The Daily Beans – Episode Summary

Podcast: The Daily Beans
Hosts: Allison Gill, Dana Goldberg
Episode Title: Lingering Resentment
Date: January 6, 2026

Overview

In this episode, Allison and Dana tackle the fallout of the five-year anniversary of the January 6th Capitol attack and discuss the continuing "lingering resentment" in American politics. Major topics include Democrats' efforts to rebut GOP whitewashing of January 6, the Pentagon's move to downgrade Senator Mark Kelly's retirement rank, the controversial U.S. operation in Venezuela and Stephen Miller’s emerging role, Amy Klobuchar’s potential run for Minnesota governor, and the viral arrest of a protest organizer in Grand Rapids. The hosts balance the intense political news with their signature humor and listener good news.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reflection and Pushback on January 6th Whitewashing

[04:46–08:43]

• Democrats plan a shadow hearing to publicly rebut Republican minimization and distortion of the Capitol attack's events.
  • Hakeem Jeffries, House Democratic Leader, announces a public meeting with witness testimony:

    "Expose the election deniers who hold high level positions...detail the threats to public safety posed by the hundreds of violent felons who were pardoned by the president on his first day in office." (05:51)

• The physical damage from the riot has been repaired, but the hosts emphasize the never-healed resentment and campaign to rewrite history.
  • Notable quote:
    Dana, on "hostages" and Trump's pardons:

    "Many of them have been rearrested, by the way, because they're criminals. What remains is a poisonous and lingering resentment over the riot." (05:04)

  • Dan Hodges, DC police officer:

    "Five years ago I thought this has to be the most videotaped crime in American history...There's no way anyone can possibly deny what occurred here. That's what he said in an interview, but went on to say, but that's exactly what's happening now." (06:22)

• Trump and GOP surrogates are recasting January 6 defendants as "innocent" or "unfairly treated," excluding over 1,000 who didn't serve time and disregarding those not yet tried.
  • Allison’s sardonic take:

    "If you don't like the jails, do what Democrats have been trying to do for fucking 30 years and reform that shit." (07:22)

2. Pentagon Seeks to Downgrade Senator Mark Kelly’s Retirement Rank

[08:43–14:43]

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth moves to reduce Senator Mark Kelly’s military retirement rank for so-called ‘seditious statements’ in a video urging military members not to follow illegal orders.
  • The message, also delivered by other former military and intelligence members, did not reference Trump directly.
• Dana’s reaction:

  "He just said what the law says. Yeah, well, I guess in a lawless dictatorship, it's very bad when you say what the law actually is." (09:38)

• Only Kelly, as a retired officer, faces consequences.
  • Details about to what rank he'll be demoted are unclear; recourse in federal court is uncertain.
  • Allison contrasts to previous demotions:

    "Captain Kelly, Mark Kelly, is an 06. He actually outranked the highest level that Hegseth ever got...It doesn't say how far they're gonna drop his rank." (12:28)

  • Cynical observation:

    "Notice that he's not taking him to court martial like he initially threatened to." (14:04)

• The hosts signal they'll dive deeper with Kelly’s response in their Beans Talk video segment.

3. U.S. Operation in Venezuela & Stephen Miller’s Role

[14:43–19:24]

• The U.S.'s "bold" operation to capture Nicolás Maduro was presented as a tactical success, but hosts question both legality and potential for long-term consequences.
  • Allison’s sarcasm:

    "I would have said the Trump administration’s illegal operation to capture strong man Nicolás Maduro was, yeah, startling. I wouldn't know if I would call it a tactical success." (14:57)

• Ongoing challenge: Caracas power structures remain, and opposition leaders have been sidelined.
• U.S. post-coup plans are murky:
  • Key focus: getting oil executives into the country.
  • Elevated figure: Stephen Miller is set to take a more significant role in post-Maduro operations.
    • Dana, presciently:

      "What did I tell you yesterday? I said Stephen Miller's hands are all over this." (18:14)

• Allison sharply critiques Trump’s comments:

  "We want to come in, steal your oil, and then you can have your elections...We want to make sure they have control over your oil and then you can have control of your government back. That's what he's saying." (17:03)

• Oil and military interests are navigated with little attention to Congress or public approval—a recurring theme.

4. Minnesota Gubernatorial Race: Klobuchar Considers a Run

[19:39–22:34]

• Tim Walz unexpectedly withdraws from his re-election campaign, citing stress and family toll from political attacks and controversies.
  • Dana laments:

    "I'm just so fucking mad that this administration, Trump in particular, has bullied a good man into giving up a position..." (02:13)

• Amy Klobuchar is being encouraged to run, not yet decided.
  • Her popularity and centrist appeal are discussed, noting consistent double-digit Senate wins.
• The hosts speculate on possible implications for Minnesota and the Democratic bench, joking, for instance, about Al Franken’s possible return.

5. Viral Video Arrest: Organizer in Grand Rapids

[03:02–04:46]

• A protest organizer in Grand Rapids, MI, was arrested on camera after being interviewed about the U.S. attack on Venezuela.
  • The stated grounds were "impeding the roadway," but the organizer was on a sidewalk at the time of arrest.
  • Dana denounces the police action as a First Amendment violation:

    "It's literally the First Amendment. So there was no reason for an arrest in this situation." (03:38)

• The video will be featured and discussed in more depth on Beans Talk.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump’s minimization of Jan. 6 and jails:

  "If you don't like the jails, do what Democrats have been trying to do for fucking 30 years and reform that shit."
  — Allison Gill (07:22)

• On Trump's Venezuela comments:

  "We want to come in, steal your oil, and then you can have your elections...We want to make sure they have control over your oil and then you can have control of your government back."
  — Allison Gill (17:03)

• On Klobuchar’s possible gubernatorial run:

  "She goes a little bit more to the center and I don’t know, she also takes on Trump, you know, when she needs to. I know she can be a hard ass, but she’s loved by the state in many ways."
  — Dana Goldberg (21:20)

• On Mark Kelly actions:

  "He just said what the law says. Yeah, well, I guess in a lawless dictatorship, it’s very bad when you say what the law actually is."
  — Dana Goldberg (09:38)

• On protest arrest:

  "Whether you feel like there should be a protest against the arrest, kidnapping of the, you know, of Maduro and his wife is irrelevant to the fact that everyone has a right to protest...There was no reason for an arrest in this situation."
  — Dana Goldberg (03:38)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------|------------------| | Show intro and headlines | 00:54–02:01 | | Klobuchar, Walz, and protester arrest | 02:01–04:46 | | Capitol attack anniversary & shadow hearing| 04:46–08:43 | | Pentagon vs. Mark Kelly | 08:43–14:43 | | U.S. Venezuela operation & Stephen Miller | 14:43–19:24 | | Klobuchar’s governor consideration | 19:39–22:34 | | Listener Good News and Pet Stories | 26:52–40:52 |

Listener Good News Highlights

[26:52–40:52]

• Uplifting listener stories balance the heavy news, including celebrations of personal milestones (sobriety anniversaries, running for office), community activism, and shout-outs to beloved pets.
• Several listeners share emotional stories about community, resilience, and hope for 2026—in the face of political turmoil.

Final Thoughts

Allison and Dana close the episode reaffirming the importance of community, mental health, and staying engaged. They tease follow-ups to key stories (including the protest arrest and Kelly's response) on their video companion Beans Talk, and invite listeners to share good news via the revamped podcast website.

Episode Tone

The episode is classic Daily Beans: sharp, irreverent, and unflinching in its analysis, but balancing outrage with hope, community warmth, and humor. Swearing and snark abound, matched with facts and progressive perspective.