The Daily Beans — “Hold ICE Accountable”

Date: October 13, 2025
Hosts: Allison Gill (A), Dana Goldberg (B)
Featured Guest: Stephanie Telles (D), Democratic candidate for Albuquerque City Council, District 1

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode delivers a whirlwind roundup of a news-heavy weekend, skewering political developments with the beans’ signature mix of progressive insight and biting humor. Highlights include updates on indictments surrounding Trump allies, attacks on environmental law, threats to scientific institutions, book bans, and the purchase of voting machine companies by Republicans. The show closes with a focus on local impact, featuring an in-depth interview with Stephanie Telles about the power of city council races to foster real change.

Key Discussion Points and Segments

1. Weekend News Blitz: Politics on Fire

[00:00–13:33]

• Letitia James & Mortgage Fraud:
  New evidence dispels charges against NY AG Letitia James. The case appears to be a politically motivated "revenge" prosecution.
  "It's cruel and awful. And there's all the evidence you need to prove that Tish James is innocent." —A [19:45]

• John Bolton Indictment Looms:
  Trump’s team speeding up criminal charges against his ex-national security adviser, John Bolton, as political payback.
  "To indict him, this is just gamesmanship. … he's just going after his enemies." —A [03:29]

• Military Pay Without Congress' OK:
  Trump’s OMB plans to use R&D funds to pay military during the shutdown, keeping the GOP House on vacation and avoiding swearing in a Democrat who would force release of Epstein files.
  "You can't just spend appropriated funds by Congress however you want. That's illegal. Against the Constitution." —A [04:28]

• Dominion Voting Machines Sold to Republican:
  The controversial voting machines company is bought by a firm run by former Republican election director Scott Leyendecker.
  "Dominion is gone. So … I'm sure this is fine. Dog in the fire. It's fine." —A [06:40]

• Trump’s New China Tariffs & Market Crash:
  Trump announces fresh tariffs after China restricts rare earth exports, tanks stock market.
  "China says they're not backing down … but Trump always chickens out." —A [07:21]

• Gutting Marine Mammal Protections:
  Republicans aim to dismantle the 50-year-old Marine Mammal Protection Act, risking whales and other sea life for industry profits.
  "So fuck them marine animals. I guess they're going to try to gut this 50-year-old law." —A [08:06]

• Trump Loses Nobel Peace Prize:
  Despite intense lobbying, Trump is passed over, with the committee emphasizing "courage and integrity" in its selection.
  "You can't be a Nazi and get the Nobel Peace Prize. I'm sorry." —A [09:43]

• ICE Accountability in the Senate (Quote Highlight):
  Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner promises to hold ICE officials accountable:
  "So right now, armed, masked secret police are going around the country kidnapping American citizens, kidnapping people that are here illegally, abusing people because of the color of their skin. It's disgusting. ... I want to haul all of these people and the ones that made them do it in front of a Senate subcommittee, make them take the mask off and explain to the American people how they can justify their illegal and unconstitutional behavior." —Platner [10:20]

• CDC Scientist Firing Clumsy Reversed:
  Trump team hurriedly re-hires top CDC scientists mistakenly fired, including measles and Ebola team leads.
  "You accidentally fire them, so you're purposefully bringing them back. What does that kind of shit do to morale?" —A [13:04]

2. Hot Notes: Deep Dive into Major Headlines

[13:33–27:10]

• Letitia James Revisited:
  Details emerge showing the weak basis for the indictment against AG James, based largely on how she used a house (not as a rental), painting the prosecution as Trumpian payback.

• Office of Special Counsel Nominee Scandal:
  Trump’s pick to lead oversight on whistleblowing and discrimination, Paul Ingrecia, faces allegations of sexual misconduct after forcing a younger colleague to share a hotel room. The incident exposes ongoing GOP problems with predatory behavior.
  "He is a 30-year-old conservative lawyer and activist who is President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Office of Special Counsel … and as we know, that deals with federal employee whistleblower complaints and discrimination claims. I know." —B [21:29]

• MIT Resists Trump Admin 'Shakedown':
  MIT is the first university to reject Trump’s “Compact for Academic Excellence,” refusing to restrict free expression or limit international students for federal grant money.
  "Fundamentally, the premise of the document is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone." —MIT President, quoted by A [23:30]

• Librarian Wins Settlement Over Book Bans:
  Terry Leslie in Wyoming receives $700,000 for being fired after refusing to remove LGBTQ books from children’s sections; her lawsuit underscores the ongoing wave of book censorship.
  "That is censorship. I'm glad she won. 700 large. Wonderful job." —A [26:54]

3. Good Trouble: Calls to Action

[27:10–29:00]

• CA Prop 50:
  Strong encouragement to fill out and return California Prop 50 ballots quickly to make phone/text banking more effective and secure voting.

4. FEATURE INTERVIEW: Stephanie Telles, Albuquerque City Council (District 1)

[29:10–46:44]

The Power & Impact of Local Elections

• District Makeup:
  District 1: Central west Albuquerque, 60,000 residents, shifting from 50/50 to more Democratic, younger families moving in but challenged by rising housing costs.

• Top Issues:

  • Affordability & Housing:
    "You have a lot more younger families moving in like mine, except for not as much as we'd hope because housing prices have just gone through the roof." —D [30:39]

    • Home values doubled since 2017 due to outside cash investors and developers.
    • City council has real power to create mixed-income and affordable housing, direct city-owned land for solutions, and support unhoused neighbors.

  • Budget Stewardship:
    Telles draws on her background as a forensic accountant, stressing transparent, efficient use of funds to protect and expand city services in the face of federal cutbacks. "I am a budget expert. I am a fraud examiner, I am a forensic accountant. I go into organizations...to help people manage their, their sort of budget metrics and their transparency." —D [36:44]

  • Crime & Public Safety:
    Promotes community-centered approaches: violence prevention, youth programming, and partnering with trusted organizations for intervention.

    • Special focus on reclassifying 911 operators as first responders for better pay and staffing, recognizing most are women. "They should be honored as first responders and have the...paid as first responders." —D [41:37]

  • Preventing Waste, Fraud, Abuse:
    Telles discusses often-overlooked inefficiencies and casual corruption—promising to use data and best practices for smarter budgets.

• Election Logistics & How Listeners Can Help:

  • Early voting now underway; election day is November 4.
  • Volunteer, donate (www.stephanieforabq.com), or canvass to help her campaign.
  • "We don't have a sliding scale for mail pieces … just to send out one mail piece to our targeted universe, it's like $10,000." —D [45:07]

5. Listener Good News & Feedback

[47:21–close]

• Positive stories from federal workers, local bookstores, and listeners sharing updates on activism, birdwatching, and pets.
• Emotional listener letter about embracing children’s identities and letting go of "unfair plans" for their lives, sparked by a previous episode’s discussion. "Isn't it wonderful to be free of those unfair plans for their lives?" —Listener Will [57:31]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On ICE Accountability:
  "Drag those fuckers. Drag them maskless in front of the Senate committee and ask them about their bullshit." —A [11:13]
• On Voter Suppression:
  "Dominion is gone. So...I'm sure this is fine. Dog in the fire. It's fine." —A [06:41]
• On Local Elections:
  "That's where the rubber meets the road. That's where we have to find, like, real change that impacts people's lives." —A [02:16]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – Headlines & Weekend News Blitz
• 10:20 – Graham Platner’s ICE Accountability Pledge
• 13:33 – Hot Notes: Deep Dives (Letitia James, Paul Ingrecia, MIT, librarian settlement)
• 27:10 – Good Trouble: Prop 50 Voting
• 29:10 – Interview: Stephanie Telles
• 46:44 – Listener Good News
• 57:31 – Listener letter: “Unfair plans for their lives”
• 59:18 – Episode close and voting reminders

Flow & Tone

As always, The Daily Beans mixes rapid-fire progressive news with sharp wit, plainspoken outrage, and frequent four-letter words. Segments pivot seamlessly from national fireworks to local solutions. The interview with Stephanie Telles grounds the episode in actionable politics, complementing the overarching message: real change starts local.

For Non-Listeners: Why This Episode Matters

You’ll get a clear sense of the volatility in American political life as the 2024 campaign heats up, plus inspiration and insight into how small-scale politics (like city council races) remain a surprisingly powerful lever for progressive change. The episode is rich with actionable content—whether you want to volunteer, campaign, or just stay angry in productive ways, The Daily Beans keeps you both informed and fired up.