All right. This was from Julie. No pronouns given. It is harvesting time in Colorado, and I've just started to pick my dry beans. Eventually they will go in a jar, but today I needed something to hold them temporarily. This was the first thing that caught my eye.
- [71:03]
Desiree McFarlane
Perfect.
- [71:04]
Dana Goldberg
I'm gonna scroll to see what this is. Oh, my God, that's great. It's your mug, which is so appropriate as my pod pet tax. I've attached a photo of dearly departed Willie Wiley. Wiley, who we lost on Christmas Eve of 2020. He was the handsomest dog in the neighborhood, I believe.
- [71:25]
Alison Gill
Oh, wow.
- [71:26]
Dana Goldberg
He's pretty damn handsome.
- [71:27]
Alison Gill
Oh, and we've got some stars, which means maybe we can guess some breeds. What do you think?
- [71:32]
Dana Goldberg
German shepherd.
- [71:35]
Alison Gill
Lab.
- [71:36]
Dana Goldberg
What's that little thing that looks like a fox that's got, like. Like, perfect fur?
- [71:44]
Alison Gill
I don't know.
- [71:46]
Dana Goldberg
A she, A shiba inu. Is that. I think that's what it's called.
- [71:52]
Alison Gill
The doge. Dog.
- [71:54]
Dana Goldberg
Yes. Look at the face and the ears. Like the ears? The. I don't know, but that might be German shepherd ears.
- [71:59]
Alison Gill
Let's see. German shepherd and shiba inu. Look at you.
- [72:02]
Dana Goldberg
Shut up.
- [72:04]
Desiree McFarlane
Look at you.
- [72:05]
Alison Gill
Now, I knew that now.
- [72:06]
Desiree McFarlane
I was like, shiba inu.
- [72:07]
Alison Gill
You.
- [72:07]
Dana Goldberg
You got that part. I was like, it's a shibu something.
- [72:10]
Alison Gill
Shiba inu. All right. Is he barky? Well, I mean, I guess if he's part German shepherd and kind of can cancel out.
- [72:17]
Dana Goldberg
I guess if he's part dog, maybe.
- [72:18]
Alison Gill
There'S a good quietness of the she. But you knew. Oh, thank you for that. Love the daily beans mug, by the way. If you. If you become a patron and you sign up at a certain level, you.
- [72:27]
Desiree McFarlane
Get a free mug.
- [72:28]
Alison Gill
You get a daily beans mug. We also have shirts and tote bags and all kinds of cool stuff. Nice. Patreon.com Muller she wrote so you can support independent media and get cool gifts. All right, from Phyllis Pronoun. She and her. This summer, our Episcopal Church came together to work with New Horizons to donate and assemble 80 ray of life kits to bring light to people in Ukraine who have lost electricity, homes, schools, and so much more. Powered by the sun, these can give 24 hours of light and power to charge phones, tablets, and computers. My pet floral tax is a picture of my showy lady slipper, which has grown from one plant to a community of nine in about 12 years. Oh, my God. Thanks for all you do and all your good work to keep us informed and active. Phyllis, these are beautiful flowers. And thanks for working with the Episcopal Church to send those Ray of Life kits to Ukraine. That's amazing. Incredible. Our listeners are the bestest.
- [73:25]
Dana Goldberg
They really are, y'.
- [73:28]
Alison Gill
All. Thank you so very much for listening Today. My weekly wrap up came out yesterday on the Midas Touch network. You can find it on my sub stack. If you're interested in. In watching it, please go have a view. It's only like what, 16, 15 minutes or something like that Wraps up the news. Talks about that ridiculous lawsuit filed by Donald Trump against the New York Times that a judge threw out. Dana. Oh my God. This lawsuit is so stupid. He's got pictures of the Apprentice and himself and his building.
- [73:57]
Dana Goldberg
Oh my God.
- [73:58]
Desiree McFarlane
The swed legionaris of the prowess of.
- [74:00]
Alison Gill
The billionaire Donald Trump is Jesus Zeitgeist of the time. He even bragged. He's like.
- [74:07]
Desiree McFarlane
Plus, Donald Trump's made millions of media.
- [74:10]
Alison Gill
Appearances, really important, amazing media appearances, including. And the first two things he listed were WrestleMania 5 and all my Children.
- [74:19]
Dana Goldberg
Oh my God, stop it.
- [74:20]
Desiree McFarlane
I know. He did.
- [74:21]
Adam Klassfeld
He did. He.
- [74:22]
Desiree McFarlane
You know what?
- [74:23]
Alison Gill
You open with Home Alone too.
- [74:24]
Dana Goldberg
I was gonna say and.
- [74:25]
Alison Gill
And Sex in the City. Yeah, yeah. But he started with WrestleMania 5 and all my Children, so.
- [74:31]
Dana Goldberg
Oh my God.
- [74:32]
Alison Gill
And the judge came back and was like, oh, this is ridiculously a of the normaly of the 8A rules. Like he just threw the entire thing under the bus.
- [74:42]
Dana Goldberg
That makes sense.
- [74:43]
Alison Gill
Handed the whole lawsuit and said, file it again in 28 days like a normal person. And I hope that. I hope the New York Times SEEK sanctions, Rule 11 sanctions for this frivolous, ridiculous lawsuit. Anyway, check out the whole show. I go over all the cool things in that and that's on my sub stack. So thanks everybody for listening. I know it was a long weekend, it was a lot of news, but we've got each other and we see you and thanks for listening. Do you have any final thoughts?
- [75:11]
Dana Goldberg
Not today.
- [75:12]
Alison Gill
All right, we'll be back in your ears tomorrow. Until then, please take care of yourselves, take care of each other, take care of the planet, take care of your mental health and take care of your family.
- [75:18]
Adam Klassfeld
Family.
- [75:19]
Dana Goldberg
I've been ag, I've been dg.
- [75:21]
Alison Gill
And them's the beans. The Daily Beans is written and executive produced by Alison Gill with additional research and reporting by Dana Goldberg. Sound design and editing is by Desiree McFarlane with art and web design by Joelle Reader with Moxie Design Studios. Music for the Daily Beans is written and performed by they Might Be Giants and the show is a proud member of the MSW Media Network, a collection of creator owned podcasts dedicated to news, politics and justice. For more information, Please visit msw media.com com msw media.