Downward Spiral

Summary

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The Daily Beans: "Downward Spiral" — January 19, 2026

Podcast: The Daily Beans (MSW Media)
Hosts: Allison Gill (“A.G.”) & Dana Goldberg
Episode Theme:
The episode delves into the intensifying political crisis in the U.S. under President Trump’s second term, marked by federal deployments against states, ICE abuses, controversial pardons, and global backlash against provocative U.S. actions, especially regarding Greenland. Amid serious reporting, hosts blend outrage, analysis, and their signature snark, followed by an uplifting “good news” segment with listener shoutouts.

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Main Topics & Key Insights

1. Pentagon Deployments & the Insurrection Act (02:20 – 05:05)

• Pentagon Readies 1,500 Troops for Minneapolis:
  The Pentagon prepares active-duty battalions for possible deployment to Minnesota, as Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act in response to unrest.

  • Quote, Allison Gill (03:43):
    “Yeah, it's real prudent to invade Minnesota.”

• Minneapolis Mayor’s Response:
  Mayor Jacob Fry accuses the federal government of attempting to “bait protesters,” saying,

  • Mayor Fry (quoted by Allison, 04:16):
    “We're not going to give them an excuse to do the thing that clearly they're trying to set up to do right now, which is these 1500 troops… I never thought in a million years that we would be invaded by our own federal government.”

• Legal Pretext & DOJ Tactics:
  DOJ is investigating local officials for “impeding law enforcement,” language aligned with the Insurrection Act, rather than citing a fabricated injury to federal agent Jonathan Ross—likely to avoid court scrutiny.

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2. Police Killing of Renee Nicole Goode & Cover-Up Allegations (05:05 – 07:16)

• EMS Reports Contradict Official Narrative:
  Newly released reports show that Goode was still alive when paramedics arrived, but was denied care and blocked by law enforcement.

  • Memorable exchange (06:53):
    • AG: “She did. He could have started CPR minutes early.”
    • Dana: “He could have. He could have tried to put pressure on wounds. So much could have been done.”
    • AG: “Yeah, agreed.”

• No Evidence ICE Agent Was Injured:
  No EMS or hospital records support claims officer Ross suffered "internal bleeding," yet CBS reported this based on anonymous sources; internal CBS emails reveal skepticism and editorial dissent.

  • Quote, CBS staffer (09:20):
    “It was viewed as a thinly veiled, anonymous leak by the Trump administration to someone who'd carry it online… felt to many here like we're carrying water for the administration's justifying of the shooting to keep our access to our sources.”

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3. Judicial Pushback Against Crackdown on Protesters (10:01 – 11:37)

• Federal Judge Issues Injunction:
  Judge Catherine Menendez stops federal agents from pepper spraying, detaining, or pulling over peaceful protesters in Minnesota during “Operation Metro Surge.”

  • Dana Goldberg (10:47):
    “You're not allowed to do that.”

• Broader Legal Fight Looms:
  Allison notes that much will depend on whether the Supreme Court rules that filming or observing ICE can be classified as “forcibly impeding officers.”

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4. International Fallout: Trump’s Tariffs & Greenland Stand-Off (11:37 – 13:42)

• Eight European Countries Rebuke U.S. Tariffs:
  In retaliation against Trump’s 10% tariffs, allied countries send strong warnings, stating these moves “undermine transatlantic relations” and risk a “dangerous downward spiral.”
  • AG (12:47):
    “The unusually strong statement from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany and the UK, The Netherlands and Finland said troops sent to Greenland for Operation Arctic Endurance pose no threat to anyone.”
  • Sen. Mark Kelly, quoted (13:18):
    “The damage this president is doing to our reputation and our relationships is growing and making us less safe.”

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5. Trump Pardons: Cronyism & Corruption (13:42 – 15:48)

• Pattern of Political Pardons:
  Trump pardons the son of a GOP congressman convicted of meth distribution and re-pardons two fraudsters, one with alleged ties to super PAC donations.
  • Dana Goldberg (15:39):
    “Oh, maybe someone gave Trump $3.5 million to something, one of his PACs. Yeah, this is a pay for play. They are buying these.”
  • Alison Gill (16:02):
    “It’s Trump sitting at a table and he’s like, pardons $3 million and it says change my diaper at the bottom.”

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6. ICE Moves to Deport Witnesses to Detainee Murder (16:04 – 17:45)

• Deportation of Key Witnesses:
  DHS tries to deport two men who witnessed the killing of a detainee at Fort Bliss and whose testimony contradicted official accounts.
  • AG (16:27):
    “So they are now working to deport the two witnesses to this murder.”

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7. Judicial Protection for Noncitizen Academics (17:45 – 19:23)

• Judge Calls Out Authoritarianism:
  Republican-appointed Judge William Young issues an order protecting noncitizen pro-Palestinian academics, decrying the administration’s “unconstitutional conspiracy.”
  • Judge Young, quoted (18:09):
    “The big problem in this case is that the cabinet secretaries and ostensibly the president of the United States are not honoring the First Amendment.”

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8. Greenland Protests Against U.S. Intervention (19:29 – 20:28)

• Massive Demonstrations:
  Greenlanders rally in large numbers – a rare event in the sparsely populated nation –, waving flags and carrying signs like “No means no” and “Yankee go home.”
  • Allison Gill (19:43):
    “Some people openly cried in the rain in a protest in Nuuk, the capital… a rare sight in a city of fewer than 20,000 residents.”

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9. Virginia Legislature Advances Redistricting Reform (20:28 – 21:43)

• Democratic-Controlled Legislature Acts:
  Virginia Senate passes an amendment to allow for mid-decade redistricting; the initiative now heads to a public vote.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On federal deployment:
  “I never thought in a million years that we would be invaded by our own federal government.” – Mayor Jacob Fry, quoted by Allison Gill (04:16)

• On official ICE narrative:
  “What really bothers me is hearing these very specific details… She was technically still alive… and they fucking blocked her. That's what makes me so angry.” – Dana Goldberg (06:18)

• On pardons:
  “This is a pay for play. They are buying these [pardons].” – Dana Goldberg (15:39)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:20] Pentagon deploys troops to Minneapolis, Insurrection Act pretext
• [05:05] Paramedic reports on Renee Nicole Goode’s killing
• [07:16] CBS internal dissent on ICE shooting narrative
• [10:01] Judge blocks retaliatory action against protesters
• [11:37] Trump’s tariffs over Greenland; international backlash
• [13:42] Series of Trump’s controversial pardons
• [16:04] ICE seeks to deport witnesses to Fort Bliss murder
• [17:45] Reagan-era judge rebukes Trump’s anti-academic crackdowns
• [19:29] Greenland’s mass protests
• [20:28] VA legislature passes redistricting amendment

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Tone & Style

• Mix of righteous outrage, sharp skepticism, and dark humor.
• Hosts maintain a sense of empathy and urgency, while leveraging their community to take action or support advocacy.
• Frequent shoutouts to listeners, use of profane or snarky asides.
• Quick pivots from grim topics to moments of levity.

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Listener Engagement: Good News Segment ([26:43]–End)

The final portion of the episode (“the good news”) features:

• Listener shoutouts to activism, milestones, and personal victories.
• Calls for “good trouble” (e.g., encouraging protests of performances at Trump venues).
• Heartfelt stories about family, new jobs, pet photos, and recovery.
• Community and solidarity, with hosts reading and celebrating submissions.

Example Quotes:

• “Please help with good trouble. American Ballet Theater has upcoming performances at the Trump Kennedy center… Please call them and ask them to cancel.” – Listener Kathy (28:24)
• “I found a job in my desired area, in my desired industry for more money than I asked for. Rock on, Mark.” – Listener Mark H. (29:33)

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Conclusion

Summary:
“Downward Spiral” presents an unflinching look at government overreach, media collusion, official cruelty, and the potential for lasting democratic and international damage. AG and Dana dissect these crises with characteristic urgency and humor, while elevating grassroots resistance and community resilience in the face of growing authoritarianism.

Action Items:

• Stay informed through independent media.
• Resist intimidation and defend civil rights.
• Celebrate small wins and solidarity within activist communities.

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Transcript

[Martin Sheen]

It's Sunday morning and that wonderfully relaxed feeling of a long, lazy day lingers in the air. If you want to make the moment last, may I suggest the perfect solution? The Martin Sheen Podcast. Join me, your host, Martin Sheen, for beautifully crafted 20 minute programs filled with never before heard stories of my life, along with personal reflections and poetry that inspires. The Martin Sheen Podcast is the perfect Sunday refresh. A chance to take a deep breath, relax and know that the stress of Monday may be just around the corner, but not here, not now. So make this your weekly moment of calm as we explore faith, hope, love, and what it means to be human. And know this, this journey is ever unfolding as I invite you to see what's next with me, Martin Sheen.

[Alison Gill]

And thank you, MSW Media. Hello and welcome to the Daily beans for Monday, January 19, 2026. Today, the Pentagon is readying 1500 troops for deployment to Minneapolis. Newly released police communications show Jonathan Ross was not seriously injured when he murdered Renee Nicole Goode. Internal communications show. Major concern among CBS employees about the report that Jonathan Ross had internal bleeding. DHS is seeking to deport the two men who witnessed the guard murder a detainee at the Fort Bliss concentration camp. Trump just pardoned a meth dealer and then pardoned a pair of fraudsters for a second time. Trump is threatening tariffs against the EU over Greenland. A judge has entered a preliminary injunction against ICE In Minneapolis, another judge is protecting noncitizen academics. Massive demonstrations in Greenland. Tell Trump to get out. And the Virginia legislature passed their redistricting amendment. I'm Alison Gill.

[Dana Goldberg]

And I'm Dana Goldberg.

[Alison Gill]

So much news over the weekend.

[Dana Goldberg]

My gosh. So, so much. And it's good to be back with you, though. How was your weekend? Outside of the horribleness that is going on in this world? You doing okay, my friend?

[Alison Gill]

Yeah, I'm doing okay. I had half a day off on Saturday. It was nice.

[Dana Goldberg]

Nice.

[Alison Gill]

I watched some football and then a Downton Abbey movie with my friend. That's awesome. Yeah. We also have a new episode of Unjustified out with me and Andy McCabe. You can find that wherever you get your podcasts. It's free to listen and subs. And there's a new episode of the Breakdown, my show over on the Midas Touch network. You can find that at Mueller She Wrote dot com. So check those out. We have a lot to get to today, so let's hit the hot notes. Hot notes. All right, first up from the post, the Pentagon has ordered about 1500 active duty soldiers to prepare for A possible deployment to Minnesota. That's according to defense officials who spoke to the Washington Post late Saturday after Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection act in response to unrest there. The soldiers are assigned to two infantry battalions within the Army's 11th Airborne Division, which is based in Alaska and specializes in cold weather operations. The army placed the units on prepare to deploy orders in case violence in Minnesota escalates, according to officials, characterizing the move as, quote, prudent planning. Yeah, it's real prudent to invade Minnesota. It's not clear whether any of them will be sent to the state, but some of those officials spoke to the Washington Post on the condition of anonymity. As we know, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry on Sunday called the federal government surge of immigration enforcement officials and the possible deployment of active duty soldiers an attempt to bait protesters in the city. Quote, we're not going to give them an excuse to do the thing that clearly they're trying to set up to do right now, which is these 1500 troops. That's what Fry told CNN. I never thought in a million years that we would be invaded by our own federal government. Now, the Insurrection act, as we know, is a federal law dating to 1807 and it permits the president to take control of a state's National Guard for or deploy active duty troops domestically in response to rebellion. Now I spoke with Steve Vladek, who's an expert on [e-mail] you can listen to that conversation about the Insurrection Act. And I talked about the pretext to invoke the Insurrection Act. On the breakdown, you'll notice that the Department of Justice is now investigating Walls and Fry for, quote, impeding law enforcement, which is language, Dana, directly from the Insurrection Act. They don't want to use the made up injury to Jonathan Ross who murdered Renee Goode because they'd have to hand over all their evidence in court once they're sued to block the Insurrection Act. And they're desperately trying to hide that evidence. As we know that makes sense.

[Dana Goldberg]

Thank you, ag. And just a trigger warning for this next story. This one's from the Guardian. According to Minneapolis Fire Department incident report obtained by the Guardian, along with police reports and 911 transcripts, paramedics arrived at the scene at about 9.42am on 7 January and they found Good unresponsive in the driver's seat of the car and I quote, with blood on her face and torso. The report states that paramedics removed Goode from the car and reported that she was and I quote, unresponsive, not breathing with inconsistent, irregular, thready pulse activity. According to the report, paramedics identified two apparent gunshot wounds to the right side of her chest and the apparent gunshot wound to the patient's left forearm and a possible gunshot wound with protruding tissue on the left side of the patient's head. The report also notes that she had dilated pupils and blood discharging from the left ear. The documents viewed by the Guardian also include communications among law enforcement and emergency personnel. About 10:04am, roughly 30 minutes after the shooting, messages stated that, and I quote, agent that fired is no longer on the scene has been transported to federal building. Notice I didn't say the hospital. He wasn't even taken to the hospital, like I said. And as you said on Sunday's episode of the Breakdown, there are no records that he was even seen by ems. Not even seen by a doctor. And what really bothers me is hearing these very specific details about this. She was technically still alive when the paramedics got there. A doctor tried to give her medical care and they fucking blocked her. That's what makes me so angry.

[Alison Gill]

Yeah. When that physician said, I want to check for a pulse. She had a pulse.

[Dana Goldberg]

She had a pulse.

[Alison Gill]

She did. He could have started CPR minutes early.

[Dana Goldberg]

He could have. He could have tried to put pressure on wounds. So much could have been done.

[Alison Gill]

Yeah, agreed. All right. And I'm also wondering if Jonathan Ross signed that. You know, how if you don't want treatment, you got to sign a paper saying you don't want treatment so that EMS isn't liable for some.

[Dana Goldberg]

Good question. Well, it says EMS never saw him, so.

[Alison Gill]

So I wonder if he. If they even asked him, like they. There was nothing in any of the reports that they rendered aid to him. And like you said, they took him to the federal building. All right, next up from the Guardian, some CBS News employees expressed concern. That's one way to put it. After the network cited two anonymous U.S. officials on Wednesday to report that the ICE officer who murdered Renee Nicole Good, quote, suffered internal bleeding of the torso after incident. CBS initially published the account about Officer Jonathan Ross on Twitter. About 30 minutes later, the network followed up with another post containing a link to an article by two correspondents that similarly cited, quote, two U.S. officials briefed on his medical condition. The report, which was not extensively covered by other news organizations, drew an immediate response on social media from critics who questioned the network sourcing and whether it aligned with the Trump administration's preferred focus, AKA bullshit story. But there was also internal skepticism at the network about this reporting. According to emails viewed by the Guardian, it was met with, quote, huge internal concern by some. That's one CBS News staffer said that others viewed the conversations as standard editorial discussions. And before the original report was published, a medical producer at the network suggested in an email to his colleagues that, quote, it would be helpful to ask what type of treatment he received and, and whether the officer received surgery or any other type of procedure. And in another email, an executive expressed skepticism about the broad nature of the medical diagnosis and what it actually entailed. Quote, I'm no doctor, but internal bleeding is a very broad term and can range in severity. That's David Reiter. He said a bruise is internal bleeding, but it can also be something serious. We do know that the ICE agent walked away from the incident. We have it on camera. The network's story noted that, quote, videos from the scene showed Ross walking away after the incident. The network's top editor, Barry Weiss, expressed a high level of interest in this particular story on an editorial call Wednesday morning. According to staffers, quote, there was big internal dissension about the internal bleeding report here late last night. That's what the CBS News staffer, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said, quote, it was viewed as a thinly veiled, anonymous leak by the Trump administration to someone who'd carry it online, unquote, quote, felt to many here like we're carrying water for the administration's justifying of the shooting to keep our access to our sources. That's what a second network staffer said, who was also not authorized to comment. Yeah, duh. So I'm glad that some of this reporting about massive internal dissension about that story happened.

[Dana Goldberg]

Yes. And a news source with three reputable letters. We're moving to NBC. This is some good news for you all. A federal judge on Friday ordered federal law enforcement participating in Minnesota immigration crackdown to stop pepper spraying, detaining and pulling over peaceful protesters. You're not allowed to do that. The preliminary injunction by Judge Catherine Menendez of the U.S. district Court in Minnesota, it applies to federal agents and officers participating in Operation Metro Surge. It's going to remain in effect, Menendez wrote, until the mission concludes or conditions are such that it is no longer needed. The judge stated the federal operation started in Minnesota on December 4th. The ruling orders federal law enforcement to stop taking action against peaceful protesters, including those demonstrating against federal agents and officers, also those in their car. The injunction, for now, prohibits and I quote, retaliating against persons who are engaging in peaceful and unobstructive protest activity, including observing the activities of Operation Metro Surge. That's according to the Friday ruling. Federal law enforcement is also ordered not to detain or arrest otherwise lawful protesters. They're not supposed to be using pepper spray against them as a crowd dispersal measure or stop vehicles when there is no reasonable suspicion that those inside are hindering federal agents and officers efforts on immigration. So if you're following an ICE officer, following in your car, you're not impeding and you're not honking, you're not tailgating, you're not speeding and you're just videoing them, they have absolutely no right to stop you or detain you or ask you to get out of your car.

[Alison Gill]

Yeah. And this is all going to come down to whether the Supreme Court at some point decides that filming officers observing ICE agents or warning your neighbors of the presence of ICE agents is somehow forcibly impeding officers. That's what this is going to come down to. That's the main question that's going to have to get answered now as we await the tariff ruling from the Supreme Court. This comes from The Associated Press. Eight European countries targeted by Trump's 10% tariff for opposing American control of Greenland. They blasted the move on Sunday, warning that his threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. The joint statement by some of America's closest allies signaled a possible turning point in the recent tensions over sovereignty and security, nearly 24 hours after Trump's threat. It was also the most forceful rebuke of Trump from the European allies since he returned to the White House almost a year ago. In recent months, Europeans have mostly opted for diplomacy and flattery around Donald Trump, even when seeking to end the war in Ukraine. Sunday's statement, as well as some European countries sending troops to Greenland for Danish military training exercises, appeared to be a step away from that. Let's flatter him and hopefully he'll leave soon. Strategy. The unusually strong statement from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany and the UK uk, The Netherlands and Finland said troops sent to Greenland for Operation Arctic Endurance pose no threat to anyone. Now U.S. senator Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat, said Trump's threatened tariffs on US Allies would make Americans pay more to try to get territory we don't need. He went on to say troops from European countries are arriving in Greenland to defend the territory from us. Let that sink in. The damage this president is doing to our reputation and our relationships is growing and making us less safe. If something doesn't change, we will be on our own with adversaries and Enemies in every direction.

[Dana Goldberg]

Thank you, Alison. All right, eg, let's talk about pardons, because there was a flurry of pardons from Trump that went under the radar over the last couple of weeks because, you know, ICE was just shooting American citizens in the face. Now, first, Trump pardoned James Philip Womack. This is the son of a Republican Arkansas congressman. Womack was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to disturbing methamphetamine distributing. Distributing. Not disturbing, but I'm sure it was also disturbing distributing methamphetamine in 2024. Now. Yeah, this is from the Times. In 2021, a convicted fraudster named Adriana Camberos was freed from prison when President Trump commuted her sentence. Rather than taking advantage of that second chance, Prosecutors said that Ms. Kombaros returned to crime. She and her brother were convicted again in 2024. But in an unrelated fraud case this week, Trump pardoned both of them, marking the second time that he had actually opened the prison gates for miss Cambros. Their pardons were among a handful of clemency grants quietly issued by Mr. Trump on Thursday and Friday. Didn't hear about him, did we, in the news? No, we did not. Among the other lucky recipients, a man whose daughter had given millions to a Trump backed suit super pac. A former governor of Puerto Rico and a former FBI agent, all of whom had pleaded guilty in a political corruption case. And I do want to say something. That former governor of Puerto Rico, what they were in trouble for was taking bribes from Venezuela. He pardoned them, went and kidnapped their corrupt president and his wife, but were pardoning other people that participated in this corruption, Right?

[Alison Gill]

Yeah. And a methamphetamine dealer.

[Dana Goldberg]

Yep.

[Alison Gill]

So I guess they're now cool with Joe Biden's pardon of Hunter Biden or they've suddenly become aware of the problems with addiction. Maybe, maybe they're. Or maybe someone just bought the pardon problem.

[Dana Goldberg]

Oh, maybe someone gave Trump $3.5 million to something, one of his PACs. Yeah, this is a pay for play. They are buying these.

[Alison Gill]

Yeah. Have you seen the meme going around the Internet? You know, the meme, like this argument here changed my mind. And it's a guy sitting at a table. It's Trump sitting at a table and he's like, pardons $3 million and it says change my diaper at the bottom.

[Dana Goldberg]

Oh, my God. No, I didn't see that. It's awesome.

[Alison Gill]

Pretty good one. All right, next up from the Post, the Trump administration is seeking to deport the two men who provided accounts of the January 3rd murder of Geraldo Lunas Campos at a Texas detention camp that differed from the Department of Homeland Security's description of the incident. Remember how we told you at the very last moment breaking news that two guards had strangled a detainee at Fort Bliss?

[Dana Goldberg]

Yeah.

[Alison Gill]

Santos Jesus Flores and Antonio Ascan Fromeda. Two detainees at Camp East Montana. I don't know it's called Camp East Montana. It's in Texas. Who both have criminal convictions, said in phone interviews with the Post this week that they witnessed Lunas Campos engaged in a struggle with guards before he died. Flores claims he saw the guards choking Lunas Campos to death. In a statement Thursday, DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin, the one who lies about every single incident. Here's what she said to just to explain this away, Lunas Campos had tried to take his own life and guards were trying to save him. She said Campos violently resisted the security staff and continued to attempt to take his life. And during those the ensuing struggle, he stopped breathing and lost consciousness. That's her story now. Flores, a Salvadoran immigrant, was ordered to be removed by an immigration judge on January 8, according to internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement records by the Post. Five days after Lunas Campos death, he shared his account with the post on January 13th. And on the same day he was offered removal to Mexico, but declined, citing fear of being deported from there. So they are now working to deport the two witnesses to this murder.

[Dana Goldberg]

This is infuriating, right? This next story is from the Guardian. A federal judge described Trump as a, quote, authoritarian and accused this administration of an unconstitutional conspiracy to pick off certain people in its aggressive pursuit of non US Citizen pro Palestinian activists on American college campuses. US District Judge William Young, who was appointed, by the way, by Republican President Ronald Reagan, said on Thursday that he would issue an order aimed at protecting academics who challenged the arrest and deportation of pro Palestinian scholars such as Khalil and Osterk. And this is a quote, the big problem in this case is that the cabinet secretaries and ostensibly the president of the United States are not honoring the First Amendment Amendment. This is from the judge. Noting the case was one of the most important of his career, Young asked, how did this happen? How could our own government, the highest officials in our government, seek to so infringe on the rights of people lawfully here in the United States? Now Young declined an interview to request by the Guardian, which I don't blame him, by the way. He's a judge now. He called the administration's abridgment of First Amendment rights appalling and said top officials under Trump had adopted a fearful approach to freedom and a view that defines the freedom here in the United States by who's excluded. We cast the word authoritarian, young said. And he went on to say, I don't in this context treat that in a pejorative sense and I use it carefully. But it's fairly clear that this president believes as an authoritarian that when he speaks, everyone, everyone in Article 2 is going to toe the line. Absolutely.

[Alison Gill]

It's good to hear a judge, especially a Reagan appointed judge, call him an authoritarian.

[Dana Goldberg]

Absolutely.

[Alison Gill]

All right, next up from the Times. For the first time since Trump renewed campaign to take over Greenland, people across the Arctic island braved the freezing temperatures and took to the icy streets on Saturday in coordinated protests. I love this. I love this for them. Demonstrators waved Greenlandic flags and some people openly cried in the rain in a protest in Nuuk, the capital. I hope I'm saying that right. Let me know if I'm not. When Prime Minister Jens Frederick Nielsen suddenly appeared and the crowd roared as he climbed onto a snow bank to raise a flag. Mr. Nielsen led several hundred Greenlanders as they marched through the Capitol Center, a rare sight in a city of fewer than 20,000 residents. Some carried hand painted signs reading no means no, Greenland is already great and Yankee go Home. Others displayed harsher and cruder slogans aimed at the US Administration. I'm sure they did, but good for them. Those were massive protests all across the country, actually in multiple cities.

[Dana Goldberg]

Yeah, I'd love to see this. And from NBC, the Virginia Senate passed a constitutional amendment Friday to pave the way for a mid decade redistricting push. The final legislative step needed to send it to voters for approval. If voters support the amendment, which is expected to appear on the ballot this spring, Virginia's Democratic controlled legislature would be able to redraw the state's congressional map before the midterms. The process in Virginia has been uniquely complex. Lawmakers needed to pass the amendment during two separate legislative sessions with an election in between. So after passing the measure before last November's election, both chambers took it up this week as lawmakers returned to Richmond.

[Alison Gill]

Wow, that's a lot they had to go through.

[Dana Goldberg]

I know, right? The amendment must appear on the ballot at least 90 days after final passage, which would be April 16. Since Virginia's primaries are slated for June, lawmakers would need to call a special election this spring for a new map to be in place this year. So we'll see what's happening. They're obviously following everything they need to do so if anyone tries to sue, they can say, hey, we did this. You know, we followed everything we're supposed to.

[Alison Gill]

Yeah, and I mean, the Supreme Court let Texas's new map stand, so. Yeah, but, you know, they're not known for consistency.

[Dana Goldberg]

Yeah, no kidding.

[Alison Gill]

We'll see what happens. Everybody, we have some good news we have to get to, but we have to take a quick break, so stick around. We'll be right back after these messages. We'll be right back. Hey, everybody. This episode is brought to you by IQ Bar, our exclusive snack and hydration sponsor. IQ Bar is the better for you. Plant protein based snack made with brain boosting nutrients to refuel, nourish and satisfy hunger without the sugar crash. And right now, IQ Bar is offering you an exclusive deal. 20 off all IQ Bar products plus get free shipping. Just text Daily Beans to 64,000. The new year is my favorite excuse to hit the reset button on all my habits. And IQ Bar has been my fuel for that fresh start. It helps me stay consistent when motivation disappears. And what I love is how it helps me feel ready for whatever the day throws in at me physically and mentally without a bunch of extra ingredients to second guess. IQ Bars, protein bars, hydration mixes and mushroom coffees are clean, label certified and contain no gluten, no dairy, no soy, no GMOs and no artificial ingredients. This is perfect for me going out to the protests. Okay, so in the morning I have the IQ Joe, which is 200 milligrams of clean caffeine and amazing delicious flavors. Way better than any drip flavored coffee I ever had. And then I put a couple of IQ Bars in my fanny pack and I take some of the IQ mix sticks with me so that I can get a bottle of water when I get on scene and dump these IQ Mix sticks into the water so I can get my electrolytes and my magnesium and get like rehydrated and refueled. So seriously, the sampler pack is the way to go. And it's just, it's everything that you need. So reset your routine and maximize your brain and your body's potential with IQ Bar products. Right now, IQ Bar is offering our special podcast listeners 20 off all IQ Bar products, including the Sampler Pack plus free shipping. So to get your 20 off, text Daily Beans to 64,000. That's Daily Beans all one word to 64,000. Text Daily Beans to 64,000. Message and data rates may apply. See Terms for details. Hey everyone. Is the litter box the worst part of Having a cat? Yes. It's the only bad part, actually. Absolutely, yes. I love my cats. I would do anything for them. But the litter box is the one daily chore that tests my character. And that's why I switched to Boxy Cat. Because it is a rare cat product that actually makes life easier instead of giving me another chore. So, thanks to our new sponsor, Boxy Cat, we have an offer for you.

[Dana Goldberg]

Enjoy.

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30% off with the code Daily Beans at boxycat.com DailyBeans so here's what sold me. Boxy Pro has probiotics. And the pro really does stand for probiotics. Those probiotics stop the bacteria that cause odors, which means the box stays continuously odor free as long as you keep up with scooping. And I do mean continuously odor free. It's not covering it up with fragrance. Right. It's remove the source of the stink. BoxyPro also clumps incredibly well. It's amazing. Scooping is faster, it's cleaner, and you're not chasing litter at the bottom like you are mining for fossils. Now, another big win is that you don't have to dump the entire box all the time. You just scoop, top it off and keep moving. And that alone is worth the switch to me. Because they're full litter dumps. Those were messy. They were wasteful. They always happen when you're already busy. And also, can we talk about the lengths people go to to hide their litter boxes behind plants inside furniture and closets? We pretend they are storage, but Boxy Cat is the first litter I've used where I'm not anxious that my guests will walk in and immediately know exactly where the litter box is and that I have cats. It keeps things cleaner, fresher and genuinely more manageable because it's eliminates the odor at the source with the probiotics, which is what I want from a cat litter. So if you're tired of switching litters and looking for the one, get boxy at B O X I e c a t dot com. It's the last litter you will switch to. Enjoy 30% off with code [e-mail] DailyBeans that's b o x I e c a t dot com DailyBeans. You'll be glad you did.

[Martin Sheen]

It's Sunday morning and that wonderfully relaxed feeling of a long, lazy day lingers in the air. If you want to make the moment last, may I suggest the perfect solution, The Martin Sheen Podcast. Join me, your host, Martin Sheen, for beautifully crafted 20 minute programs. Filled with never before heard stories of my life, along with personal reflections and poetry that inspires, the Martin Sheen Podcast is the perfect Sunday refresh. A chance to take a deep breath, relax, and know that the stress of Monday may be just around the corner, but not here, not now. So make this your weekly moment of calm as we explore faith, hope, love, and what it means to be human. And know this, this journey is ever unfolding as I invite you to see what's next with me, Martin Sheen. And thank you.

[Alison Gill]

Hey everybody, welcome back. It's time for the good news. Who likes good news?

[Dana Goldberg]

Everyone?

[Alison Gill]

Then good news, everyone.

[Dana Goldberg]

Good news, good news.

[Alison Gill]

All right. If you have any good news, if you have some good trouble suggestions you'd like to send our way, we would love to hear them. Maybe you have like a fun. Something fun that's happened to you or some great trip you took. Could be small, could be big, could be recent, could be in the distant past. Maybe you have a shout out to a loved one or yourself or a small business in your area that could use a boost or a nonprofit you want us to know about. Or maybe some great community activism that's going on around you. We would love to hear about that. Maybe a shout out to a government program. Send it all to [e-mail] and click on Contact. All you gotta do to get your submission read on the air is pay your pop pet tariff, which these days means attach a photo of anything that woman. It can be your pet. We can try to guess what breeds are in your shelter pup. We're very bad at it, but we like to try anyway. It can be an adoptable pet in your area or a random photo of a cute animal on the Internet or your baby photos or family pictures or maybe something you're making or creating or growing in your garden. Maybe you're raising chickens or goats. We love goats. We're on a goat kick right now, so please send us. Please send us your goats. I've been getting tons of photos of goats, by the way, in other forms besides the good news. So send them to the good news. Picture of anything really will do the trick. Again, you can do [e-mail] and click on contact. And thanks for all the positive feedback about our new website redesign. I love it. I'm glad you all love it.

[Dana Goldberg]

Right on.

[Alison Gill]

All right, first up is your good trouble. This is from Kathy Pronouns. She and her Please help with good trouble. American Ballet Theater has upcoming performances at the Trump Kennedy center. And I've been Trying to get them to cancel, but they're not budging. I called the other day and they referred to me as an angry and belligerent donor in the 50 to $100 range.

[Dana Goldberg]

Oh my God.

[Alison Gill]

Jesus. Please call them and ask them to cancel. The phone number is 212-477-3030 and choose the membership line option. I also have a petition on change.org we'll have a link in the show notes. My pod tax is Dewey on his way to getting groomed. Not his favorite activity. AKA Doobie and Professor von Dubenstein. He's not the brightest, but he's the sweetest. Look at.

[Dana Goldberg]

I know, cutie pie.

[Alison Gill]

He's adorbs. Thank you for that. That good trouble. That's a good one. American Ballet Theater. What? Calling you an angry belligerent.

[Dana Goldberg]

I don't know what to do. I want to know. Yeah, that seems very. Not just an automated response.

[Alison Gill]

Yeah, geez.

[Dana Goldberg]

All right, all right. This is her. Mark H. Pronouncing him I wrote a few months ago as a way to decompress my frustration with the current job market. My good news is that I found a job in my desired area, in my desired industry for more money than I asked for. Rock on, Mark. I just want to thank you all for helping me keep going on my long slow job search with 300 plus applications. God. Well done, Mark. Now I'm helping people figure out how to retire comfortably with no sales pressure because it's a salary only position. I also want to shout out anyone still looking for a job. Get that part time job to make ends meet. But don't stop looking for what you want. Keep going and you will get there. To pay the tax, I submit parts of my heart. My wife and my youngest son in one picture and my middle son standing in front of the goal we got him for Christmas in the other. Mark, what a beautiful way to stay that. My gosh. Oh my God. Kids are cute.

[Alison Gill]

That is a cool Christmas gift by the way.

[Dana Goldberg]

Right on. Yeah.

[Alison Gill]

Full size soccer goal. Oh, the baby. Oh, Dana, look, a baby.

[Dana Goldberg]

He's cute.

[Martin Sheen]

I know.

[Alison Gill]

Mark, thank you so much for that and congratulations, boy. 300 plus applications. That was like when I was trying to get a job with the Department of Veterans Affairs. I applied like every month for a year. I had a master's degree and after like a year they're like, okay, you can have a file clerk job. So I took a. With a master's degree at 36 years old or something like that. I took a job that was paid like $34,000 a year or something like that so that I could just. I just wanted to work for the government so bad. I just wanted to help veterans so bad.

[Dana Goldberg]

Can you.

[Alison Gill]

And then Trump fired me. And litigation pending. It's been six years and we still haven't gone to trial. Oh, wow. Yeah, it takes a while. Takes a lot of fight. Yeah. A lot of energy. But those dudes. I'm not giving up. Good for you. Next up from Anonymous Pronoun she and her A few years ago, I was laid off from a job that I hated. After a miserable summer of sending over 500 resumes, I decided to go to law school. I'm at the school of my dreams and my goal is to become a civil rights or environmental law attorney. I've never been happier.

[Dana Goldberg]

Cool, right?

[Alison Gill]

I'm a board member on our student run Environmental Law Society at Loyola. Oh, you probably know my lawyer and friend who's also an adjunct professor, Professor Behrman. So say hi to him if you get a chance for me. Tell him I said hello. Every year we send as many students as we can to the Yosemite Environmental Law Conference. It would mean the world to us if you shouted us out. Will continue to help shape the future of the planet, pet tax included. Everyone. We will have the Environmental Law Society at Loyola Law School link in the show notes as well as the Yosemite Environmental Law Conference. Check it out everyone, when you get a moment. Look at these two babies.

[Dana Goldberg]

They're beautiful babies.

[Alison Gill]

A gray tuxi and a black and white tuxi and cutie pies. Look at that little goatee I know have goatees. Pretty cats. Thank you.

[Dana Goldberg]

All right. From Alexis Pronouns she and her hey beanlings. Every once in a while, something like that makes me giggle. I wanted to give a quick shout out to my mom, who just recently joined the Laguminati as a new beans listener and who shares a birthday with AG. Her name is Pat and on January 20th she'll be turning 85.

[Alison Gill]

Hell yeah. Happy birthday, Pat. Tomorrow.

[Dana Goldberg]

Right on. She'll get a giant kick out of hearing birthday wishes on the pod. Happy Birthday, Pat. So hopefully she listens all the way through the good news so she can hear me through you. Say Happy Birthday, Ma. And of course, happy Birthday to the brilliant Alison Gill. For my Pot pet tariff, I'm submitting a photo of my late dog Charlie, who crossed over the Rainbow Bridge a few years ago. He's still the cutest little bear I ever did see. Thanks for everything as always. And he really is the cutest little bear.

[Alison Gill]

Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness. Well, happy birthday Mama. Happy birthday from Alexis and us here at the Beans. Welcome to the Leguminati. Next up, Wanny rhymes with Danny pronoun she and her. Good day to you magnificent podcast hosts and all the folks behind the scenes that put this podcast together. Mother of a podcast producer here. I've been a dedicated listener for a year, also a patron and a sporadic sponsor. The news these days is so distressing I often think I should just not listen to it at all to keep my hypertension at bay. But being uninformed isn't really an option, so thank goodness I can get all the important details succinctly and appropriate indignation with the daily beans. I originally wanted to give a shout out to one of my kids, but as a typical mother I think they're all amazing and I couldn't pick just one. So I decided to give a shout out to my husband instead.

[Dana Goldberg]

Nice.

[Alison Gill]

32 years. We met in our late 20s and he had already picked himself up, checked into rehab and been sober for four years when we met. I have so much admiration for that accomplishment and his continued sobriety all these years years later. Wow, that's like 36 years of sobriety. He has patiently put up with all my crazy ideas and work related moves all over the continent multiple times and had reluctantly stayed at home with each of the children for their first two years of life. They all turned out great. When we met, he was an EMT and progressed to nationally registered paramedic and after 16 years of marriage went to nursing school and now he's an rn.

[Dana Goldberg]

Nice.

[Alison Gill]

Each time we moved he challenged himself by learning a new specialty, most notably dialysis and now med surg. While in his current position at the tiny hospital we both work at, he embraced the merger of med surg with labor and delivery when many nurses just quit in opposition. We live at the end of the earth in Down East Maine and in his many travels to the nearest metropolis, he saved a woman's life by giving her the Heimlich at his usual coffee shop. Most recently he was named the Employee of the Year at our hospital, giving him the kudos he deserves for his dedication and kindness to his patients. I couldn't be more proud of him. He works long hours because he spends so much time with patients. He has to stay late to finish his documentation. Oh yeah, charting. He is kind with elders and adores children, helps clean and cook in addition to hauling trash to the dump and picking up dog shit in the Yard all without complaint. He has been a great example to our kids of what love and dedication are all about, and they have all learned and chosen well themselves. He's not a regular listener of the Bean, so he won't know I'm doing this. And he doesn't have much of an online presence, so I won't include a photo of him. But he's a treasure, and I look forward to our upcoming retirement and growing old with him. Oh, this is a cool. One of the coolest shout outs. Thank you.

[Dana Goldberg]

I know.

[Alison Gill]

For tax, I'm including my latest knitting creation. Yay. I love textiles and fibers. A map of the world sweater made with the softest merino wool imaginable. It is my second such sweater thanks to Zepbound. The first one was enormous, and it was time for a new one. Lastly, you recently asked listeners to send our favorite Monty Python quote. So here's mine. Now go away or I shall taunt you a second time. I particularly like to say it to the dogs when I'm grousing at them for their shenanigans.

[Dana Goldberg]

This is a really, really beautiful sweater. An incredible submission. Dani, this is awesome.

[Alison Gill]

I love this sweater. So hard.

[Dana Goldberg]

I thought it would be really funny if you just stitched in. Gulf of Mexico. Really small, right under the United States.

[Alison Gill]

Gulf of Mexico. Oh, wow.

[Dana Goldberg]

The second one. Wow, wow, wow.

[Alison Gill]

That's the other side, I think.

[Dana Goldberg]

Amazing. Oh, yeah, that would be nice.

[Alison Gill]

Oh, and you got the cool compass, that star thing on the sleeve. That's rad. That's beautiful. Well done. Thank you so much for that.

[Dana Goldberg]

We've got goats. Allison, we've got goats. This is from Bobby Pronoun. She and her. I'm here to answer the call for goats. These adorable goats reside comfortably at Memories Ice Cream in Kingston, New Hampshire. A nice one stop for delicious ice cream and cute goats. Esmeterif. I threw in another cartoon.

[Alison Gill]

Let's see. Bunk beds.

[Dana Goldberg]

The early years. The early years. Oh, my God. That's funny.

[Alison Gill]

Tomorrow.

[Dana Goldberg]

This is really funny. Cartoon Bobby. Well done.

[Alison Gill]

Was this. I think this is Bobby who did the cows. Student driver.

[Dana Goldberg]

Oh, yeah.

[Alison Gill]

Beaming up the cows. And the cow was on the top. Yeah.

[Dana Goldberg]

Oh, my God. These are really good.

[Alison Gill]

I love these, Bobby. Yeah, she's good. I love that you can get ice cream and sea goats in the same place.

[Dana Goldberg]

Right? I know.

[Alison Gill]

That's amazing, everybody. Thank you so much for your incredible good news. Submissions. Send them to us along with your favorite Monty Python quotes, favorite Rob Reiner movie quotes, whatever you feel like sending it to us. That'll bring a smile to our face. We really appreciate it. Do you have any final thoughts before we get out of here today, Dana? You know what?

[Dana Goldberg]

No. I'm gonna have some tomorrow, though, because the day after that's a special day, so I'm good for today.

[Alison Gill]

Okay. I don't know what you're talking about, though, but happy birthday to Pat. Happy 85th birthday. Yes, Alexis. Thank you so much, everybody. We'll see you 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. I've been ag.

[Dana Goldberg]

I've been Gigi.

[Alison Gill]

And them's the Beans. The Daily Beans is written and executive produced by Allison 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 mswmedia.com msw media.

[Martin Sheen]

It's Sunday morning and that wonderfully relaxed feeling of a long, lazy day lingers in the air. If you want to make the moment last, may I suggest the perfect solution? The Martin Sheen Podcast. Join me, your host, Martin Sheen, for beautifully crafted 20 minute programs filled with never before heard stories of my life, along with personal reflections and poetry that inspires. The Martin Sheen Podcast is the perfect Sunday refresh. A chance to take a deep breath, relax, and know that the stress of Monday may be just around the corner, but not here, not now. So make this your weekly moment of calm as we explore faith, hope, love, and what it means to be human. This journey is ever unfolding as I invite you to see what's next with me, Martin Sheen. And thank you.