The Daily Beans – Episode Summary

Episode: East Wing Down
Date: October 23, 2025
Host: Dana Goldberg (solo)
Podcast: The Daily Beans (MSW Media)

Overview

This episode, hosted solo by Dana Goldberg while Allison Gill is on vacation, dives headfirst into a tumultuous news week: federal raids and ICE violence in NYC and LA, New York Attorney General Letitia James' actions against federal agencies, legal and political wrangling over the National Guard in Illinois, California’s response to SNAP benefit cuts, Senator Jeff Merkley’s marathon anti-Trump Senate speech, and a promising new poll for Democrats. As always, Dana delivers incisive analysis with sharp wit and a dose of optimism, closing with community-driven good news and activism highlights.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Federal Agents Raid Manhattan’s Chinatown

[03:34]

• Event Recap: Over two dozen federal agents (ICE, Homeland Security, others) conducted a sweeping raid in Chinatown, detaining at least four people. The raid escalated into street clashes with bystanders.
• Description: Officers dressed with vests labeled “Police, Federal Agent Police.” A delivery driver, Rhys Galeria, described it as “chaotic.”
• Official Statement: DHS Spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin described it as a “targeted intelligence driven enforcement operation... focused on criminal activity relating to selling counterfeit goods.”
• Skepticism: Dana expressed strong distrust of federal sources, stating, “Take this with a grain of salt and four shots of tequila.”
• Concerns: Dana doubts the reported cause of violence, suspecting federal provocation:

  “It’s really hard for me to believe that this wasn’t instigated because we’ve seen it time and time again. That’s what this government is trying to do…” ([04:35])

2. Letitia James Launches Evidence Portal on Federal Enforcement

[06:30]

• Initiative: NY AG Letitia James urges New Yorkers to share photo/video evidence of ICE activity via a new online portal.
• Purpose: To investigate and challenge potentially unlawful federal actions.
• Quote:

  “Every New Yorker has the right to live without fear or intimidation. If you witnessed and documented ICE activity yesterday, I urge you to share that footage with my office.” ([07:04], Letitia James)

3. Los Angeles ICE Shooting Incident

[08:05]

• Incident: At a targeted enforcement traffic stop, an ICE agent shot an undocumented immigrant (Carlitos Ricardo Pereas) and accidentally wounded a US Marshal.
• Allegation: Authorities claim Pereas tried to evade arrest by ramming cars. Skepticism lingers due to prior federal misstatements.
• Background: Pereas is known on TikTok for documenting immigration operations.
• Dana’s Take:

  “I really hope that we can get a hold of it at some point, because people are going to continue to get hurt and no one really knows what the real stories are... unless we’ve got body cam footage or cell phone footage.” ([10:40])

4. Legal Battle over National Guard Deployment in Chicago

[11:30]

• Update: Illinois and Chicago urge the Supreme Court to prevent the Trump administration from deploying the National Guard in Chicago.
• State's Argument: Trump’s justification is based on “mischaracterizations” and state/local law enforcement are managing just fine.
• Notable Quote:

  “Applicants’ contrary arguments rest on mischaracterizations of the factual record... State and local law enforcement officers have handled isolated protest activities in Illinois and there’s no credible evidence to the contrary.” ([12:10])

• Constitutional Context: States stress the federal government’s limited authority over the National Guard.

5. California’s Response to SNAP Benefit Cuts amid Federal Shutdown

[13:50]

• Crisis: Ongoing government shutdown threatens the timely distribution of SNAP food benefits nationwide; 41.7 million Americans rely on this program.
• Response: Governor Gavin Newsom announces $80 million in state aid and activation of the CA National Guard to assist food banks.
• Newsom’s Quote:

  “Trump’s failure to open the federal government is now endangering people’s lives, making basic needs like food more expensive just as the holidays arrive… It is long past for Republicans in Congress to grow a spine, stand up to Trump, and deliver for the American people.” ([15:30])

• Wider Impacts: Loss of energy aid to low-income Americans as winter approaches; law enforcement agencies remain funded even as social programs suffer.

6. Senator Jeff Merkley’s 16+ Hour Senate Floor Speech

[17:05]

• Focus: Senator Merkley protests Trump’s “authoritarian leadership” and attacks on constitutional principles.
• Central Alarm:

  “Tyranny has already arrived. It’s not down the street. It’s not around the corner. It will not be encountered on the path tomorrow. It is here at this very moment.” ([17:55], Jeff Merkley)

• Criticisms: Trump’s DOJ weaponization, attacks on political opponents (Comey, Letitia James, Adam Schiff), cancelling academic research.
• Comparison: Echoes core themes of historical marathon filibusters.

7. Poll Update: Good News for Democrats

[21:05]

• Poll: Latest Quinnipiac poll shows Democrats up +9 (50% Dem, 41% GOP), their largest lead this year.
• Dana’s Advice:

  “Do not give up hope. Just assume there’s going to be a midterm, but believe that we are going to be able to put some semblance of sanity back into this country in just a little over a year from now.” ([21:35])

• Voter Mobilization: Strong push to remind listeners to vote, especially on California’s Prop 50.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dana on the White House East Wing demolition:

  “Trump has decided that he’s actually demolishing the entire east wing of the White House… I just want to remind everyone: this isn’t his house. It is literally called the People’s House. We pay for it.” ([01:20])

• On gender-affirming care hypocrisy:

  “They have more gender affirming care with some of those Republican women than any of my trans friends have ever had in their life.” ([02:07])

• On resisting misinformation and surveillance:

  “A lot of these stories are being debunked because of people that are there with their phones… Good citizens out there documenting this because ICE agents are lying. Homeland Security is lying. This government is lying.” ([07:54])

• On federal priorities during the shutdown:

  “If those federal agents are getting paid, they can find a way to pay federal employees, especially those in the FAA keeping us safe in the skies.” ([16:54])

• Merkley on constitutional dangers:

  “President Trump is shredding our Constitution. Is it okay for mass federal agents to arrest people off the streets because of the color of their skin or their accent? No way. Not in a free America.” ([17:30])

• On hope and accountability:

  “You just got to get something like… 3% of the population… For us, that would be about 11 million people, and this one was about 7 million.” ([31:48], referencing mass protest power)

Community & Activism: Good News Segment

[22:18] onward

• Activism Call: “Tell GOP reps to get to work and end the shutdown… Or call your Democratic senator, thank you for holding the line.” Scripts provided via Indivisible (see show notes).
• Listener Submissions:
  • Stories of protest participation, personal political awakenings, and finding hope through activism.
  • Heartfelt listener testimony about finding an affirming Christian community thanks to the show.
  • Detailed explanation from listener Kirsten on why regular rallies matter for building resistance infrastructure.
  • Dad jokes and photos from listeners at “No Kings” rallies, emphasizing humor and solidarity.
• Spotlight on Grassroots Action: Emphasis on the importance of persistent, scalable protest and mutual support, with reminders to keep organizing and showing up for democracy.

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:23 | Episode kickoff & major headlines summary | | 01:20 | East Wing demolition & host banter | | 03:34 | Chinatown ICE raid & bystander conflict | | 06:30 | Letitia James launches evidence portal | | 08:05 | ICE traffic stop shooting in LA | | 11:30 | Illinois/Chicago Supreme Court fight over National Guard | | 13:50 | SNAP benefits at risk; Newsom/California response | | 17:05 | Senator Jeff Merkley’s marathon floor speech | | 21:05 | New Quinnipiac poll: Dems lead +9 | | 22:18 | Good News & activism segment: protest stories, community highlights, action calls |

Overall Tone & Takeaways

The episode is energetic, urgent, and laced with dark humor. Dana Goldberg brings snark and passion in equal measure, not hiding her outrage over federal overreach, the targeting of immigrants, and the cruelty of social benefit cuts—but balancing it with moments of community solidarity and applause for organizers and activists. Listeners are left with practical tools, encouragement, and clear-eyed context for ongoing political battles.

Bottom Line

If you missed the episode, you walked away with:

• A clear understanding of the latest enforcement controversies and constitutional battles.
• Examples of grassroots mobilization and why each protest and action counts.
• A shot of hope—and marching orders: keep calling, keep organizing, and never take democracy for granted.

Host’s Sign-Off:
“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… And them’s the beans.” ([32:55])