The Daily Beans – "No Masks In Mugshots"

Date: November 18, 2025
Hosts: Allison Gill (AG) & Dana Goldberg (DG)
Podcast: The Daily Beans (MSW Media)

Overview

Today’s episode delivers a punchy roundup of progressive news and political analysis, heavily flavored with the hosts’ signature humor and candid takes. Major stories include a judge’s scathing ruling on the Comey case, a dramatically escalated policy on drug interdiction at sea under the Trump administration, a milestone in accessible childcare in New Mexico, and Donald Trump’s abrupt shift on releasing the Epstein files. The episode also features strong “good news” and activism segments, providing listeners with moments of hope and engagement amid alarming headlines.

Key Discussion Points

1. Comey Case: Judge’s Scathing Ruling on Lindsay Halligan

• [00:17–03:23]
  AG breaks down a recent ruling by Judge Fitzpatrick, which exposes multiple instances of misconduct by Lindsay Halligan in the Comey grand jury case. Notable errors include misunderstanding the burden of proof and major procedural lapses around search warrants and evidence.
  • The judge ripped apart Halligan’s case, listing 11 catastrophic errors, including telling the grand jury the burden of proof was on the defendant (Comey).
  • DOJ complaints backfired, leading the judge to issue a detailed, public 22-page justification.
  • Quote – AG [01:17]: “She told the grand jury that the burden of proof in a criminal case is actually on the defendant, on Jim Comey…which is like a basic tenet of the Constitution!”
  • Quote – AG [02:00]: “The incompetence is, again, stunning, but not surprising.”

2. Justice Department's Lethal Shift on Drug Boats

• [04:00–07:56]
  Reporting from NPR reveals that Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bovey proposed simply sinking suspected drug boats in the Caribbean, bypassing interdiction and due process. Since September, the U.S. has conducted over 20 deadly strikes, killing more than 75 people.
  • Policy criticized by DOJ officials as legally dubious and potentially counterproductive.
  • Quote – AG [07:56]: “They’ve gone from that to blasting them out of the water and killing everyone on board...All the individuals spoke to NPR in a condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. They questioned the legality of the deadly strikes.”
  • DG calls it “Just murder. It’s murder. I’m telling you, these are war crimes.”

3. Seattle Gets a New City Attorney

• [07:59–10:34]
  Erica Evans, a former DOJ prosecutor, wins the Seattle city attorney race after quitting her “dream job” due to troubling Trump administration changes, especially attacks on diversity and civil rights.
  • Evans left when DOJ required reporting coworkers doing diversity work—a move she called “pretty disgusting.”
  • Her campaign focused on restoring civil rights and standing up to the Trump administration.
  • Quote – AG [10:33]: “When they turned the civil rights division...to protecting the civil rights of white people...she was like, peace, I’m out.”

4. Trump Calls for Release of Epstein Files

• [11:02–12:40]
  Trump reverses previous opposition and calls for House Republicans to release Epstein-related files, framing the situation as a “hoax” by Democrats but insisting “we have nothing to hide.”
  • AG and DG are intensely skeptical, reading it as a publicity maneuver.
  • Quote – AG [11:10]: “The headline should read: Area man on losing team wants to join winning team.”
  • Quote – AG [12:17]: “You can just release those files without any of that, Donald Trump.”

5. Ahmaud Arbery Killers’ Convictions Upheld

• [12:51–14:55]
  The 11th Circuit Court upholds federal hate crime convictions against the men who murdered Ahmaud Arbery, confirming sufficient evidence of racial motives.
  • Even a conservative circuit agreed that racist social media messages linked to the crime.
  • Quote – DG [13:50]: “What a fucked up sentence. You know all those racist tweets and Facebook messages I did had nothing to do with the fact that I happened to kill a Black man.”
  • Quote – AG [14:55]: “Those text messages, these racist mofos, there's enough proof that they're super racist to uphold this conviction.”

6. ICE Agent Arrested After Pulling Gun on Teen

• [14:56–17:03]
  An off-duty ICE agent is arrested after pulling a gun and detaining a 17-year-old in California. The incident is caught on video, sparking concerns about federal agent overreach.
  • The audio of the agent is chilling, as he yells at the terrified teen for allegedly speeding.
  • Quote – AG [17:03]: “Dear ICE agents, you don’t get to wear masks in your mugshot pictures.”

7. New Mexico’s Free Childcare Program Surges

• [17:03–19:18]
  Two weeks into New Mexico’s universal free childcare program, thousands of families are benefiting, and applications to open new childcare sites are booming. The state requests $120 million in funding to keep up momentum.
  • Major increase in childcare enrollment and interest from providers.
  • Quote – AG [19:07]: “I love this. Free child care. Free assistance to people who want to open childcare. Thousands of applicants. That governor there is something else.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On DOJ’s toxic shift:
  Evans (quoted by AG) [09:28]: “Requiring that we report all colleagues doing diversity work in the office—we had 10 to 14 days to report them or we would get in trouble ourselves. That was pretty disgusting.”

• On Trump’s Epstein pivot:
  AG [11:10]: “Area man on losing team wants to join winning team.”

• On escalating drug war tactics:
  AG [07:59]: “War crimes. There’s going to be trials one day.”

• Humorous banter:
  AG [13:16]: “More like the Disassociated Press, am I right?”
  DG [13:19]: “Hey, she'll be here all week. Tip your wait staff.”

• Good news segment (Listener Submissions):

  • Listeners share acts of community, protest, and organizing—whether it’s the anti-ICE activism on Oregon’s coast or the emergence of new Blue Wave Bitches groups in Texas.
  • Listener quote [32:01]: “My voice matters, and I cannot sit on the sidelines watching this country go down in flames.”

Important Segment Timestamps

• Scathing Comey Ruling Deep-Dive: 00:17–03:23
• Deadly Drug Boat Policy Revealed: 04:00–07:56
• Seattle City Attorney’s Story: 07:59–10:34
• Trump’s Epstein Files Switch: 11:02–12:40
• Ahmaud Arbery Appeal Decision: 12:51–14:55
• ICE Agent’s Arrest: 14:56–17:03
• New Mexico Childcare Milestone: 17:03–19:18
• Listener “Good News”: 23:20–35:08

Listener Good News & Activism Highlights

• Stories of activism, mutual aid, and community organizing—such as blocking an ICE detention center in Oregon and launching a free childcare program in NM.
• Listeners send in pet photos, activism ideas (shop local, reuse wrapping paper), and thank-yous for the supportive tone of the show.
• Memorable Listener Quote [32:01]: “I thought having my head in the sand was a better alternative...But the following morning I tuned in, and I have since been a daily listener...your delivery made all the difference in my ability to handle it.”

Tone & Style

• The episode leans heavily on snark and gallows humor, with AG and DG balancing blunt outrage with warmth and encouragement, especially during the listener-driven “good news” segment.
• The hosts are unabashedly progressive and push back sharply against right-wing narratives, providing strategic insight and morale boosts for their audience.

Conclusion

This episode of The Daily Beans exemplifies the podcast’s blend of hard-hitting news, sharp analysis, and community solidarity. Listeners are left with both urgent calls to action and genuine reasons for optimism—anchored by indignant humor and a strong sense of shared purpose.

For More

• Interview with Adam Klassfeld on the Comey ruling: available at mullersherote.com
• Daily Beans video podcast launches to the public December 1 on MSW Media YouTube.
• To submit good news or activism, visit dailybeanspod.com and click on ‘Contact’.