The Daily Beans: ICEBlock (feat. Joshua Aaron; John Moses) – July 2, 2025

Hosted by Alison Gill, The Daily Beans delivers progressive news with a dose of snark, focusing on social justice and political issues critical to its listeners. In this episode, Alison Gill explores the rise of the ICEBlock app and dives into the advocacy efforts supporting Afghan allies in the United States.

1. Introduction & News Highlights

Alison Gill opens the episode by highlighting several pressing news topics:

• Billionaire Bailout Bill: “J.D. Vance casts the tie-breaking vote to pass the billionaire bailout bill which now heads back to the House for another vote.” [00:00]
• Trump's Espionage Act Threats: President Donald Trump’s intention to use the Espionage Act against media members is discussed, raising alarms about press freedom.
• U.S. Aid Cuts and Global Impact: A new study indicates that eliminating U.S. aid could result in 14 million deaths over five years, emphasizing the critical role of USAID. “A study published Monday in the Lancet estimates that USAID funding and the cuts to that funding actually could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by the year 2030.” [05:39]
• Supreme Court Rulings: Justice Alito's remarks on safeguarding court processes and his controversial stance on LGBTQ representations in education.
• New York City Mayoral Primary: “Zoran Mamdani easily secured a victory in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary, defeating Cuomo 56 to 44 after ranked-choice voting.” [25:35]

2. Feature Interview: Joshua Aaron on ICEBlock

Joshua Aaron, the developer behind the ICEBlock app, discusses the app's inception, functionality, and the significant attention it has garnered.

Key Highlights:

• App Purpose: ICEBlock is designed as a crowdsourced, 100% anonymous tool to report ICE raids, aiming to protect communities by alerting individuals within a five-mile radius.

  “ICE Block is a number one in social networking on the Apple App Store. We literally beat Facebook and Discord. ICE Block is number one right now.” [34:04]

• Development Challenges: The app is currently exclusive to iOS to ensure complete user anonymity, as Android poses security vulnerabilities due to device ID storage.

  “There's no way to provide 100% anonymity on Android because each person's device ID would have to be stored... only iOS made this possible and completely protects the users.” [00:00]

• User Privacy: Emphasis on no data collection or tracking, ensuring user privacy and safety.

  “We have no tracking on this. It is just completely crowdsourced, anonymous report where ICE has been cited so that you can alert people within a five-mile radius of their location and hopefully save somebody's life.” [34:39]

• App Popularity: ICEBlock quickly rose to the top of the App Store charts, surpassing major platforms, despite facing reviews aimed at its removal.

  “We are the number one app in social networking on the Apple App Store. We literally beat Facebook and Discord and all these gigantic platforms.” [34:04]

• Challenges Faced: Joshua addresses attempts by certain media outlets to discredit and remove the app through negative reviews.

  “Magazines are trying to take it down. They're giving one-star reviews about it doesn't work or it promotes doxing... whatever the stupid thing they're saying.” [34:45]

Notable Quote:

“There's nothing illegal about creating an app to identify where law enforcement is. If there was, Waze would be under indictment. Apple Maps would be under indictment. It's all bullshit.” – Joshua Aaron [32:38]

3. Feature Interview: John Moses on Mass Afghan Alliance

John Moses, co-founder of the Massachusetts Afghan Alliance, shares insights into the organization's mission to support Afghan allies affected by U.S. immigration policies.

Key Highlights:

• Founding Inspiration: Stemming from personal experiences during the Afghan withdrawal, John highlights the urgent need to support Afghan allies facing deportation.

  “When Afghanistan collapsed on August 15, 2021, my interpreter reached out saying his family was in danger. This sparked the creation of Mass Afghan Alliance to guide Afghans through the turbulent period and bring them safely to the U.S.” [38:14]

• Advocacy Efforts: The organization actively works against executive orders targeting Afghan allies, providing support through legal assistance, community integration, and mobilizing volunteers.

  “We've managed to get some small changes within these cases and to help some families even despite this absolute blackness we're facing.” – John Moses [43:27]

• Support from Veterans: Collaborating with groups like 50-51, John emphasizes the deep-seated frustration among veterans due to the abandonment of Afghan allies and the erosion of military values.

  “This is the wholesale rejection of an entire generation of veterans. We built a military and a friendship with people based on what our country asked us to do.” – John Moses [43:13]

• Community Engagement: Mass Afghan Alliance organizes events, raises funds, and supports families in navigating the complex immigration landscape, highlighting the human impact of policy changes.

  “MassAfghanAlliance.org – donate. We're protecting Afghans, finding opportunities to help with clothing and general support.” [50:39]

Notable Quote:

“Your voices absolutely matter. Stand up, find your 50-51 representative. There are people there that care, that remember their oath, and they understand that your oath was to the Constitution.” – John Moses [46:41]

4. Good News Segment: Listener Submissions

The Good News section showcases uplifting stories and community efforts shared by listeners:

• Max L.: Received recognition for his timely photos during a local fire tragedy, aiding news dissemination.

  “When I heard about this news, my first thought was to reach out to Andy. He really is a calming presence when things like that go down.” – Alison Gill [59:50]

• Rojean Manis: Highlights a community initiative in Eugene, Oregon, where individuals gather to create protest signs, fostering solidarity and activism.

  “It's a wonderful community resource and it's a lot of fun, especially just ahead of larger rallies.” – Rojean Manis [59:50]

• Christopher: Shares personal stories of support and resilience, emphasizing the importance of community and personal connections amidst challenges.

  “The idea that you're not alone is one of the most powerful things.” – Alison Gill [01:02:28]

• Steve: Appreciates the podcast's positive impact and shares heartfelt stories about his rescue dogs, highlighting compassion and community support.

  “I love it on the beach. These dogs are adorable.” – Alison Gill [01:04:16]

5. Conclusion & Upcoming Content

Alison Gill wraps up the episode by thanking guests Joshua Aaron and John Moses for their impactful work. She encourages listeners to engage with the issues discussed by downloading ICEBlock, supporting Mass Afghan Alliance, and participating in community activism. Additionally, she previews the next episode featuring an interview with Ari Berman from Mother Jones on the Louisiana redistricting case.

Final Thoughts:

“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 and them's the Beans.” – Alison Gill [01:05:28]

Notable Quotes Summary

• Alison Gill on USAID Cuts:

  “The rapid destruction of USAID... could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by the year 2030.” [05:56]

• Joshua Aaron on ICEBlock's Functionality:

  “We have no tracking on this. It is just completely crowdsourced, anonymous report...” [34:39]

• John Moses on Veterans’ Support:

  “This is the wholesale rejection of an entire generation of veterans.” [43:13]

Key Takeaways

• ICEBlock App: A rising tool designed to anonymously report ICE raids, prioritizing user privacy and community safety. Its success underscores a growing demand for tools that protect immigrant communities.

• Mass Afghan Alliance: An essential advocacy group supporting Afghan allies in the U.S., combating restrictive immigration policies, and highlighting the indispensable role of veterans in these efforts.

• Community Engagement: The Good News segment reinforces the podcast’s commitment to highlighting positive community actions, fostering hope, and encouraging proactive involvement.

For more information and to support the initiatives discussed:

• Mass Afghan Alliance: massafghanalliance.org
• Download ICEBlock: Available exclusively on the Apple App Store
• Good News Submissions: us@dailybeanspod.com

The Daily Beans is a proud member of the MSW Media Network, committed to delivering news, politics, and justice through an independent, women-owned lens.