
Wednesday, August 12, 2026 Today, Trump doesn’t rule out using emergency executive power to interfere with the midterm elections; the transparency president has expanded the definition of executive privilege so his private advisors can’t be questioned by Congress; the White House is asking the Justice Department to consider new Reflecting Pool charges; Trump was stuffed into a catering cart and spirited to a secret plane after he ditched the Qatari Air Force One in Turkey; weeks after Belgium’s diamond industry gave Trump a ring with 321 diamonds, 56 sapphires, 13 emeralds and six rubies, it was exempted from paying a U.S. tariff; Judge Talwani has expanded her block on the Postal Service tampering with mail ballots; the government has awarded a $150M contract for migrant children’s lawyers to a Trump-linked Texas law firm; plus Allison and Dana deliver your Good News.
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Alison Gill
Diamond Dames, mount up.
Charlotte Clymer
I'm Charlotte Clymer.
Alison Gill
And I'm Alison Gill. Hey, Charlotte, what if you and I joined forces to create a weekly podcast
amid all the chaos of the news
to chat about the most recent episode of season four of Ted Lasso?
Charlotte Clymer
Well, Allison, we'd be taking delight amid the spite to sit and write and bring some light on Wednesday nights. I mean, look, everything right now is ridiculous. I know we're all stressed out with the state of the country and we all deserve some joy. Ted Lasso was there for us in the middle of the pandemic, and he's back to offer us a respite from Trump 2.0 right before the midterms.
Alison Gill
That's right. We believe in Rom communism. I mean, if Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan can go through some heartfelt struggles and still end up happy, then so can we. So subscribe to Diamond Dames for free right now to get notifications, and then you can join us every week and after each episode of ted Lasso Season
4, wherever you get your podcasts.
Charlotte Clymer
And remember, be a goldfish. Diamond names, Dismount,
Alison Gill
Barbecue sauce. MSW Media.
Brian Caram
News.
Dana Goldberg
We're swearing. Jelly beans. Jelly beans.
Alison Gill
Hello and welcome to the Daily beans for Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Today, Donald Trump doesn't rule out using emergency executive power to interfere with the midterm elections. The transparency presidency has expanded the definition of executive privilege so that his private advisors can't be questioned by Congress. The White House is asking the Justice Department to consider new reflecting pool charges. Trump was stuffed into a catering cart and spirited away to a secret plane after he ditched the Qatari Air Force One in Turkey, weeks after Belgium's diamond industry gave Trump a ring with 321 diamonds, 56 sapphires, 13 emeralds, and six rubies. It was exempted from paying a US tariff. Judge Talwani has expanded her block on the Postal Service tampering with mail ballots. And the government has awarded a $150 million contract for migrant children's lawyers to a Trump linked Texas law firm, raising eyebrows. I'm Alison Gill.
Dana Goldberg
And I'm Dana Goldberg.
Alison Gill
Hey, happy Wednesday, my friend.
Dana Goldberg
And to you, my friend. Lots of stuff going on. Lots of stuff. People are actually voting right now as we are recording this, as we get one step closer to taking back Congress. And when we do, one thing Democrats are bowing to look into, of course, is a diamond ring gifted to Trump by Belgium. This is really a bit disappointing to me, by the way. That alone is illegal. So first and foremost. But then you can add the fact that a month later, Trump lifted a diamond tariff on Belgium. So the ring, which is size, it's huge. It's like the size of a fucking watch. Bigger than like an NFL ring, basically. It features 321 diamonds, 56 sapphires, 13 emeralds, and 6 rubes ruby.
Alison Gill
Excuse me.
Dana Goldberg
Its surface includes a gem encrusted presidential seal and its sides feature diamond encrusted tea emblems and the numbers 45 and 47 rendered in a Superman style logo. It's valued between 25 and $35,000. And this guy's fucking ego. And this how easily he is bribed. And he's. Here you go, little. Here you go, here's a ring for you, little guy.
Alison Gill
Right here's a big, looks like a Super bowl ring with your name and your numbers all over it. People know exactly how to buy this guy off.
Dana Goldberg
They do.
Alison Gill
You know, that's what makes him so dangerous. And it's so funny that, like just getting that gift is a problem.
Dana Goldberg
Yeah.
Alison Gill
And then the terror, that would be huge news if, you know, if they needed something besides a tan suit on Obama, getting a gift like that would be a huge, major scandalous story. But now it's just includes bribery. It just comes. Bribery comes with the headline now. That's what the corruption is like. It's so bad. All right, well, thank you for that information. We have a lot of news to get to and then we'll get to the good news. But first, let's hit the hot notes. Hot notes. All right, first up, this is a crazy story. Top administration officials engaged in an elaborate deception to spirit President Trump out of Turkey during the NATO summit there last month, transporting him in a catering container to a military jet because of a threat against him and Air Force One from Iran, according to two senior US officials. Now, Mr. Trump and other officials had said publicly that he'd be leaving Turkey on July 8th aboard the older version of Air Force One, rather than the 7478 donated by Qatar that he had flown in on. Right. He flew it there, but then didn't fly it back. Now, Trump told reporters at the time he was making the switch for old times sake. And so that I think he said that the soldiers in Turkey could get a look at Air Force One or maybe in Britain, where they ended up flying. But Mr. Trump boarded the older plane from the left side door in view of the cameras and news organizations, including the New York Times. And they all reported that he had traveled on it to Britain, where he switched Back to the Cutter jet. The Times reported at the time that the decision was driven in part by concerns about security on the new plane donated by Qatar, which had not been equipped with all of the defensive capabilities of older versions. That led Donald Trump. Remember, he called Cash Patel back from Chicago, where he flew on the FBI jet to meet his girlfriend for something and brought him back in, put him and Susie Wiles in a room, and tasked him with finding whoever leaked the information about the Cuttery jet. And that's when they sent subpoenas to the New York Times. People and their family members that were quashed, actually withdrawn before they were quashed by the doj. That's what all this is about. But instead of flying out on the older Air Force One, the powder blue modified 747, Trump was actually whisked off that plane in a catering container that had been lifted to the opposite side of the plane from where the journalists traveling with him boarded. That's according to a US official.
Dana Goldberg
How big was this container?
Alison Gill
You've seen him, right? You've seen the catering containers?
Dana Goldberg
Yes.
Alison Gill
They're not. I mean, maybe Air Force One catering containers might be bigger.
Dana Goldberg
I mean, how embarrassing. The whole visual is really comical to me.
Alison Gill
It is. And that, you know, there's a lot of already memes, people doing photoshops of him in catering carts. But then he was. He was put in a. He was stuffed in a catering cart and taken to a third plane which flew in secret to Britain. Now, reporters on the old plane, on the old Air Force One, where he pretended to be. They were not told Trump had not flown with them to Turkey.
Dana Goldberg
They were pissed.
Alison Gill
To an air base in Britain that made them unwitting participants in the ruse and leaving them, along with some White House staff members on the plane to serve as unknowing decoys.
Dana Goldberg
Yep. If they had attacked Air Force One thinking he was on there, all of these journalists would have died.
Alison Gill
Mm. So, yeah, they were just not told. That's so. That's so bananas. Now, after Trump arrived in Britain, he was secretly moved back to the older version of Air Force One and then disembarked from the. You know, from the old one. Like, I've been here the whole time and walked across the tarmac to the plane donated by Cutter and got on that guy and took that one home. So it's just. It's so bizarre.
Dana Goldberg
It is so bizarre. Okay, we're just going to keep moving on to some other news because what. What else can you. This is from the Wall Street Journal. White House officials have asked the Justice Department to consider a new prosecution of a man accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. That's according to people familiar with the discussions. As Trump fumes over US Attorney General Jeannine Box of Wine, Pirro's decision to drop the case. Any prosecution of the defendant, Olympic canoeist David Hearn, would be highly unusual, especially after Pirro told a judge in surprising detail that the government's decision to indict him on felony charge was ill informed. Pirro said a botched renovation, not vandalism, was responsible for the Reflecting Poll's problems. I have a feeling that's probably on record.
Alison Gill
Yeah, she brought a big old box people thought it was wine people were making.
Dana Goldberg
Literally brought receipts.
Alison Gill
She brought a giant box of evidence to show him. And the I don't know how they're
Dana Goldberg
going to be charged this guy. After the White House outreach, Justice Department officials are exploring whether another type of case, likely based on misdemeanor allegations, is even possible. The discussions have been informal and preliminary. Of course, they have been also looming over the deliberations. The presiding judge in that case is set to hold a hearing next month on whether the dismissal of charges against Hearn should be with prejudice, meaning the Justice Department couldn't charge him again for the same alleged conduct. Norm Eisen, co counsel for Hearn and a badass lawyer, said a new prosecution, and I quote, would mark a shocking first bringing back from the dead a case that the DOJ lost by its own admission and that it lacked the evidence to convict. This would add another bizarre turn to a very sad chapter in the DOJ's history. And further harass an innocent man.
Alison Gill
Man, every time they do shit like this, they chip away at their ability to defend against vindictive prosecution claims.
Dana Goldberg
Absolutely.
Alison Gill
Like, oh my God, it's just so blatant. All right, next up from CNN Communications that President Trump has with advisors who don't even work for his administration apparently can be protected by executive privilege. That's according to a Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel slip opinion. A memo that came out Monday that comes amid lawsuits and possible Democratic takeover of Congress. Shocker. The legal memo boldly formalizes an aggressive stance the past administrations had nodded to but never publicly laid out so comprehensively. Quote, restricting executive privilege to purely intra governmental communications would foreclose the president from relying on an array of important sources that he may find necessary to the effective discharge of his responsibilities of office. That's what the new opinion says. Such an outcome not only would impair The President's Article 2 functions, but ultimately would harm the public itself. I think what they mean is ultimately the president wants all of his stuff to be secret and kept away from people because he's the most transparent president in history.
Dana Goldberg
Yeah.
Alison Gill
And we don't want his private non governmental advisors subpoenaed and hauled into Congress and forced to answer questions without being able to say that they have executive privilege. Bizarre. The question of whether privilege protects the president's communications with advisors outside the executive branch has never been tested directly in court. But apparently now it will be. Unfortunately, with this Supreme Court, who knows how that'll go? That's according to Jonathan Shob. He's a University of Kentucky School of Law professor who served in the Obama administration's Office of Legal Counsel. And while OLC memos do not have the weight of a court's opinion, absent a court order contradicting them, they they do control how the executive branch views the law. Now, when Democrats took over the House in 2018, their investigations of the first Trump administration prompted novel legal disputes over what information lawmakers could obtain about both his personal conduct and the conduct of the government. If congressional Democrats regain subpoena power after the November elections, they could face an even more recalcitrant executive branch, emboldened by a 6:3 conservative majority Supreme Court that has expressed a broad view of presidential powers and immunity. But before that, the arguments laid out in the memo could be relevant in an ongoing legal case brought by the American Bar association that challenges the president's crackdown on law firms that have opposed his agenda. Now, the DOJ has teed up executive privilege arguments in an effort to block subpoenas for testimony and documents issued to Boris Epstein, who does not work for the administration but was instrumental in the deals the White House reached with the law firms seeking to avoid executive orders that targeted their operations. So again, the transparency president doesn't want you to know what he talks to his lawyers about?
Dana Goldberg
Of course not. And we've got one from democracy Docket. Donald Trump signaled Tuesday he's willing to declare a national security emergency in an attempt to take over American elections. We knew this was coming, and I quote, let me just say stranger things have happened. That's what Trump said after a far right media host implored him to exert sweeping control over the upcoming midterms. During a post midnight interview, he said, I'll leave it at that. That's what the president said. The comments, they're just the latest in a string of alarming remarks that Trump has made. About U.S. elections. He previously said he wanted to nationalize voting and regretted not ordering the military to seize ballots and election machines after his loss in the 2020 presidential election. The president, by the way, has no power to control elections. Instead, the U.S. constitution exclusively grants states and Congress the authority over election administration. But despite those constitutional limitations, Wayne Allen Root, and that's the host on the Real America's Voice TV network and one of Trump's favorite right wing media figures, urged the president to subvert democratic elections through executive fiat. Root, who happens to be known for spreading conspiracy theories, claimed Trump was entitled to do that because Senate Republicans do not have the votes to pass the Save America Act. If it became law, the bill would restrict the freedom to vote for millions of eligible Americans. By the way, and I quote, let me put an idea in your head, okay? If you have the right to declare a national security emergency for the elections, that's what Roots said. If you do this in the next month, we will get photo id, proof of citizenship, and a limit to mail in ballots. You don't even need to have the Senate's vote now. The host further claimed that because of Supreme Court precedent, such an emergency couldn't be challenged in court and could only be ended by a two thirds vote in the House and the Senate. Though Roots nonsensical and unconstitutional proposal would amount to an unparalleled assault and US Democracy, Trump didn't disavow it. Of course he didn't. In fact, his claim that stranger things have happened could be an attempt to normalize this bullshit.
Alison Gill
Stranger things have not happened.
Dana Goldberg
I know. No president, let me make clear has ever declared a national emergency or used wartime powers to run, alter or cancel elections. Not one.
Alison Gill
Never.
Dana Goldberg
No matter what he says. This has happened before. Many people have done it.
Alison Gill
No, they haven't. Nobody, nobody's done it to change or cancel an election for sure. All right, next up in a related story, Dana from npr, a federal judge in Boston has expanded a court ordered block on a key part of Trump's executive order to limit voting by mail in this fall's midterm election. The order released by US District Judge Indira Talwani on Tuesday comes as the wait continues for the Supreme Court to weigh in on her earlier ruling about this. The judge's latest ruling bans the Postal Service from trying to finish carrying out Trump's directives in every state. In June, the judge put out a ruling that blocks the post office in only the 23 mainly Democratic led states, plus Washington, D.C. all the ones who sued now Talwani found that the voting rights groups that made the request to effectively expand her June ruling are likely to prove in their lawsuit that Trump's order oversteps a president's authority under the Constitution. Talwani, a nominee of Obama, also found that the order is causing confusion among voters, which again is probably part of the package deal that Trump wants. Under Trump's order, the post office is supposed to compile lists of eligible voters from states and deliver absentee ballots only to people on those lists. The president has defense this order as a way to stop illegal voting by non US Citizens, a problem that many studies have concluded doesn't exist.
Dana Goldberg
Good Lord.
Alison Gill
Yeah, so, I mean, she's extending her block. The Supreme Court hasn't weighed in yet, but you know, we're running up against the clock here because of the midterms. Do you think he's going to like, what's the post office going to do? Is the post office going to follow the court's order? Like, we'll see.
Dana Goldberg
We will. We'll see. All right, A.G. thank you so much. And this last one is from the Associated Press. The Trump Administration has awarded $150 million contract to give legal representation to migrant children traveling alone to the US To a small Texas law firm with ties to the administration but with little experience in immigration law. This is prompting legal aid groups who've long represented those children to warn that the move could make them vulnerable to deportation. Yeah, this is terrifying. The contract to the Houston based Burke Law Group comes as the Trump administration ramps up its mass deportation campaign across the country. And after the administration last week let a key contract with a network of legal groups working with immigration children around the country expire with no replacement, the providers have increasingly raised worries that children won't have the experience legal help they need at a time when the administration is intensifying efforts to remove people from the country. Michael Lukens, who heads the Ameca center, called the idea that the administration had given the sole source contract to the Texas firm upsetting and shocking. It really does forebode a situation where children are going to get no meaningful due process, no meaningful day in court. We cannot have a random law firm entrusted to take care of children. The group said that the contract announced Tuesday only applies to children currently held in the government run shelters and that the government would need to issue another contract covering services for migrant children outside the shelter system. Lukin said that There are currently 1800 children, 1800 children living in shelters and roughly 22,000 thousand living outside. With sponsors such as Family members.
Alison Gill
Wow.
Dana Goldberg
The Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the government agency responsible for caring for unaccompanied migrant children. It did not respond to requests for comment. The Trump administration announced late Tuesday that they were hiring the Houston based Burke to provide legal services to unaccompanied children. The year long contract starts Aug. 15. Only two of the 25 lawyers listed on the firm's website on Wednesday morning claim relevant experience in immigration law in their biographies. Many of the others at the firm are corporate lawyers with ties to conservative causes and to Donald Trump himself. The firm's founder, Marcelo Burke, served in Trump's first administration as a lawyer in the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Interior. Others on the roster include Justin Shubao, the leading supporter of Trump's efforts to require federal buildings to adhere to classical and traditional architectural styles, and a former Trump appointee to the U.S. commission of Fine Arts. Prominent conservative legal scholar, I believe this is Yaya Shapiro is listed as senior counsel. Migrant children alone are viewed as especially vulnerable because of their age and are usually entrusted to U.S. government care. There are various legal protections that apply to them once they're in the U.S. including the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization act of 2008 that requires the government to facilitate legal representation for children put into deportation proceedings. That representation everybody, until recently, was carried out by a network of nearly 100 legal aid providers across the country that provided know your rights training to children in shelters and directly represented them in court proceedings. Now it is going to one bought and paid for law firm in Texas.
Alison Gill
That's so crazy man. And we're going to talk about some some other things that are going on with ice, Customs and Border Protection over on Beans Talk today. So make sure you tune into that. We've got some pretty stunning video to share with you actually proving that these officers are lying every chance they get in order to justify use of force. Excessive use of force.
Dana Goldberg
Yeah.
Alison Gill
But anyway, thank you for that story everybody. We have some good news that we need to get to, but we have to take a break so stick around. We'll be right back after these messages.
Dana Goldberg
We'll be right back.
Alison Gill
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Brian Caram
I'm Brian Caram and I've spent decades covering politics. Now I'm taking you behind the scenes one interview at a time.
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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 for curiosity will lead us to the facts.
Subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform and remember, when you want answers, all you have to do is just ask the question.
Charlotte Clymer
Foreign.
Alison Gill
Hey everybody. Welcome back. It's time for the good news. Who likes good news?
Martin Sheen
Everyone?
Alison Gill
Then Good news everyone. Good news, good news. And if you have any good news good trouble suggestions. Your good news could be from 40 years ago or from yesterday. It really doesn't matter. It could be big. It could be small. You just could write in and say hello. Maybe write in and give a shout out to your spouse or some kids or a loved one. Or yourself. We love self shout outs or a small business that you think could use a boost. Or maybe a nonprofit. You want us to know about some great activism in your area. It can be anything at all. We really look forward to reading the good news. So flood the zone with the sunshine. Please send it to us dailybeanspod.com click on contact and you just gotta attach a photo. I think you can attach two photos actually and it can be anything. It can be your pet. Or we could try to guess the breeds in your shelter pup. Or it can be a random animal on the Internet or an adoptable pet or something you've painted or drawn or crocheted or knitted or sewn. Anything you're growing in your garden. I think we might have to go back to Victory Gardens because I don't think any food is safe anymore.
Martin Sheen
I know.
Alison Gill
So show us what your show us your goats. Are you milking some goats? You having some eggs from chickens?
Dana Goldberg
You're milking some goats. Are you?
Brian Caram
Are you?
Alison Gill
Send it all to us dailybeadspot.com click on Contact. First up is your Good Trouble. Good Trouble today comes from CJ Great name CJ Pronouns she and her hello, AG and DG Givers of light, laughs and humanity. I just want to flag for all the upcoming march on Washington on Friday, August 28th to defend the vote on the 63rd anniversary of the 1963 March where the great Dr. King gave his I have a Dream speech. I've been frustrated that there haven't been any angry marches aimed at 1 First Street Supreme Court building for how they've been trampling on voting rights in particular and our Constitution and democracy in general. And while this may not be exactly that, I'm psyched to go. For more information marchonwashington2026.com we'll have a link in the show notes and a mobilize link as well. CJ Great. Thank you so much. People have never been pissed enough about the Supreme Court. Republicans figured this out decades ago that they have to buy the court and then they can buy a government and power and money. And we've just kind of been ignoring it. If it were at all an important issue, there was no way Hillary Clinton would have lost in 2016.
Dana Goldberg
I totally agree. Totally agree.
Alison Gill
Anyway, thank you so much for that.
Dana Goldberg
Yeah. Got a little pet tax from C.J.
Alison Gill
oh, oh, look, attaching a pic of my usual protest companion. Look at this dog.
Dana Goldberg
So cute.
Alison Gill
Although I think it's probably best to leave her at home for this one. Agree. Yeah, maybe.
Martin Sheen
Yeah.
Alison Gill
But this, it looks like a pug, but it's not. What is this dog? This is such a cute dog.
Dana Goldberg
Sure it's not. It sure is cute.
Alison Gill
It is. Let's see. This is a smooth coated Brussels Griffin.
Dana Goldberg
Oh my gosh. So it's that doesn't have the crazy like crimped hair.
Alison Gill
So it's like the as good as it gets dog with a. But with a blowout. With a blowout. What a Sweet baby.
Dana Goldberg
Oh my gosh, how sweet.
Alison Gill
And her name is Happy.
Dana Goldberg
Awesome. Thank you for that and the joy. All right, from anonymous pronoun she and her hello AG and dg. When I saw the headline about changes to the vaccine schedule, I actually swore out loud. What the actual fuck? This is so dangerous.
Alison Gill
Oh, I know.
Dana Goldberg
Yeah. Not a doctor. Brain worm clearly doesn't care about undermining public trust in vaccines. Some folks have limited access to medical care, aren't able to attend all needed appointments, therefore they're going to miss vaccination opportunities. Here are the signs my six year old. Six year old and I carried at the last no Kings rally as pot pet tacks my cat Boots. Also, I wanted to let you know that every time I hear you ladies play what the mutt, I cannot help but picture you both watching the Westminster Dog show every year taking notes to study all the dog breeds. Thank you for keeping me company during the downfall of our society. Lauren.
Alison Gill
Lauren. I do watch the Westminster Dog show, but it's mostly to watch the Pekingese waddle around the floor because it just brings me so laughter and joy. Look at this. I am way smarter than the President even when they defund my education. And vaccines do not cause autism and medications do not work if people cannot afford to take them. Amazing. And Boots. Hi Boots. Next up from Michelle Pronoun. She and her hey G&DG. Nice to hear that Rock the vote is still making it easy for soon to be 18 year olds to be ready to vote. Here's my take. People who are 17 years and 3 months old must be eligible to vote in states that have legislated that life begins at conception.
Dana Goldberg
Oh my God. That's really funny, Michelle.
Alison Gill
Right? This should also apply to the driving age, the drinking age, retirement age, et cetera. You get me? I don't know why this hasn't become an obvious next step of these egregious anti choice movements. Well, because they're red states. Nobody's gonna.
Dana Goldberg
Yeah, exactly.
Alison Gill
And introduce those cool bills. Now I'm paying my tax with two gals. Beans on the left and Dinah on the right who you've seen before. They like to wrestle, have their picture taken and they hate to get their nails cut. I think that's pretty true for any cat. But look at these sweet babies. No, a tabby. And Dinah on the right there as a tabby. And then the little tuxedo.
Charlotte Clymer
So cute.
Dana Goldberg
All right, thank you for this. Oh my God, this drawing. This is from Clay. Pronouns he and him. Hi Beans. Queens. I'm an artist in Cleveland, Ohio. You complimented my work. Now I've done it again, Clay, once before. So I'm back for another dope hit. I made Prince. Now, I made prints in postcards from the newest protest tarp called Survivor's Day Celebration, which was used for a writing campaign. Will this get me arrested, Dr. Gill? I even sent one to Stephanie Miller at the White. Oh, to Stephen Miller. Sorry. Stephanie is going to be really happy with it. I even sent one to Stephen Miller at the White House. Anyway, for my pot pet tariff, I present my presh in fresh. Moby, I love you guys and all you do. This is an amazing drawing of children dancing around a tombstone marked djt.
Alison Gill
Yep.
Dana Goldberg
And that's exactly what it's going to look like. People dancing in the streets and celebrating.
Alison Gill
It's just I'm like looking really close at this amazing art.
Dana Goldberg
It's pretty extraordinary.
Alison Gill
Yeah, it really is. Thanks, Clay. And hello, hello Kitty. Moby. A little tabby. All right, next up from anonymous pronoun, she and her ladies of Illeguminati, I have a solution to end the war. Many years ago, when countries did not want war with each other, but had animosities toward each other, they would each give a high ranking nobleman or child of a nobleman an assurance that the other country would not attack them. I say we send Mango, Mussolini and all of the administration as assurance. We send them as tax as an assurance. Like a. That's so great. As pet tax or photo tax. I'm submitting two pictures. The first is a picture of the sky. At my granddaughter's fourth birthday party, my daughter got a bubble machine. A bunch of bubble machines. And the result was magical. I thought that might brighten your day. And the second is picture of the latest baby blanket I made for a coat.
Dana Goldberg
Beautiful.
Alison Gill
Okay. The bubbles are amazing. And the. Oh, wow. Look how the different patterns on each.
Dana Goldberg
I know, it's extraordinary.
Alison Gill
And the daisies. Oh, that's so wonderful. What? Those are the best gifts. You know, like baby blankets that you make for somebody. I just. I don't know. I love it.
Dana Goldberg
Amazing. All right, next up from Andy. M. Pronouns. He and him. Hi, AG and dg. Greetings from the deep red state of Ohio.
Alison Gill
Okay, so it's not Andy McCabe. Okay, I was just checking.
Dana Goldberg
There you go.
Alison Gill
See if he wasn't trolling us first.
Dana Goldberg
Thanks for your brilliant reporting about the Mango megalomaniac and his magical enablers. The ongoing assault on our republic by authoritarian corpocracy is vile. Brave journalism like yours helps turn the tide. As evidenced by current polls, I'm cautiously optimistic about the midterms. As a resident and registered voter in Ohio, I'm familiar with Senator Bernie Moreno's non stop fuckery news that he knows his former son in law, U.S. congressmember Max Miller, is unfit to serve. That's a welcome and surprising revelation. I mean, really, if a flaming a hole like Moreno spills the beans, it's case closed, right? Right. Anyway, here's my good news. The Rudbeckia. The Rudbeckia Hirta, commonly known as Black Eyed Susan, are putting on an especially lovely show this summer, drawing legions of pollinators from all over the neighborhood. There's something about the way sunlight works on overcast days that I don't comprehend. The golden petals light up like an acid flashback. There's a photo attached. Extra bonus points if you can find the honeybee who wandered into the shot. In the end, life goes on. My pod pet tariff is a snapshot of the semi feral rescue kitty who adopted me. I call her P I B PIB we have an equitable arrangement. I give her Kibbles, she gives me boundless joy.
Alison Gill
Oh, I think you got the better end of the deal. At least that's how I feel with my cats. But look at that sweet baby. Yeah. And look at these beautiful black Eyed Susans.
Dana Goldberg
They are beautiful.
Alison Gill
They really are.
Dana Goldberg
Look at the honeybee in the left bottom corner.
Alison Gill
There he is.
Dana Goldberg
Found him.
Alison Gill
Yep, found him. Thank you for that bloom scrolling. I love it. Oh, next up from Erica. Ciao bella. Beans. Here's day three of the solar eclipse cruise. Rome was amazing and delicious aroma. Next stop, Tarragona, Spain for the eclipse. I hope to see it from the Roman ruins. Everywhere along the Mediterranean has Roman ruins, apparently. Yeah, it's true. Because that should give me some sort of superpower, right? Seeing it from the Roman rooms. I'll let you know if that works. Friendly double cheek kisses to all. Oh yeah, look at these beautiful. Is it gorgeous statue and some amazing food.
Dana Goldberg
Delightful. All right, next up from Lee. Pronouns, she and her. Hey, pals. I'm a Christian pastor in Butler, Pennsylvania. Yes, that Butler. And I just. I know. I just wanted to share some exciting news about my church. We had a special worship service yesterday during which I baptized a queer teen, reaffirmed the baptisms of her queer parents, and ordained a queer person into ministry in a very conservative area. Our church has become a safe bubble for those who are often unwelcome in other churches. And I'm so proud of the work we're doing. Christian nationalism often commands the headlines and there are many of us who are actual Jesus Christians and are doing the good work of loving people and fighting against the abomination that is the partnership of church and state. Shout out to my clergy legume colleagues, especially Laura v. K.J. and peachy poo. You know who you are. I've attached a picture of a recent epic Rick roll that we set up for a colleague friend. Keep up the good work and thanks for the continuing to share good news. Slightly different than the good news I preach, but equally important.
Alison Gill
Aw, thanks, Lee.
Dana Goldberg
This is awesome.
Alison Gill
That's a cardboard cutout that I see, right? Is that what I'm looking at?
Dana Goldberg
I do believe so, yeah.
Alison Gill
And what did they say that the tax was? Who's that? What is it? What's happening?
Dana Goldberg
It's an epic.
Alison Gill
Oh, it's a Rick roll. I get it. It's Rick Astley. Yep, I see it now. Now I understand. I'm like, what's going on? Why is there an 80s pop star with a scarf on? It was part of the epic Rick Roll. Fantastico. What an amazing group. What an incredible little church in Butler you've got going on there. Lee and hi everyone. Laura v. K.J. peachy poo. Shout out from Lee and thank you everyone for all of your good news. Send it to us dailybeanspod.com click on contact. We'll be back in your ears tomorrow. Do you have any final thoughts?
Dana Goldberg
No final thoughts today.
Alison Gill
All right, everybody, until tomorrow, 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. I've been ag. I've been dg 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 Reeder 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 mswmedia.com msw media.
Martin Sheen
Hello, Martin Sheen here and I have a question for you. What do you do on Sunday to relax and unwind? Sleep in, read the paper, eat stuff. You shouldn't binge, watch the shows on your My Stuff list. Okay, all good and fine, but I think this routine could be a bit better. Let me offer something to make your me time really special my podcast, and I think once you hear it, you'll realize it is the perfect addition to your Sunday or whenever you're looking for a chance to unwind. Tune in as I share the stories of my life along with some poetry and an occasional personal reflection in a way that will have you saying that was time well spent and I didn't even have to get out of my pajamas. Season four of the Martin Sheen Podcast with yours truly, Martin Sheen, of course is underway with 10 brand new episodes. I know our lives can be very busy and demanding these days whose are not. So join me on a storytelling journey that you can enjoy from the comfort of your favorite easy chair and a chance to relax and be in the moment. So check out the Martin Sheen Podcast, Season four, underway right now, and make it part of your self care routine. And as always, thank you for listening.
Date: August 12, 2026
Hosts: Alison Gill, Dana Goldberg
Podcast: The Daily Beans (MSW Media)
Theme: Progressive news and political commentary with humor and activism
This episode dives into a week packed with political drama and government shenanigans, all delivered with the characteristic blend of snark, insight, and activism from Alison Gill and Dana Goldberg. Key topics include Trump’s unprecedented use of executive power, a comically bizarre secret flight operation involving a catering cart, expanding executive privilege, controversy over legal contracts for migrant children, and court blocks on mail voting tampering. The episode is peppered with memorable quotes, listener-submitted good news, and reflections on activism and joy.
Timestamps: 02:28–04:14
Summary:
Recent news reveals Donald Trump received an extravagant diamond ring from Belgium’s diamond industry—321 diamonds, 56 sapphires, 13 emeralds, 6 rubies, valued at $25,000-$35,000, complete with a Superman-style logo. Shortly after, Trump lifted diamond tariffs on Belgium.
Key Insight:
This clear quid pro quo would have been a historical scandal, but in the current climate, such corruption has become normalized.
Quotes:
Timestamps: 04:14–08:16
Summary:
Trump was covertly transported out of Turkey in a catering cart to evade a potential threat, while press and some staff unknowingly served as decoys on Air Force One.
Visuals & Reaction:
Quotes:
Timestamps: 08:16–10:17
Summary:
The White House is pressing the DOJ to reopen charges against Olympic canoeist David Hearn for alleged vandalism of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, despite evidence and a judge’s prior dismissal.
Key Insight:
The hosts discuss the dangers of vindictive prosecution and the erosion of due process.
Quotes:
Timestamps: 10:18–13:07
Summary:
The Trump administration’s Office of Legal Counsel issued an opinion greatly expanding executive privilege to cover communications with non-governmental advisors, preempting congressional oversight.
Legal Ramifications:
The memo lays groundwork for resisting subpoenas and raises alarm about unchecked executive power, especially with a conservative Supreme Court.
Quotes:
Timestamps: 13:07–15:39
Summary:
Trump hints he's willing to declare a 'national security emergency' to seize control over the midterm elections, following right-wing media encouragement. Hosts underline the constitutional impossibility and gravity of such a move.
Constitutional Fact-Check:
The hosts clarify that only states and Congress—not the president—have authority over elections.
Quotes:
Timestamps: 15:39–17:26
Summary:
Judge Indira Talwani expands her injunction blocking Trump’s efforts to restrict mail voting, citing constitutional overreach and manufactured confusion.
Quotes:
Timestamps: 17:26–21:39
Summary:
The Trump administration awards a $150 million contract for representing unaccompanied migrant children to a small Texas firm with ties to Trump but scant immigration experience, sparking fears about due process.
Quotes:
Timestamps: 25:56–39:14
| Timestamp | Topic | Speaker(s) | Key Points | |------------|---------------------------------------------|--------------------|-------------------------------------------------| | 02:28–04:14| Trump’s diamond ring scandal | Dana, Alison | Quid pro quo, normalization of corruption | | 04:14–08:16| Catering cart Trump extraction from Turkey | Alison, Dana | Security ruse, ethical implications | | 08:16–10:17| Reflecting Pool DOJ case | Alison, Dana | Vindictive prosecution, DOJ process integrity | | 10:18–13:07| Executive privilege expansion by OLC | Alison, Dana | Legal memo, block on accountability | | 13:07–15:39| Trump suggesting emergency takeover of elections | Dana, Alison | Threat to democracy, constitutional fact-check | | 15:39–17:26| Mail ballot executive order blocked in court | Alison, Dana | Voting rights, judicial checks | | 17:26–21:39| Migrant children legal contract controversy | Dana, Alison | Conflict of interest, due process for children | | 25:56–39:14| Good news from listeners | Community segment | Activism events, pet pics, resilience stories |
If you haven't tuned in, this episode delivers high-stakes political news with sarcasm, personal reactions, and a focus on the deeper implications of current events. It’s a mix of urgent reporting, emotional venting, factual analysis, and crowd-sourced positivity—a true progressive breakfast for the news-hungry and justice-minded.
"I've been AG."
"I've been DG. And them's the Beans." (39:05)
Podcast Website: https://mswmedia.com/the-daily-beans-podcast/
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