
Wednesday, May 27th, 2026 Today, South Carolina Senate Republicans reject Trump’s redistricting bid in the state; a federal court blocks Alabama's new Republican map; Governor Mikie Sherrill demanded access to an ICE facility amid an ongoing hunger strike; the Supreme Court shoots down Florida’s bid to stop other states from issuing driver’s licenses to immigrant truckers; France bans Israel’s Ben-Gvir after unspeakable treatment of flotilla detainees; Jim Acosta files a claim against the $1.8B slush fund; an American journalist is charged with failing to register as a foreign agent of China; a judicial panel upholds the reprimand of a federal judge caught having sex in chambers with a high ranking police officer; the Congressional Black Caucus urges companies to oppose Republican redistricting; CBS won’t limit access to Colbert's public access show; and Allison delivers your Good News.
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Allison Gill
History is messy. It's weird, wild and anything but boring.
Daily Beans Host
Rainy Day Rabbit Holes is a history
Allison Gill
podcast about unhinged stories that make you stop and ask, wait, is this real life? From crazy disasters and tasty scandals to enlightening and surprising heartwarming tales, we explore the moments where people behave badly and sometimes beautifully. We've got naughty politicians, cultural chaos and a deep love for the Pacific Northwest, including Bigfoot. It's thoughtful, irreverent, occasionally serious, and always entertaining. Let's fall down the rabbit hole.
Daily Beans Host
MSW Media. Msw media.
Jim Acosta
Daily beans daily beans daily beans.
Daily Beans Host
Hello and welcome to the Daily beans for Wednesday, May 27, 2026. Today, South Carolina Senate Republicans reject Trump's redistricting bid in the state. A federal court has blocked Alabama's new Republican map. Governor Mikey Sherrill demanded access to an ice facility amid an ongoing hunger strike. The Supreme Court has shot down Florida's bid to stop other states from issuing driver's licenses to immigrant truckers. France has banned Israel's Ben GVIR after unspeakable treatment of flotilla detainees. Jim Acosta has filed a claim against the $1.8 billion slush fund. An American journalist has been charged with failing to register as a foreign agent of China. A judicial panel has upheld the reprimand of a federal judge caught having sex in chambers with a high ranking police officer. The Congressional Black Caucus has urged companies to oppose Republican redistricting. And CBS says it will not limit access to Colbert's public access show. I'm your host, Alison Gill, Who buddy, lots of news today. It is Wednesday. It's the middle of the week. It's hump day. It's the taint of the week, as Dana and I like to say. We'll see how it goes from here on out. There is currently, as we're recording this, polls are about to close in Texas. I don't think we're going to get any results by the time we finish recording this, but we may get them over on Beans Talk. So make sure you watch Beans Talk today. Later in the show. Today here on the Daily Beans, I'm going to talk with Jim Acosta. We're going to talk about his claim against the $1.8 billion theft felon to felon slush fund. So we're going to have a chat about that and his claim and my claim. Both of us were victims of actual Department of Justice weaponization and government weaponization back in Trump's first term. So I look forward to that discussion with Jim Acosta. And you know Other than that, Dana will be back soon. Again, thank you for hanging in with me solo. We have a lot to get to today. Let's hit the hot notes. Hot notes. All right, first up from NBC, the Republican led South Carolina Senate on Tuesday voted against a measure to advance a new congressional map, ending the last minute redistricting effort in the state for now. The failed vote was a surprise rejection of Trump, who had urged lawmakers to pass a redrawn map that eliminated the state's single black majority district represented by longtime Democrats. Democratic Representative Jim Clyburn, now the Southern Carolina House, approved the map last week in hopes of putting into place for this year's midterm elections the redistricting. As part of the effort, lawmakers also sought to set another primary election for the affected districts in August. But after early voting began on Tuesday for the previously scheduled June primary, some Republicans changed their tune, arguing it's just too late to enact new district lines. Quote, neither my conscience nor my common sense will allow me to stop an election that's already underway. That's Republican State Senator Richard Cash. He wanted to change his vote due to timing. So he used to be for it, now he's against it. Following the vote, another prominent Republican state senator named Tom Davis condemned the effort. An earlier redistricting process took nine months of consideration, he said. While this push moved forward over the course of a few weeks, quote, we have completely outsourced our constitutional obligation to prepare a congressional redistricting map to a consultant in D.C. we have no idea, no idea how that map was created. That's what Davis said. So very glad that the South Carolina Republicans decided not to go along with this. Very, a lot of, a lot of intestinal fortitude there given what Trump did to Indiana Republicans who opposed his redistricting efforts there. Next up from NBC, A three judge panel on Tuesday blocked a Republican drawn congressional map in Alabama from going into effect, writing that the district lines, quote, intentionally discriminated based on race in violation of the Constitution. We cannot see our way clear to requiring Alabamians to cast their votes in the 2026 elections under a districting plan tainted by intentional race based discrimination. That's what the panel of federal judges wrote. The decision is a setback for Republicans who sought to enact the map after a major redistricting ruling from the Supreme Court last month, the one that killed the rest of Voting Rights Act. The map would eliminate one of Alabama's two majority minority districts, putting the GOP in a position to gain a seat in this year's midterm elections. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. The state would immediately appeal this decision to the Supreme Court. And I have a feeling the Supreme Court's going to let him do it. We'll see. Next up from the Times, Governor Mikey Sherrill of New Jersey, Democrat, who has clashed with the Trump administration over immigration policies, joined protests outside a detention center in Newark on Monday in support of detainees participating in a hunger strike. Ms. Cheryl heard from family members of detainees who have complained about rotten and spoiled food, inadequate medical care, all of it. At Delaney hall, dozens of protesters waved signs, banged on drums and chanted, free them all. The governor told the crowd she had requested access but was denied, quote, no matter what your immigration status is, you shouldn't be treated with anything less than dignity in this country. That's what Cheryl said, who was dressed in a T shirt and jeans and a blue gray jacket on the Memorial Day holiday. At one point, she rested her hand on the shoulder of a crying relative and smoothed the hair of an upset child. After the governor left the scene, it worsened outside the detention facility. And by the way, she left to a lot of jeers for people who have been wondering where she's been this whole time. There was a tense standoff that erupted between Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and protesters who blocked the entrance. The agents responded by firing pepper balls and pepper spray at the protesters. Senator Andy Kim, who was trying to de escalate the situation, was affected. He was hit with pepper spray. The thousand bed detention center, which is privately run, has emerged as a focal point in Trump's immigration crackdown. Since it reopened last year, it has filled with hundreds of immigrants detained in New York City and around the Northeast as agents have ramped up the arrests of migrants in homes, courthouses and federal offices. Immigration advocates have rallied outside Delaney hall since Friday. A detainee said they would go on a hunger strike and a labor strike while calling for an investigation of the detention center and its operations and for Ms. Cheryl to visit to discuss protections from ICE. Hundreds of detainees were participating. One protester told Ms. Cheryl. The governor said in a statement on Sunday that she had contacted ICE to gain access to the facility and was working to monitor the situation to do what's necessary to ensure humane conditions. Senator Andy Kim, follow him on social media. He's been posting a lot of videos about what happened today. It's very important. So just Senator. I mean, we remember Ras Baraka, Lamonica, McIver. So now Mikey Sharehall is there at Delaney hall today. In a related story, despite dissents from two conservative justices the Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to become the sole referee in a Republican state crackdown on immigrant truckers. Florida sought to utilize the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction to sue California and Washington state, claiming the Democratic run states illegally licensed a commercial trucker who who caused a fatal crash because he couldn't read highway signs. Alito and Thomas dissented citing all kinds of Fox News bullshit. Aaron Raichlen Melnick, senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, said on Blue sky, quote, thomas's premise here is flagrant nonsense that California approving driver's licenses for people with temporary work authorization but not full legal status is the same as, quote, sending dangerous people into another state. Of course the two are not the same. It shows how captured he is by right wing media. And next up from the Associated Press, France on Saturday banned Israel's far right National Security Minister Ben gvir, citing his unspeakable behavior targeting activists from a flotilla to Gaza who were detained by his police force. Quote as of today, Ben GVIR is banned from entering French territory. This decision follows his unspeakable actions toward French and European citizens who were passengers on the Global Sumud flotilla. That's what the French foreign minister said. He announced it on Twitter. We cannot tolerate that French nationals can be threatened, intimidated or brutalized in this way, all the more so by a public official. That's what he went on to say, calling on the European Union to sanction Ben GVIR this week, Ben GVIR sparked global outrage after promoting a video of himself taunting detained flotilla activists. In one clip, Ben Gavir is seen waving a large Israeli flag over hunched over detainees whose hands appear to be bound. In another, he taunts a kneeling detainee whose wrists are zip tied, yelling, the nation of Israel lives. And in a third, detainees can be seen foreheads to the floor in an outdoor pen as the Israeli national anthem plays and armed guards encircle them. The flotilla of 50 boats was intercepted in international waters about 250 miles off the coast of Israel. Detained activists accuse Israeli forces of mistreatment, describing beatings, tasers, rapes and attack dogs. Poland has also barred Ben gvir, announcing a five year ban on Thursday. Next up from Politico and this is this Wild An American journalist and political commentator who has lived in China for more than a decade is facing a criminal charge in the United States for acting as an agent for the Chinese government. Thomas Palkin II allegedly prepared confidential reports that his Chinese handler told him were being conveyed to Chinese President Xi Jinping. That's According to an affidavit from FBI Special Agent Timothy Healey that was submitted in federal court, Palan also took a lie detector test at the request of his Chinese contact and provided a cell phone and laptop to another individual in the United States who was seeking a job in the Trump administration. Okay. Now, Pakin said he consistently rebuffed his handler's request for classified information, but told the FBI he thought there was an 80% chance that the other individual, the one who was trying to get a job in the administration he was helping to put his handler in contact with him. There was an 80% chance that person would provide classified information to China, despite what Pon said were his warnings not to do so. That's according to the affidavit. The individual Palkin reached out to, who is not named in public court papers, quote, was not hired for the exact job he wanted in the administration, but currently works for a US Government agency. Now, when Palkin returned to the US From China this February, the FBI simultaneously monitored a meeting that Pon had at a Washington hotel with the individual he delivered the cell phone and laptop to last year, the Trump guy. During that meeting, Palkin gave the same person a SIM card and offered him a $10,000 bonus to work with Powken's Chinese handler, providing one report per week that would influence policy and be read by Xi Jinping. Shortly after that meeting, Baukin was arrested. Ely's affidavit is silent about whether any action was taken against the other individual, the one that Palkin cooperated with the government with to pin to get. That's interesting that that person hasn't been named or indicted. A spokesperson for prosecutors handling the case declined to comment. So who is it? Who is this? Currently works at a government agency, didn't get the job he wanted in the Trump administration, but was angling for one. Who is it? Who is it? Is it Elon? I don't know. I don't know. I would only be guessing. Next up from Reuters. And this is also wild. A national judicial panel has upheld a private reprimand. Private reprimand of a federal judge in the US south who engaged in an extramarital affair with a high ranking police officer and had sexual intercourse in the judge's chambers within earshot of staff. The U.S. judicial Conference's Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability on Friday Approved Atlanta based 11th Circuit Judicial Council's February decision on how to discipline this judge whose name and court location were not disclosed publicly. Besides the private reprimand, the judges also agreed to apologize to former law clerks interviewed in the probe, forego the chance to serve as a chief judge and indefinitely refrain from serving on any judicial conference committees. The seven member Judicial Conference panel called the discipline appropriate for the judge who sits in a region that includes Alabama, Florida and Georgia. And while the 11th Circuit said an investigative panel had been deeply troubled by the judge's conduct, it opted against more severe sanctions because the judge demonstrated a strong propensity for rehabilitation and continued diligent service to the judiciary. I'm sorry if you if these investigations by the Judicial Conference should be publicly they should publicly name the judge. They got a reprimand, a slap on the wrist, and no one has to know who it was. What if you're a defendant in that judge's courtroom? I don't know, man. That's just bananas to me. That should be public. We want this court to monitor itself, really. Anyway, Next up from PBS the Congressional Black Caucus on Tuesday called on major corporations across the United States, including those that previously expressed support for voting rights and racial justice, to oppose redistricting efforts by Republican led states that seek to eliminate majority black U.S. house districts. In a letter sent to more than 250 companies, members of the Black Caucus, founded in 1971, urged these companies to condemn the redistricting efforts, which the lawmakers describe as coordinated efforts to silence black voices at the ballot box. Now some of the companies had co signed their own message to Congress five years ago urging lawmakers to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, a Democratic proposal to restore and update the Voting Rights Act. That 2021 Coalition Businesses for Voting Rights was backed by many of the country's most valuable and influential companies Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Tesla, Salesforce, Target, PayPal, Intel, Starbucks, largely Trump bootlickers. Now Tuesday's letter is the latest effort by the Congressional Black Caucus and its allies to gather support for preventing more Republican led states from redrawing their legislative maps in ways that would dilute black political representation. Several states have moved to eliminate congressional districts represented by black Democratic lawmakers after the Supreme Court ruling last month that severely weakened a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. Quote corporations that have profited from black consumers, relied on black workers and amassed wealth in part from black communities cannot look away while black political power is dismantled in plain sight. That's Rep. Yvette Clark, chair of the Black Caucus. In an interview, Clark described the letter as putting corporate America on notice, but she said the caucus was not seeking an adversarial relationship with corporations. Among those receiving Tuesday's letter were companies based overseas that have a significant presence in the United States. And from npr, CBS and parent company Paramount have backed away from previous efforts to limit the reposting of Stephen Colbert's mock appearance as a host of a Michigan public access show called Only in Monroe. Colbert posted the hour long parody a day after being ousted from his nearly 11 year long run at the Late Show. Quote, it's been an excruciating 23 hours without being on TV, he joked during the program. So I'm grateful to be here on Monroe Community Media before they also get acquired by Paramount. The deadpan appearance, which featured rock star Jack White as an even more deadpan sidekick, quickly went viral. The program was reposted widely on YouTube and other social media platforms, leading CBS to initially fire off copyright protection notices. Quote, Paramount's apparently trying to suppress copies of Only in Monroe from appearing on other social media platforms by filing frivolous copyright notices. That's longtime media reporter Matthew Keys. In a statement to NPR on Monday, CBS said that Colbert's Only in Monroe episode was, quote, financed and produced by CBS Studios and was approved for distribution on only three YouTube channels, the late Show, Monroe Community Media and Colbert's personal channel. You know what, Fuck you, cbs. So they've decided, all right, we won't limit it. Yeah. After a bunch of backlash. Probably assholes. Anyway, congratulations to Colbert. It's really funny if you get a chance to watch it. All right, we're going to be right back with Jim Acosta. We're going to talk about our claims against the $1.8 billion slush fund, followed by the good news. Stick around. We'll be right back after these messages. We'll be right back. Hey everybody. Fast Growing Trees stands out right away because they are America's largest and most trusted online nursery with thousands of trees and plants and over 2 million happy customers. Plants are one of those purchases where people want confidence. 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Martin Sheen
And it seems to me that no day of the week is without its endless barrage of bad news, even on Sunday. For God's sake, let's change that. What do you say? Together, let's make Sunday immune to bad news. Available now every Sunday. Season three of the Martin Sheen podcast with yours truly, Martin Sheen has begun. Yeah, 10 brand new episodes are already underway. So join me, Martin sheen, for a 20 minute journey as I share my personal stories, a bit of poetry and insightful reflections that will encourage you to take a deep breath and enjoy a relaxed. Of course it's important to know and understand what's happening in the world. But I also believe there's nothing wrong with taking a step back to find strength and clarity. And Lord knows we need that now more than ever. A moment of thoughtfulness and calm may be rare these days, but it doesn't have to be. So what do you say? You want to take back your Sundays? So do I. And guess what? I've already done it with the Martin Sheen Podcast, Season three, available now. Now don't mess with my Sunday and thank you for listening.
Allison Gill
Welcome to the Breakdown. I'm Allison Gill and joining me today, host of the Jim Acosta show here on Substack. You can subscribe to his substack if you haven't already.
Daily Beans Host
Please welcome Jim Acosta.
Allison Gill
Hi, Jim, how are you?
Jim Acosta
Good to see you. Thank you. So I'm so glad we're finally doing this. This took way too long.
Allison Gill
Yes, I'm glad too. I know we keep running into each other all over the place, but I'm glad to speak to you and I could do a whole hour with you on growing independ independent. As a journalist.
Jim Acosta
Absolutely. I love it.
Allison Gill
But today I want to focus on something that happened to you when you were working at CNN back in 2018. This ties in to the weaponization fund. Okay. That has been set up pursuant to nothing. It's not a settlement of any legitimate lawsuit pursuant to nothing set up without Congress to pay people who have been wronged or weaponized against by the government. And you wrote this incredible substack post. That's why I'm encouraging everyone to subscribe to your substack about how you believe you're eligible for monies from this fund. Can you talk about what happened to you? Remind us all what happened to you in 2018.
Jim Acosta
Yeah, Alison, I mean, it may feel like 100 years ago talking about the first term, but it's almost eight years ago now that the White House under Donald Trump first administration seized my press pass. And they physically took my press pass away from me after a press conference where I asked Donald Trump a bunch of questions that he didn't like, and they got really mad at me. You might remember there was an intern who came over and tried to grab my microphone and everything, and it was a whole thing. And then later that evening, they suspended my past. They had the Secret Service physically take it away from me, and we had to sue to get it back in federal court. And then, you know, Trump appointed federal judge gave it back to us. But there was a whole saga along the way. You know, for folks who didn't see the. The substack that I wrote or don't remember, you know, they went as far as to make stuff up. Shocker there. I know Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who was the White House press secretary at that time, tweeted out a doctored video. This was sort of the beginning of the real fake thing, or deep fake thing, I should say. And stories were written about it. But they, they basically borrowed a video from a guy from infowars who had taken some frames out of the video and sped it up to make it look like I had been karate chopping the intern who was trying to take my microphone away. And, you know, the federal judge who was handling the case, you know, slammed the White House for, for putting that video out there. So. So they backed down. I got my press pass back. But, you know, in the meantime, I was subjected to a gazillion death threats. On the day I got my press pass back, I got a death threat that was basically, I think the words were Kill Jim Acosta. And it was tweeted out. I believe I remember this correctly at the time. And I had to get round the clock security at that point. So then at that point, CNN had put round the clock security with me and at my home. And, you know, I remember, you know, standing out in front of the house one day throwing the football with my son, and there was a guy with a, you know, there's a security guy with a gun on his belt, you know, like 10ft away from us. Like, that's how serious it felt like I was in the Secret Service. Or, you know, being protected by Secret Service. It was that surreal. And, you know, it's been sort of this way almost ever since in the way that they have, you know, Trump egging on his supporters to come after me and a lot of other, you know, of my colleagues in the White House press corps at Washington press corps. It was, it was very intense and you know, as I don't mean to keep going on and on here, but it kind of continued right into the second administration because, you know, as soon as I got, you know, as soon as he got back into office and was elected, you know, that was when the pressure was on for me to leave. And you know, while the company said it was just a programming decision, blah, blah, blah, Trump later took credit for it and was putting out a truth social post that said, I got rid of this guy, got rid of this guy. Brendan Carr even said, we got rid of this guy, we gotta get rid of Jim. And so to me, I think this is a textbook case of government weaponization. The government was weaponized against me, two different instances to basically try to destroy my career.
Daily Beans Host
Yeah.
Allison Gill
And I think what's fascinating about this, and I want to let everybody know when I'm looking over here, I actually take notes. I'm old school like that, so I don't want you to think I'm doom scrolling somewhere on social media. But I think what's going to be interesting here is we can find out whether or not this weaponization fund is going to be discriminatory against people who were only weaponized against by the Biden Justice Department and not necessarily by or the Obama Justice Department, because I know he's talking about the Russia hoax, you know, because I myself have filed a claim in the first term again in 2019. In 20. It was August of 2019. My podcast about Robert Mueller called Mueller, She Wrote was investigated by the government. I had to sit through a fact finding investigation. I wasn't allowed representation. I filed a grievance, went through the Merit Systems Protection Board and Administrative Law Judge process, then got a 90 day window to file a federal suit, which I did. It's still ongoing, Jim. I was removed from my job in 2019 and we still haven't got rulings on motions for summary judgment yet in this case. So I still have an active case. But you have a resolved case where a judge actually found that you were weaponized against. I mean, it is like you said, the definition of lawfare and weaponization against you. So if they come back and deny claims like yours or mine, or people who were weaponized against under the Trump Justice Department. I think that that shows a level of politicization and discrimination that's going to be blatantly obvious.
Jim Acosta
Yes, no question about it. And you know, in addition to all of that, it was the Trump Justice Department that argued the government's case. So when I was going through my press pass case, there were government attorneys for the Justice Department, paid for with our tax dollars who were making these ridiculous claims in court at the time. You know, they had essentially argued that, that, that the White House can pick and choose who gets to cover the President of the United States. And what's kind of astounding about that is a couple of things. One is it's ridiculous that that is a stupid thing to argue in court. But, but the crazy thing is, is that this time around in the second administration, they are kind of picking and choosing. They did boot the Associated Press out of the Oval Office and off of Air Force One. They have been picking and choosing who gets to be in the press pool. So to some extent, what they were arguing back during the first term, they succeeded in doing during the second term. And you know, my sense of it is, is that, you know, this, this certainly damaged my career to some extent and that, you know, ever since, you know, I was sort of deemed as Persona non grata by the Trump White House and, you know, this was the Trump Justice Department making the arguments. And I, you know, I, I don't know, it seems to me that it's pretty ironclad. But to your point, Allison, I, I, you know, I, and I will say I did, I did write this a bit tongue in cheek thinking there was just no way they were ever going to die.
Allison Gill
Jim, I'm asking for 8. 8.64, $7 million.
Jim Acosta
Oh, there you go. Yeah, there you go. No, I mean, I think that that's, I mean that's certainly a big part of this. And my sense of it is, is that they, they will be drag, kicking and screaming into paying this and, and, and it'll never happen. But the point needs to be made that, you know, this is, this is, I mean, I wrote about this before even, you know, getting to the point where I thought, hey, I should file for this. This is a taxpayer funded bank heist. This is Donald Trump and his cronies trying to steal from the federal government. And it's sinister in a way because I, I think it does sort of lay the kindling for what if he wants to challenge another election and, oh, maybe do it violently or through some sort of pressure or force. And he has these people who are sort of standing by and ready to go and oh, by the way, they'll be paid for with our tax dollars if and when anything happens to them. And so I think this is impeachable. I think this is an organized theft of the Treasury. And you know, to me, this is something that the Democrats should add to. They're, they're, they're bone to pick with Donald Trump when they come in back, you know, come back into the, into the control of Congress come next year. I mean, it seems to me that this is, you know, this is a high crime and misdemeanor. As you said at the top of this, there was no case. They said he settled a case with himself and is removing money from the, or is attempting to remove money from the treasury to give to his lackeys and cronies and so on. That's insane. That's impeachable.
Allison Gill
Yeah, and that was my first thought, too. He's funding his next coup. He's paying the Oath Keepers and the proud boys in the January sixers because not only, I mean, the reason we arrested and tried and convicted and sent so many people to jail that attacked the Capitol was for deterrence to stop it from happening again. So when the President unwinds that by pardoning and commuting sentences and then takes it a step further by rewarding it, he's basically, basically it's got a taxpayer funded 2029 coup. And as you said, there's no settlement here. The judge in the after, you know, when, when Donald Trump filed to unilaterally drop the case, which he was allowed to do because the IRS never answered his $10 billion lawsuit, the judge actually made a point of stating, yeah, we're going to drop the click case, case closed. But you didn't mention any settlement terms. Just want to be clear, there's no settlement of record here. And I thought that was a very important piece of information. And I was a little dismayed that a lot of folks in the corpor, he kept referring to it as like it was a legitimate settlement. Just sort of glossing over that. No, the lawsuit has nothing to do with this. It would be just as if Donald Trump got together with Todd Blanche and set up a taxpayer fund to give to his January sixers. So regarding the goal here, because you said you did a little bit tongue in cheek. Me too. I don't want $8.647 million. I want to stop this fund. And a lot of Folks, I want to dissolve this fund, and I would like to see some accountability via impeachment. And I hope that calls for impeachment grow on this because it's just so blatantly corrupt. But there's a lot of lawsuits out there. I know our friends, former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn and MPD officer Danny Hodges, have filed a lawsuit to dissolve the fund based on threats. And you're basically funding the people who have been sending death threats for so long. And I know Jamie Raskin has filed or has introduced legislation to dissolve the fund, which obviously, even if it passes and we get the Senate and we get the House, it'll never be signed by Donald Trump. So I think these lawsuits are important. Crew has filed a lawsuit. Common Cause has filed a lawsuit. I'm actually gearing up to file a lawsuit. And I just wanted to kind of clarify. My goal here isn't to get paid for the weapon. I have a legitimate lawsuit going on for that in the federal court system, which is addressed in the settlement agreement, by the way. If you have an ongoing lawsuit, you can trade it in for weaponization money. But my goal isn't to actually get paid. I would like to see this fund dissolved. I think it is theft. And I'm wondering if that's kind of the same, if that's sort of your point here in filing your claim.
Jim Acosta
Yeah, no question about it. It is a slush fund intended to reward people who, you know, it's almost, it's almost government by trolling. You know, they, they want to, you know, they want to say and, and make the claim that, oh, gosh, they're the victims of government weaponization. Here, as I've been saying on my podcast, Donald Trump is the king of government weaponization. He fired Robert, he fired Jim Comey during the first Trump administration because he said because of the Russia thing. You know, he likes to cry about the Russia collusion hoax, which is, it's not a hoax. It's a legit investigation that had lots of open ended questions, you know, like, why is it that Donald Trump Jr. And Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort, why were they meeting with the Russian attorney at Trump tower during the 2016 campaign that Donald Trump admitted to, that they admitted that had happened. And so, you know, he's making lots of claims about government weaponization coming after him when he is the one who has tried to, you know, go after Comey, you know, indict him for seashells on a beach. Letitia James, I mean, the list goes on and on. And, you know, you know, I was talking with Harry Dunn, you mentioned Harry Dunn just the other day. You know, a lot of these guys were pardoned by Joe Biden on the way out of the first of the Biden administration because they were concerned that the Trump administration was going to come after them. I mean, imagine being police officers who defended the Capitol on January 6, worried that you need legal protection because the government may come after you. And I mean, I just think that that is sick. Look at the way They've gone after Dr. Fauci. Look at the way, you know, there's, there's just plenty that we can all point to. Jack Smith, Jack Smith, you name it. I mean, the list goes on and on. And I, you know, the people at PBS and npr, you know, who have been defunded, I mean, it's just the list goes on and on and on. And it's sick. And I think that it's, it's because Donald Trump does not have any kind of, you know, desire to preside over a constitutional democracy. He wants to be an authoritarian autocrat and a fascist one at that. And so a lot of this is designed to make people afraid, to make people think, oh, the government's going to come after you. And for the ones who will come to his defense, when they go after people themselves, they have a slush fund to back them up.
Allison Gill
Yeah. The irony is you could cut it with a knife with them accusing anyone of weaponization. All of those cases went through our system. They went through grand juries, then they went through pretrial motions. Many pled guilty. Then they went to trial. Many were Trump appointed judges. The Proud boys judge who agreed to a domestic terror enhancement. Judge Kelly is a Trump appointed judge. He actually sentenced the proud boys to longer sentences than and the Obama appointee Meta sentenced the oath Keepers to.
Jim Acosta
Wow.
Allison Gill
But both found, you know, allowed the domestic terror enhancement that Merrick Garland asked for, which is a very rare thing, then it has to be found by a unanimous jury. If he didn't plead guilty, I mean, over and over and over again. And when you see it on the other side with Donald Trump looking for immunity, saying I have to be protected from immunity, and you know, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson or Justice Sotomayor saying, we don't need immunity.
Daily Beans Host
You are protected.
Allison Gill
There are several levels you have to go through. Do we make sure that we don't take innocent people, that rogue prosecutors don't take innocent people to trial? Which is, as you said, exactly what he's doing now with Lamonica MacGyver and Comey and Letitia James.
Jim Acosta
Well, yeah, and then on and on. The other thing, too is that he's trying to inoculate himself against further prosecution and going after him in any sort of IRS audit. You know, and this is coming as he is engaging in all these sketchy stock trades and this crypto grift. God knows how much money he has made off of the presidency. The second time around, he and his family is probably in the billions of dollars. I think it's been, it's been estimated well over a billion dollars. And, you know, know they don't want to pay taxes on that. And so he's essentially designed for himself, you know, a get out of audit free card too. And that's just wrong. And I, you know, you know, I don't know, maybe you're a better legal expert at this than I am, but it almost seems as though it was written in a way to inoculate himself from any kind of legal entanglements, any kind of prosecution after leaving the Oval Office. And this goes back to what the Supreme Court has done to this country, what Chief Justice John Roberts has done to this country by giving Donald Trump this immunity decision that is essentially carte blanche to commit crimes while in office. And I know that there are, you know, folks on the right and some legal scholars will say, oh, no, no, no, it's limited immunity. Donald Trump has not acted that way. Donald Trump has acted as though he has true immunity, absolute immunity to create a kleptocracy and a thugocracy in this country. And he's even said himself, I plan on pardoning anybody within, what, 100ft of the White House, something along those lines. And so anybody who works under Donald Trump. So he's trying to create this, you know, as much as he talks about his own golden dome or iron dome, he's trying to create his own legal golden dome or iron dome around he and his potential co conspirators against this government. And so that's why, you know, I strongly believe that he is subject to impeachment and removal, that he is, has already committed high crimes and misdemeanors. People around him have committed high crimes and misdemeanors. I mean, if you look at ICE and so on. And so, you know, this, that's why I wanted to talk with you today, Allison, because I think that to some extent, the citizens are going to have to pull some of the Democrats sort of kicking and screaming in the direction of just people just need to get A lot more tough on this guy. They're just not. And you know, this is one of my frustrations with watching the Washington press corps and you know, not all of them in the Washington press corps, but a lot of them. And some of the way the Democrats have been kind of not meeting the moment here. And so, you know, I think that to some extent this slush fund, this anti weaponization fund, this whole fiasco that they've stepped into, it really crystallizes what this second term is all about.
Allison Gill
Yeah, yeah. And you're right that immunity is not limited. Justice Roberts wanted to make it seem that way, but the way that he set it up is that you have to file an interlocutory, get a decision, go back down to the court and then go back to the Supreme Court to ask again, pretty please can we bring these charges or these official acts. And the final say is to the six that sit on that Supreme Court in the majority. So yeah, and along those lines, you know, Jim, and I want to encourage everybody to call your representatives, call your senators, say that this is an impeachable offense. I feel like they should be leading on this, the leaders should be leading on this. But I think as you said, the people are, apparently it's up to us to lead on this and drag our colleagues in electeds kicking and screaming. But they really like to only file impeachment articles when they are sure that the people want it. I remember they were reluctant. They didn't file any for the Mueller stuff and the obstruction stuff. And then with the impeachment for Zelensky, they waited until at least 55% of voters polled were for it and then they went ahead and pulled the trigger. But to me, this, the slush fund is a million times worse than an investigation shakedown in the Zelensky case.
Jim Acosta
But yeah, well, no question. And then it's so bad that there are some Republicans in the Congress, at least in the Senate, who are saying, wait a minute, what are we doing here? Even some of them don't want it. And so that shows you how toxic, toxic this is.
Allison Gill
They couldn't even get ICE funded. Right. Because of this.
Jim Acosta
You know, because of this. That's right. No, and I think that, you know, I think that this is a pivotal moment in this second term. I think Donald Trump has clearly stepped in it. The public, you know, was very alarmed when this, I mean this was like a non stop news story last week. And I, I just think that, that, you know, and, and you mentioned, you know, you mentioned Merrick Garland I think there a moment ago, I mean, Merrick Gar, I mean, part of the reason why we're in the mess that we're in right now is that Merrick Garland, you know, sat on his hands for way too long after the beginning of the Biden administration to prosecute Donald Trump and his co conspirators for trying to pull off a coup. I mean, and so, so, you know, we're kind of in this, you know, and it's hard to recognize it when you're living through it in real time, is that we're in sort of a slow motion coup that is being attempted to be carried out from within the government to transform a constitutional republic that we have, a democratic republic that we have into a, an autocracy, into a Hungarian, Russian style autocracy. And, and you know, it's either, you know, you're either on board with defending what we have or you're not. And I think that has to be the standard moving forward.
Allison Gill
Yeah, I agree. Although I will say, you know, I'm hoping that in the next administration maybe we get somebody like Jack Smith, who's Attorney General.
Jim Acosta
Yeah.
Allison Gill
Who's complained a lot about the silence that's been going on at the Department of Justice for so long. We need more bold attorneys general. But I have to say I don't think it matters who the Attorney General is. Once you get to the Supreme Court, you run up against immunity with the majority the way that it is, they were never going to let that thing go to trial. I mean, you know, the trial. Well, that's true well before the election even. And I think even if it had gone on, on any sooner, it still would have been shut down by this court, by Roberts. But that's just, you know, it's hindsight,
Jim Acosta
like, you know, well, don't get me started on that. I mean, and that's why I say, you know, for, for the folks out there who are like, oh gosh, we better poll test or you know, expanding the Supreme Court or putting, putting term limits on Supreme Court justices. I mean, if the roles were reversed, what would Mitch McConnell do? I mean, I just would just, I just, you know, I just say what would Mitch, Mitch McConnell would definitely drive, you know, a, a, a Humvee over anybody who like, stood in the way of wanting to expand the supr limits. And the Democrats kind of need to get that sort of injection of patriotic ruthlessness. And it's just, you know, to me, I just don't get why there's sort of this recalcitrants or this sort of tiptoeing through the tulips and like, oh, you know, like Goldilocks, this one's too hot, this one's too cold. You know, like guys, this is on
Allison Gill
and oh, I 100% team expand Supreme Court, kill filibuster. Don't let Trump appoint any more judges. Flip the Senate, flip the House, pass voting rights. Because everything that we want to do, all the nice things we want overturning Citizens United, getting health care, having bodily autonomy, having the right to vote, all of that has to end up at the Supreme Court. And they gut those laws, they got the good laws, the way that it sits right now and nothing. And criminality and accountability with the immunity decision, you're not going to get any criminal accountability for this regime. You aren't even going to be able to test pardons. I mean, I know it's a very broad power, but you aren't even going to be litigate potential corrupt pardons unless you expand the court because everything's got to go through them at some point.
Jim Acosta
Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if somewhere in the White House is a box of pre written pardons having covered Donald Trump the first time around. And I was, was, I was at the White House on January 6th. You know, I mean these folks, they are determined anti Democratic zealots and people just need to under, I mean that's just what you, you are up against. You're not up against a he. Yes, he's a clownish former reality TV show he, you know, guy who falls asleep all the time in the Oval Office. That much is true. It is, it is goofball time over at the White House. There's no question about it. But when he's away, take, he is a determined anti democratic zealot and people just need to understand that that is what we're dealing with for the next three, two and a half, three years. It just is what it is. And for, you know, folks just have to understand, I know people don't want to deal with it and you know, I put out like a little note yesterday that said I, you know, I'm hopeful on this Memorial Day that we're going to get through this. And people are like, oh my God, how could you have hope? Everything's going down the tube. If you're, if you act that way and you feel this way and you think that there is no hope, then what are we doing here? You have to have some hope that we collectively the people can stop this. And that's just you know, that's my philosophy. That's what I bring to it every day. That's what I speak about every day on my show is that it's going to take some determination to get out of this. And this notion that, well, it's over, that's it, we're finished. Oh, I guess we better move, get our plans to move to Canada and Portugal now. Like, you know, guys, you know, sometimes you got to flush twice. And I think this guy can be stopped. And you know, he oversteps. He's his own worst enemy. And when he does that, he does sort of shake people out of their slumber that they're in. Even folks who are being brainwashed by Fox. There is a small percentage of those folks who even they can sometimes be roused out of the trance that they've been in. It just is going to take some time and some determination to make it happen and get through it. That's my thinking.
Allison Gill
Yeah, I'm 100% with you. Hope is extremely important. Defeatism, rolling over is extremely privileged. And it's also chapter two in Timothy Snyder's book on tyranny. Don't obey in advance.
Jim Acosta
That's right.
Allison Gill
The flooding. The zone was shit all day. Every day is by design to make you say, I don't care anymore. I want to give up. So whenever you feel that way, don't just even if it's out of spite, right? Like you know that because that's what they're trying to get out of us
Jim Acosta
and be a little full of piss and vinegar, that's okay. And then when you get too tired of it, you take a break for a day or two and get off social media and go for a walk and take your dog out, play with your cats, do whatever you got to do. You know, we can self manage our way through this. This is not, you know, we can do this. It's okay. This is a country that put man on the moon. We can get rid of a, you know, reality TV show clown like that also is something we can do. And then we can plant our flag in that when we're done with that one.
Daily Beans Host
Yes, please.
Allison Gill
Yes, please. Thank you so much, my friend and everybody.
Daily Beans Host
Please subscribe to the Jim Acosta show
Allison Gill
if you haven't already. I know you've got so many amazing followers and readers of your work. It's so important that you're doing this. It's so important what you do as now an independent journalist and draw attention to these kinds of things because like
Daily Beans Host
you said, it's kind of up to us.
Allison Gill
So I appreciate everything that you're working on.
Jim Acosta
You bet. Allison, great to talk to you. Thank you so much.
Allison Gill
Good to see you. Thanks everybody for watching. I'll see you next time on the Breakdown.
Brian Caram
I'm Brian Caram and I've spent decades covering politics. Now I'm taking you behind the scenes, one interview at a time.
Brian Caram (Co-host/Announcer)
Join us as each week Brian confronts the issues that matter, matter, posing the questions you wish you could ask. No filter, no agenda, just the truth.
Brian Caram
We're not here for sound bites. We're here for substance. Join me, Brian Caram, every week as we cut through the noise and get straight to it. This is just Ask the Question for curiosity will lead us to the facts.
Brian Caram (Co-host/Announcer)
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Jim Acosta
Question.
Daily Beans Host
Everybody. Welcome back. It's time for the good news. Who likes good news? Everyone.
Jim Acosta
Then good news, everyone.
Daily Beans Host
Good news. And if you have any good news, good trouble suggestions, any corrections, misheard song lyrics, fun stories from your past, anything at all that will bring a smile to our face. You can also send a shout out to a loved one or community of activists in your area. Maybe a shout out to a government program that's helped you or a loved one, a shout out to a nonprofit you want us to know about, a small business in your area that could use a boost, a self shout out. We love those. Whatever it is, send it to us@dailybeanspod.com Click on Contact and all you got to do to get your stuff submitted is attach a photo. It can be a photo of your pet. We can try to guess the breeds in your shelter pup. It can be an adoptable pet in your area, a random animal on the Internet. It can be do you got some egg laying hens? You got some goats that you're milking? We love goats. Send us photos of those. Send us what you're making and creating. Maybe you're crocheting, knitting, quilting, making music or art. We would love to see it. Maybe you're throwing clay on a wheel and you're making pots and they're kiln and stuff. Whatever it is, we definitely want to check it out. Cross stitch my friend made me. My other friend actually across stitch, one of my favorite ones ever that just says those dudes. Send it all to us dailybeanspot.com and click on contact. First up is your good trouble. All right, a U.S. senator says he was pepper sprayed by federal agents during a protest at an ICE facility. This is what we went over earlier in the show. This is from the Guardian Demonstrators clashed with immigration officers who used batons and pepper spray as they attempted to transfer a detainee who organized the hunger strike to a different facility. Protesters behind orange barriers outside Delaney Hall Immigration Detention center in New Jersey Sunday night. They clashed with ICE agents outside the New Jersey Detention Center. Senator Andy Kim from New Jersey joined the state governor Mikey Sherrill at the protest to speak with relatives of some of those detained, and he told USA Today that the incident in which he was sprayed by a chemical substance came shortly after he had been inside Delaney hall to see the conditions for himself. He said he emerged to a standoff between protesters and agents from ICE who had said he said had deployed an armored vehicle as a barricade. And then he kind of lined up in front of them trying to de escalate the situation. So everybody, your good trouble today is to send a message of support and encouragement to Senator Andy Kim for his efforts to help the detainees. We will have a link in the show notes for you to do that and you can also send a message of support if you wish to New Jersey Governor Mikey Sheriff Carol Also, we have a bonus good trouble for today, but that's going to be over on Beans Talk, so be sure to watch Beans Talk today. We're going to have a link in the show notes for you and a link to the audio feed as well. Do us a favor too. If you haven't subscribed to the Beans Talk audio feed, please do just click on the link in the show notes and subscribe. It's free. Just follow us there. It really helps the algorithm. We appreciate it. It's free to subscribe. Like I said. All right, next up from Anonymous Pronouns he and him hello Queens of the Pod. I could not resist Urge to Write in following AG's comments on the lifespan of chickens oh good. I love when I screw stuff up and people are prompted to write in for context. I grew up in a rural homestead farm environment and had chickens basically my entire childhood. Most backyard breeds, assuming they're taken care of, live around 10 years. A 14 year old chicken is absolutely a senior citizen but not extremely out of the ordinary. Whether this part makes it on air or not, I want to directly share. Anyway, that childhood I referenced was quite bad. Ultra conservative, isolationist, abusive, neglectful. As a result, I arrived in the real world woefully uninformed and unprepared while dealing with PTSD and other issues. My entire adult life has been dominated by the Trump era of politics and since finding the daily beans by chance a few years ago, I think I saw a screenshot of Mueller. She wrote on Reddit. It's been a safe haven. The way you represent and break down not just the news headlines but the underlying legal and political issues surrounding them. It's very much needed. The sign off especially take care of your mental health hits every time. Thank you and the entire crew for all you do. Probably for the best, but there's no photographic proof of my chicken days. So for pod pet tariff, please accept a picture of a wolf at our local sanctuary. Oh pretty baby. Hi do oh oh oh oh I love wolves. Thank you so much. Anonymous and thanks for writing in. All right, next up from Dusty she her Dear Beans Queens, this is a self shout out. My therapist would be proud.
Allison Gill
Yay.
Daily Beans Host
I love self shoutouts. You have invited us to send titles of our thesis. Here's my master's project. Linear Recurrent Sequences Modulo A prime all right, I studied math education. Clearly. I am enclosing two photos. I don't know what that means, any of that means, by the way Way Linear Recurrent sequences modulo A prime. No idea. I'm enclosing two photos. The first is from 1980, when I earned my bachelor's degree. The kids in the photo are 8 and 10, 11 and 12. It took five years to get there. The second of those same kids, on the day I received my second degree, they had aged, with the youngest and tallest being 16 at the time. Today they're all in their 50s. Time flies, Dusty. Yes, it does. After graduation, I tried office work for a while. Yuck. I went to driving school, the only education I ever had to pay for. I returned to academics as an algebra tutoring coordinator and retired from that position in 2015. Some days I feel proud of myself and always proud of these four humans. When I get down on myself, I look back to the success I had against all odds. Look at that photo. There they are. Amazing. Absolutely incredible. Dusty. I was always really good at algebra. And I remember when I got out of the military I was. I went to nuke school, Naval Nuclear Power Training Command. So we were doing like advanced calculus and stuff. And I got out. I got out of the Navy and I went back to college and they made me take college algebra again because it had been three years since I'd taken a math course and the advanced calculus I took in the Navy, they didn't count it here in our district. So I showed up to the algebra and I was getting 100 on all the quizzes, first four or five quizzes and then that's when the professor pulled me aside. It's like, what's going on with you? And I was like, I just got out of advanced calculus. But they wouldn't let me test out of this class. I had to take this class. And she was awesome. She's like, tell you what, I'll give you an A. You don't have to come to class anymore, but you do have to come help me tutor people people on the weekends. I said, deal. And the rest is history. Thank you so much for that, Dusty. Really, really appreciate you sending that in the against all odds. No kidding, right? Next up from Sarah Pronoun she and her hi beans Queens and team. I'd like to give a shout out to my sister Melanie and my brother in law Greg and their non profit Wounded Warrior Umpire Academy. Awesome. Greg served 23 years in the Marines and his final deployment for retirement was with Wounded Warrior Battalion east as the xo. Oh, big deal. He's okay. He's up there Sarah. Now he and my sister are both school teachers and in their free time they run an amazing nonprofit supporting wounded veterans. Each year they help about 24 veterans train as umpires, providing the training, support and equipment they need. This is so cool. They also stay connected with alumni and recently added a legacy camp to keep the community growing. You can learn more at Wounded Warrior UA. I've been a proud patron and member since early 2025. I'm grateful for the chance to share their good work. My pod Pet tax. I included a photo of my sister and Greg at his retirement in 2016, along with a picture of our sweet boy, Alex Carl Crisco III who crossed the Rainbow Bridge in February after a three year battle with diabetes. He was 17. 17. Deeply loved, loved and very much missed. Look at this handsome couple. Fantastic. Aw, look at the beautiful kitty that looked like my Russell Tea cat that I Talked about yesterday. Russ T17. That's amazing. Congrats and high five Melanie and Greg. Thanks for doing all this wonderful work. Next up from Elizabeth pronouns she and her two quick jibs today. Queenie Beanies first. We've been talking so much about the midterms. I keep thinking about this video my brother worked on in college at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. Detroit Woot. One of his friends had to create a project to get college kids to vote. They created a parody of the Shaft theme song where Uncle Sammy encourages people to vote. My brother plays Sammy in the Video. It's super silly and it's only a minute and a half. You can check it out here. We're gonna have a link in the show notes. Second, I just want to say how excited my bestie and I are for the gala and I hope you all are ready for the weird energy we bring. Yes, Elizabeth, yes. Yes, absolutely. The energy of the laguminati is the best. And there is no one else I would rather hang out with. Love you, babes. And the Leguminati. Liz. The first pick is a screenshot of my baby bro in the Uncle Sammy video. Second pick is me and my hetero life mate Tamika, who will be living it up as we always do come June 20th. Oh my God, look at that. That is hilarious. And look at you guys. Guys, fantastic. Cannot wait to see you. When you see. When you see us, come up and tell me. Hey, we're the. I'm the one who sent in the Sammy Uncle Sammy video to the Shaft theme song. And I'll be like, yeah. And I'll recognize you from your photo. Oh my gosh. There's a whole pack of kittens in this next submission. It's from Sean. Pronouns, he and him. Hello, beans, Queens. This qualifies as pod tax. And good news. My family was in search of kittens to fill the giant hole Left by our 19 year old cat that passed last year. My partner was looking at local fostering groups to fill this gap. She was then asked if we would be interested in being a foster family. Now we have a horde of five wobbly and fluffy little monsters and a mama that is such a great caretaker. Thank you for bringing cursing into our car ride to work in the mornings. Yeah. My son, who's 10, asks hard questions that make me think about how to explain the news you provide. The family decided to name the kittens after cheeses. So Mama Gabby already had a name that she lives up to with how much she chirps. Gabby kitten names. Gouda, Cheddar, Brie, feta, and Colby. Those are great names. Can I have them all? May I have all of these cats, please bring my total to nine. I can start a league of their own. I can have a baseball team. Thank you for that submission. Next up, call me Len. All right, Len. Pronouns he, him. Good morning. Morning, gorgeous creatures of the Blue Lagoon. Oh my God. The blue legume. Why? Why? It's been there the whole time. Low hanging fruit and I never plucked it from the tree. The blue. I'm writing it down right now. The Blue Lagoon. Oh, My God, how wonderful to wake up to good news. Even in the episode title, the dismissal of the Broadview Six case is good news indeed. Judge Perry is outstanding. Yes, she is. She went after Bovino real hard and has been in case after case arising out of Operation Midway Blitz. I often worked with the U.S. attorney's office when I was with the Department of Labor. It's sad to see what has happened to that once great institution. And discovering Kat Abu Ghazale was a great byproduct of the events at Broadview. Her social media presence is outstanding. I didn't see her on the days I went to Broadview, but otherwise she was everywhere. For Podbet tax, I present a photo of a visitor to our bird feeders and a second photo of our blank. Thank Addie. Keeping other visitors away. Keep waking me up with good news. I stayed up too late last night reading the fascinating transcript of the Broadview Six hearing. Right. Looking forward to seeing you in Chicago. Oh, good. I'm glad you'll be there, Len. All right, let's see this. Okay. Oh, it's kind of hard to see that dog from here. Is it a poodle? Is it a. That's a golden doodle. Oh, my goodness. Adorable. It's absolutely adorable dog. Thank you so much. And everybody, thank you so much for sending in your good news. Excellent batch of good news today. Excellent batch of good news every day. Please send your Good news to us DailyBeansPod.com click on Contact. So glad I got to meet chat with Jim Acosta Day. I mean, we've met before, but, you know, not in a work setting where we actually got to speak to each other in an interview. So that was really wonderful. Thanks to Jim Acosta. Please follow him and subscribe to his substack the Jim Acosta Show. And if you haven't subscribed to my substack, please do. It's free. It's free to do so m.com thank you very much for people who have already subscribed. And if you want you, there's a paid subscription too, but there's no paywalls. It's just absolutely voluntary. If you want to kick money in for. For the work that we do, it's 100% voluntary. It looks like a lot like NPR. Everything we do here is free. Thank you so much, everybody. I will be back in your ears tomorrow, head over to Beans Talk for a little more good trouble and some other really important news. Until tomorrow, 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 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 McFarland with art and web design by Joel Reeder with Moxie Design Studios. Music for the Daily Beans is written and performed by they Might Be Giants and the Ship 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 msw media.com MSW Media.
Brian Caram
I'm Brian Caram and I've spent decades covering politics. Now I'm taking you behind the scenes, one interview at a time.
Brian Caram (Co-host/Announcer)
Join us as each week Brian confronts the issues that matter matter, posing the questions you wish you could ask. No filter, no agenda, just the truth.
Brian Caram
We're not here for sound bites. We're here for substance. Join me, Brian Caram every week as we cut through the noise and get straight to it. This is Just Ask the Question for curiosity will lead us to the facts.
Brian Caram (Co-host/Announcer)
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Jim Acosta
Question.
Release Date: May 27, 2026
Host: Allison Gill (AG), MSW Media
Guest: Jim Acosta (The Jim Acosta Show on Substack)
This action-packed episode dives deeply into the ongoing crisis of government weaponization, specifically focusing on the controversial $1.8 billion so-called "slush fund" established by the Trump administration to compensate alleged victims of government overreach. Host Allison Gill is joined by prominent journalist Jim Acosta to discuss their respective claims against the fund, the dangers of its existence, and how it symbolizes the erosion of democratic norms. The episode also features a rapid-fire news roundup on redistricting, immigration, international affairs, and accountability, all delivered with The Daily Beans' trademark blend of wit, candor, and progressive analysis.
South Carolina Senate Rejects Trump Redistricting Bid
South Carolina Senate Republicans make a surprise stand against a Trump-backed plan to redraw the state's congressional map, protecting the only Black-majority district.
Alabama Republican Map Blocked for Racism
A federal appeals panel blocks Alabama's GOP-drawn map for intentional racial discrimination, refusing to force citizens to vote under tainted lines.
New Jersey ICE Hunger Strike Showdown
Governor Mikey Sherrill and Senator Andy Kim join hunger strike protests outside Delaney Hall Detention Center, highlighting inhumane conditions and sparking a standoff with ICE agents, who fire pepper spray at protestors (Sen. Kim included).
Supreme Court Lets States Issue Driver’s Licenses to Immigrant Truckers
Florida loses a case to restrict other states from licensing immigrant truckers. Dissenting justices (Alito, Thomas) criticized for echoing Fox News talking points.
France and Poland Bar Israel’s Ben Gvir
France (and Poland) ban Israel’s far-right security minister after abusive behavior toward detained Gaza flotilla activists.
Journalist Charged as Alleged Chinese Agent
Thomas Palkin II, US-born journalist in China, charged with acting as a foreign agent for China, raising questions about the reach of espionage into US institutions.
Federal Judge Privately Reprimanded for Sex Scandal
Judicial panel privately reprimands a federal judge for an affair (details and judge’s identity withheld), sparking outrage over lack of transparency.
Congressional Black Caucus Targets Corporate Silence on Redistricting
Demands major corporations publicly oppose Republican efforts to dilute Black voting power and backsliding on racial justice.
Colbert’s Viral 'Only in Monroe' Mock Show Allowed to Spread
After initial copyright crackdowns, CBS/Paramount back away and allow unrestricted sharing of Colbert’s parody, fueling viral success.
With Jim Acosta (22:45–51:10)
Both Allison Gill and Jim Acosta have filed claims against the so-called "Department of Justice Weaponization Fund" — a $1.8 billion pool created (without Congressional approval or any legitimate legal settlement) by the Trump administration to supposedly compensate those "wronged" or targeted by government action. The discussion covers why they qualify as claimants, how the fund is a vehicle for corruption, and their intent to destroy it rather than get paid.
On the Fund’s Purpose:
"This is a high crime and misdemeanor...no settlement here...he settled a case with himself and is removing money from the Treasury to give to his lackeys and cronies."
—Allison Gill [32:26]
On the Supreme Court’s Role:
"Donald Trump has acted as though he has true immunity, absolute immunity to create a kleptocracy and a thugocracy in this country."
—Jim Acosta [40:35]
On Democratic Reluctance:
"The Democrats kind of need to get that sort of injection of patriotic ruthlessness...this is on fire."
—Jim Acosta [45:50]
On Maintaining Hope:
"If you act that way and think there is no hope, then what are we doing here? Sometimes you gotta flush twice."
—Jim Acosta [49:20]
On the Impact on Press & Accountability
"They essentially argued the White House can pick and choose who gets to cover the President of the United States... the crazy thing is, this time around in the second administration, they are kind of picking and choosing."
—Jim Acosta [29:11]
File Claims / Sue: Multiple organizations and individuals are pursuing legal action to dissolve the weaponization fund.
Contact Representatives:
Maintain Hope & Stay Engaged:
For everyone concerned about democracy, freedom of the press, and accountability, this episode is a must-listen and a rallying cry.