The Daily Beans

Episode: On Thin Ice (feat. Adam Klasfeld)
Date: November 17, 2025
Hosts: Allison Gill (“A.G.”) & Dana Goldberg (DG)
Guest: Adam Klasfeld (All Rise News)

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on several explosive and evolving legal and political stories:

• The abrupt termination of a Biden-era investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s co-conspirators by Trump’s DOJ and the fate of the Epstein files
• The unraveling of the Comey prosecution as new questions arise about missing grand jury tapes and the lawfulness of the special attorney’s appointment
• The shady settlements being negotiated by Trump’s DOJ for Mike Flynn and other officials
• Ongoing attacks on progressive policy through administrative reversals and court battles
• Updates on state-level prosecutions regarding 2020 fraudulent electors
• Notable excerpts from an interview with E. Jean Carroll
  Much of the latter half features deep-dive legal analysis with journalist Adam Klasfeld, including rare courtroom color and insight.

Episode Breakdown

1. Opening Banter & Community Updates

00:35–03:14

• Dana recounts heartfelt moments from her Chicago comedy tour: the Leguminati (Daily Beans fans) showed up in droves, with people traveling cross-country.
  • "It was joyful... Thank you everyone for coming to Chicago." (Dana, 01:59)
• Allison notes upcoming interviews and her own investigative reporting tying Trump to the stonewalling of Epstein investigations.

2. Feature: E. Jean Carroll on Fashion as Armor

03:33–05:00

• Audio clip from E. Jean Carroll’s interview for the Feminist Buzz Kills podcast.
  • On courtroom optics:
  • "For the last 5,000 years, if a woman accuses a powerful man, the whole trial becomes about what she looks like... Is she fuckable?" – E. Jean Carroll, 03:57
  • "Clothes are our armor... It's where we get our confidence." – E. Jean Carroll, 04:52
• Carroll describes the deliberate fashion choices she made to echo the era of her assault in court.
• Hosts reflect on media minimization of sex assault survivors.

3. Quick Legal & Political News Rundown

05:00–20:25

Key Hot Notes:

• Comey Grand Jury Tapes Missing:
  • 139 minutes are missing from key DOJ grand jury tapes in the Comey case. Judge demands answers.
  • "Some folks were reporting the final minutes are missing. Yeah, the final 139 minutes." – AG, 05:31
• Mike Flynn’s $50 Million Settlement Bid:
  • Trump DOJ negotiating potentially massive settlements for Flynn and ex-White House lawyer Stefan Patino, who claim to be victims of political prosecution.
  • Dana: "This one's infuriating." 06:16
• Indiana Refuses to Redraw Congressional Maps:
  • GOP can’t secure votes to implement Trump-backed redistricting.
• Trump DOJ Withdraws Airline Compensation Rule:
  • Biden’s rule requiring airlines to pay delayed travelers is killed, stripping cash/meals/rides from passengers facing 3+ hour delays.
• Epstein Files Suppression:
  • Jamie Raskin demands DOJ explain the sudden shutdown of investigations into Epstein’s co-conspirators as career prosecutors are sidelined.
  • "Trump killed the investigation, stole the files, and then covered everything up... The mainstream media isn't all over this." – AG, 03:14 & 09:51
  • Trump opens selective new investigations to maintain an excuse not to release files.
• Ghislaine Maxwell Prison Emails Leaked, Attorney-Client Dispute:
  • Rep. Raskin releases whistleblower emails showing Maxwell seeking a commutation.
  • Disputed whether these are privileged communications; prison staff fired for surveillance.
  • "If you use the prison system to message lawyers, it’s not automatically privileged." (paraphrase, 13:55)
• Tariffs Rolled Back Amid Inflation:
  • Trump, reversing signature policy, lifts tariffs on groceries due to consumer pain—"groceries" named pointedly in reporting.
  • "So tariffs are the best, but I'm going to get rid of them because it sucks and it's bad for me." – AG, 17:37
• Judge Bars Trump from Cutting UC Funding Over Discrimination Claims:
  • Judge calls administration’s moves “a concerted campaign to purge woke up left and socialist viewpoints from our country's leading universities.” (Judge Rita Lynn, 19:45)
  • Finds in favor of due process and First Amendment rights.

4. Legal Deep-Dive: Interview with Adam Klasfeld

22:11–49:01

A. The Comey Case on “Thin Ice”: Missing Grand Jury Minutes, Questionable Appointments

[22:11–36:53]

• Judge Curry, skeptical of DOJ’s arguments, questions the lawfulness of Lindsey Halligan's retroactive appointment as special attorney after all EDVA judges recused.
• Notable quote:
  • "It became obvious to me that [Pam Bondi] could not have reviewed the grand jury proceedings because there was no court reporter present as of 4:28pm and by public reports, the indictment came back well into the 7 o'clock hour." – Adam Klasfeld, 25:47
• Missing 2hr20min of grand jury record—crucial to assessing if procedures were followed and if the appointment was legit.
• Klasfeld details courtroom skepticism and the likelihood of case dismissal, possibly “with prejudice”.
• DOJ's argument that Halligan’s role could be legitimized retroactively is undercut by these procedural gaps.
• Halligan was the sole person in the jury room (22:13).
• The judge leans heavily toward the defense:
  • “If I were James Comey... I think he would be feeling very good about the upcoming holiday.” – Klasfeld, 24:37

Notable Moment

• DOJ “forced” to side with Jack Smith’s appointment:
  • Judge queries the government’s stance on Judge Cannon’s dismissal of Jack Smith as special counsel; DOJ concedes they disagree, undercutting their own arguments.
  • "Are you, a representative of the Trump DOJ, going to tell me right now that Judge Cannon was wrong?" – Klasfeld, 37:05

B. State Fraudulent Electors Cases Revived

[38:55–47:11]

• Revival of Nevada and Georgia state prosecutions targeting fraudulent 2020 Trump electors.
  • Nevada case revived by Supreme Court, venue challenge defeated—targets six electors.
  • Fulton County, GA: Fani Willis barred, but Daniel Scandalakis now assigned; history of tanking a similar case (Burt Jones).
• Klasfeld’s “glass half full” take:
  • “We're now at a moment where you have... an alternate history being written [by GOP leadership]... The courts are providing the counter narrative with the actual facts.” – Klasfeld, 44:26
• Reminder: Federal pardons do not impact state criminal or civil actions; eg, Ruby Freeman and Shay Moss’s civil case continues regardless.

C. Courtroom Color

• Adam describes the “Rocket Docket” pace of the EDVA—signage in the courthouse and a mural of the tortoise and the hare:
  • “You walk into the courthouse and there’s a sign... ‘Justice delayed is justice denied’... rabbits jumping... turtle neck out... oh, we are walking into the rocket docket.” (Klasfeld, 47:52)

5. Good News Segment

53:28–end

• Community good news about activism, local efforts, family and Bean fans’ stories.
• Listeners share:
  • Neighborhood food drives (53:30)
  • Signs of eroding Trump support in rural areas (56:47)
  • Family pride and LGBTQ allyship
  • Listener meets John Fugelsang in D.C. while visiting from Australia (59:48)
  • Solidarity gestures outside Trump Tower Chicago (61:43)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "[Trump] killed the investigation, stole the files, and then covered everything up." – Allison Gill, 03:14 / 09:51
• "For the last 5,000 years, if a woman accuses a powerful man, the whole trial becomes about what she looks like. And what she looks like is the basic question: is she fuckable?" – E. Jean Carroll, 03:57
• "Comey's case is on thin ice... there's a very real chance that the indictment won't survive." – Adam Klasfeld, 24:37
• "If you use the prison system to message lawyers, it’s not automatically privileged." (paraphrased, Dana/Allison, 13:55)
• "Are you... going to tell me right now that Judge Cannon was wrong, that Jack Smith... was perfectly appointed?" – Judge Curry via Adam Klasfeld, 37:05
• "Courts are providing the counter narrative with the actual facts." – Adam Klasfeld, 44:26
• "Justice delayed is justice denied." – Courthouse sign, relayed by Adam Klasfeld, 47:52

Section Timestamps

| Section | Start | End | |---------------------------------------------|---------|---------| | Opening Banter | 00:35 | 03:14 | | E. Jean Carroll Clip | 03:33 | 05:00 | | Quick News Rundown (“Hot Notes”) | 05:00 | 20:25 | | Legal Deep-Dive: Adam Klasfeld Interview | 22:11 | 49:01 | | Community Good News | 53:28 | end |

Tone & Style

• Snarky, incisive, and conversational as always, centering the progressive women's perspective and emphasizing both outrage and hope.
• Deep legal analysis mixed with lively banter and vivid courtroom description.
• Strong emphasis on community engagement and “good news” to round out the heaviness.

For New Listeners

This episode is a strong example of The Daily Beans’s formula: breaking down serious political and legal news with a side of relatable humor, guest expertise, and robust listener involvement. If you missed the news this week or want a legal explainer from the courtroom, this episode is for you.