The Daily Beans - “Concepts Of A Scam” (feat. Jessica Schubel)

Podcast: The Daily Beans (MSW Media)
Date: December 24, 2025
Host: Allison Gill (AG)
Guest: Jessica Schubel (Former White House ACA Director)

Episode Overview

This jam-packed episode, hosted by Allison Gill, explores a whirlwind of political news and significant legal developments, all delivered with the podcast’s trademark blend of wit and progressive perspective. The highlight is a deep-dive interview with Jessica Schubel, former White House Affordable Care Act director, unpacking the latest Republican attempts to rework American health care—and what that means for millions of Americans as key ACA subsidies expire. The conversation exposes the “concepts of a plan” recently passed in the House, what the imminent lapse of subsidies could mean, and the real-life stakes for health care access in 2026.

Major News Highlights & Key Discussion Points

1. Supreme Court Rejects Trump’s Attempt to Deploy the National Guard

• [01:03–07:28]
  • What happened: SCOTUS rebuffed Trump’s bid to deploy National Guard troops for enforcement of his mass deportation policy, citing Title 10, Section 12406.
  • Legal rationale: Court clarified that the National Guard can only be used this way if the “regular armed forces” (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines) are truly insufficient.
  • Key point: “The Supreme Court agrees that regular forces means the military, not local federal police.” (AG, 04:07)
  • Dissent: Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch dissented; Kavanaugh’s odd footnote addressed racial profiling.
  • Implications: This curtails Trump’s legal justification for further National Guard deployments under this statute.
  • Memorable Snark: “I think he got really upset about people referring to that as a Kavanaugh stop and just threw that footnote in there for no reason because it doesn’t have anything to do with this case.” (AG, 05:49)

2. Kilmar Abrego Case – Potential DOJ Misconduct

• [07:29–09:30]
  • Unsealed documents may reveal DOJ misled the court: Judge Crenshaw orders the unsealing (pending higher court intervention) of filings that could show government attorneys lied about who authorized smuggling charges.
  • Consequences: Could include sanctions or disbarment if misconduct is proven.
  • Human impact: Kilmar Abrego Garcia will spend Christmas with family thanks to a restraining order barring ICE from detaining him for now.

3. Trump Administration Recalls 30+ Career Ambassadors

• [09:31–12:10]
  • Unprecedented recall: Even the Foreign Service union can’t recall such a mass recall of career diplomats.
  • Direct Quote: “‘Those affected report being notified abruptly, typically by phone, with no explanation.’ That’s Nikki Gamer, a spokeswoman for the union.” (AG, 10:07)
  • Speculation: Raises the possibility of legal challenges.

4. Kennedy Center Renaming Lawsuit

• [12:11–13:28]
  • Action: Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH) sues Trump over “Trump Kennedy Center”; illegal without an act of Congress.
  • Norm Eisen (Obama WH ethics czar): “The name change… violates the Constitution and rule of law because Congress said it. This is the name.” (AG, 12:59)
  • Drama: Beatty, an ex officio board member, was muted on the board call to block her objection.

5. Epstein File Chaos & DOJ Misdirection

• [13:28–17:00]
  • Epstein “suicide note” and DOJ games: Letter surfaced, linked to Dr. Larry Nassar, then was rapidly declared fake by DOJ—suspected by AG as a “trap” to discredit genuine revelations.
  • Missing files: DOJ briefly released thousands of files, which promptly vanished.
  • Conspiracy concerns: “I personally don't believe it's real. I think this was a trap…” (AG, 15:53)
  • Revelation: At least ten co-conspirators identified (Maxwell, Brunel, Wexner unredacted)—though DOJ claimed, again, no “client list.”

6. Jack Smith’s Mar-a-Lago Final Report Delayed Again

• [17:01–18:57]
  • Judge Eileen Cannon: Will finally lift her block on public release (Volume 2) in February 2026, but leaves the door open for additional Trump appeals.
  • Host skepticism: “Cannon also invited a possible legal challenge…that could further delay the report’s release.” (AG, 17:46)

7. Lamonica McIver Returns to ICE Facility for Oversight

• [18:58–20:39]
  • Courageous return: Recently charged after controversial visit, Rep. McIver returns for oversight amid tragic ICE detainee death.
  • Quote: “Showing up to that facility where the government tried to frame you for assaulting an ICE officer is, what, ballsy as.” (AG, 20:27)

Main Feature: Interview with Jessica Schubel

[21:01–42:54]

Background

• Guest: Jessica Schubel, former White House Affordable Care Act Director
• Topic: Explaining the impending expiration of ACA subsidies, the Republican health care “plan,” and what Americans can expect in January.

Opening Praise

• AG: “I love talking to experts…Thank you so much for all your service, all your government service, and for everything that you did…to help get more people covered by healthcare.” (21:03)
• Schubel: “I’m really, really proud about that. I wish I could have done more to help people afford health insurance…” (22:19)

Key Points & Insights

A. What Actually Works: How the ACA Subsidies Help

• Analogy: “People already get…money directly to buy their health insurance…like a personal discount code.” (Schubel, 25:44)
• Clarity: Subsidies are discounts applied up front, making premiums affordable for 20 million+ marketplace enrollees.

B. What the GOP Plan Would Do

• High-deductible trap: Instead of front-end discounts, the proposal is to give small sums (e.g., $1,500) into health savings accounts (HSAs). BUT:
  • Out-of-pocket requirement: “You have to enroll in…high deductible plans…the average out of pocket limit…was $7,000.” (Schubel, 27:11)
  • Glaring arithmetic flaw: “$1,500 is not going to pay for the full $7,000 you’re going to have to pay before your health insurance starts.” (Schubel, 27:57)

C. Who Really Benefits from HSAs

• Schubel: These accounts overwhelmingly benefit the wealthy: “A couple…who make $800,000 a year is going to save three times as much…as a couple who makes $30,000 a year. That’s wrong.” (Schubel, 39:49)
• Billionaires win, working people lose: All up-front ‘benefits’ are dwarfed by deductible barriers. The plan’s structure advantages high earners due to tax code quirks.

D. Real-World Impact: The Coming Subsidy Cliff

• When subsidies expire: As of January 1, premiums for millions jump; open enrollment continues until January 15 for coverage starting February 1.
  • Schubel: “The damage is done for…2026 coverage…” (33:56)
  • AG: “The American people aren’t stupid…they know when their health care premiums go up.” (23:56)
• House Republican discharge petition: Some GOP members seek to force a vote to keep the subsidies, despite Trump’s opposition and Speaker Johnson’s loss of caucus control.
• Ultimate outcome: “It’s being done to make wealthy people richer…It’s on our backs to pay for the extra tax cuts.” (Schubel, 37:56)
• Small businesses at risk: Many depend on marketplace plans. Some facing $1,500+/mo hikes.

E. Medicaid: Stringent New Work Proof Requirements

• Sneaky timing: Republicans delayed new requirements until after the midterms to avoid immediate backlash (Schubel, 32:11).

Notable Quotes

• Schubel, on the GOP plan: “When you see something that’s too good to be true, you often—and should—not believe it.” (25:20)
• AG, on GOP approach: “Just don’t break your arm, everyone…you can have two pencils, and don’t break your arm.” (31:47)
• Schubel, on real costs: “Healthcare is generally the most expensive component of a family’s budget…It’s like a death by a thousand cuts.” (30:57)
• AG, on who benefits: “All those middlemen make the premiums so unaffordable.” (39:30)
• Schubel, on HSA tax breaks: “The higher you are in the tax brackets, the more money you save.” (39:49)
• Schubel, on practical advice: “Please, please, please go to healthcare.gov. That will give you the most real-time information on how much you will pay for health insurance.” (41:29)

Actionable Advice & Resources

• Sign up: ACA Open Enrollment is open until January 15 (for Feb 1 coverage). Go to healthcare.gov
• Stay informed: Local newspapers, trusted podcasts (like The Daily Beans), and social media updates from experts.

Good News Segment Highlights

[42:56–End]

• Uplifting stories, creative activism (e.g., sending “you are clowns” reply cards to right-wing groups), and gratitude for the podcast community.
• Listeners share positive actions and art—closing on a call to self-care and community engagement during the holidays.

Final Notes & Tone

• Tone: Smart, irreverent, and impassioned—combining hard news, sharp progressive critique, and hope/solidarity.
• Takeaway: The episode is a must-listen for those tracking legal, political, and health care developments in America. It offers clear, jargon-free explanations of complicated policy and exposes how current GOP health care proposals would radically undercut affordability—placing millions at risk.

“Healthcare is generally the most expensive component of a family’s budget…And it’s the working American that is paying the price for this…It’s on our backs to pay for the extra tax cuts.”
— Jessica Schubel, [37:56]

“Please, please, please go to healthcare.gov…You have until January 15th to sign up.”
— Jessica Schubel, [41:29]