The Daily Beans
Episode: "Presumption Of Irregularity"
Date: October 9, 2025
Host: Allison Gill (MSW Media)
Featured Guest: Rep. Dan Goldman
Episode Overview
This episode dives into several major stories in US politics and justice, including the arraignment of Jim Comey, shifting DOJ norms, the ongoing military presence in US cities, a win for Democrats in Alaska, a major fire investigation in California, and controversial legal cases impacting LGBTQ rights. The episode features an extended interview with Rep. Dan Goldman, focusing on the breakdown in Department of Justice norms—coined "presumption of irregularity"—and recent developments in immigration enforcement, political prosecutions, and Congressional challenges.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Jim Comey's Plea and Speedy Trial Request
- [00:00–08:54] Allison Gill covers former FBI Director Jim Comey’s not-guilty plea in a highly-politicized indictment, the unusual legal maneuvers undertaken by his defense, and the judge’s swift trial scheduling for January 5th, 2026.
- Motions to dismiss will argue "vindictive and selective prosecution," "unlawful appointment" of prosecutor Lindsey Halligan, "abuse of grand jury process," and "outrageous government conduct."
- Notably, there was no "perp walk," and career DOJ prosecutors in Virginia declined involvement, requiring outside prosecutors to handle the case.
- Quote [25:49, Rep. Dan Goldman]:
"There was not a single line prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia that was willing to go to court and stand up for the United States in this case, and that they had to bring in two prosecutors from North Carolina because nobody in the Eastern District of Virginia was willing to put their name on this case. And it’s just important to emphasize how unusual, absolutely extraordinary that is."
2. Breakdown of DOJ Norms – ‘Presumption of Regularity’ Loses Ground
- [29:27–42:11] Allison Gill and Rep. Dan Goldman discuss the collapse of the “presumption of regularity”—the expectation that government actions are conducted properly—within the DOJ under Trump’s administration.
- Judges are increasingly reminding DOJ lawyers of their obligation to the court as “officers of the court.”
- Rep. Goldman notes the chilling lack of career prosecutors willing to participate in politically motivated cases, and the potential long-term ramifications for American democracy and the rule of law.
- Quote [40:13, Rep. Dan Goldman]:
"If you don’t have that presumption and you go in there almost with a presumption of irregularity, that's devastating to any government case."
3. Analysis of the Grand Jury Process and Legal Abuse
- [35:11–39:54] There is skepticism about the evidence presented to grand juries in the Comey case, with a rare "no true bill" returned on one count—a grand jury refusing to indict, an almost unheard-of event.
- Abuse of the grand jury (i.e., presenting misleading or false evidence) is being cited as grounds for dismissal, and the defense hopes to access the grand jury transcript through their motion.
- Quote [36:10, Rep. Dan Goldman]:
"The idea of filing [an abuse of the grand jury motion] is really to get the grand jury transcript. ... John Durham looked at this and didn’t charge. There’s a declination memo... The fact that one count was completely rejected and the other two were very divided, just goes to show that even the grand jury... was highly skeptical of this case."
4. National Guard Deployments, Military Presence in US Cities, and Legal Pushback
- [00:00–03:45] Ongoing disputes over National Guard deployments to Portland and Chicago; Judge Immergut’s temporary restraining orders are protecting against militarization, despite White House attempts to override.
- [50:29–53:25] Rep. Goldman describes the dangerous precedent of using the military for domestic law enforcement, explaining Republican efforts to create “pretext” for federal power grabs and the threat to democracy.
5. ICE/Immigration Abuse and Congressional Oversight
- [43:31–49:10] Focus on an incident where an ICE officer slammed a woman in front of her children at a federal building. Rep. Goldman and NYC Comptroller Brad Lander penned a letter demanding an explanation for the officer’s reinstatement.
- Discussion covers mass ICE roundups, militarization of immigrant communities, and the use of ICE as a tool to terrorize and suppress minority and immigrant populations.
- Quote [48:39, Rep. Dan Goldman]:
"We are seeing the mass militarization and weaponization of our immigration and enforcement apparatus that is going after as many brown people as they possibly can simply for being brown."
6. Other Major Stories Covered
- [08:54–20:03]
- Arson Arrest: Florida man arrested for sparking the catastrophic Palisades fire in California. Authorities explained how smoldering roots caused the fire’s dangerous resurgence a week later.
- Conversion Therapy Supreme Court Case: The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) caught misrepresenting scientific studies in their case supporting conversion therapy. Researchers filed briefs to correct the record, emphasizing ADF’s “deceptive” tactics.
- IRS Furloughs amid Government Shutdown: Nearly half the IRS workforce furloughed; potential delays for taxpayers, especially as shutdown drags on.
- Democratic Mayoral Win in Fairbanks, Alaska: Unexpected blue flip in a heavily Republican city—significant for statewide momentum.
7. Voter Suppression Alert
- [20:07–24:33] Joyce Vance’s “good trouble” spotlight: The federal EAC is considering a passport/proof-of-citizenship requirement for voter registration—a policy resembling blocked efforts by Trump and Republicans to suppress the vote. Call to action for listeners to submit public comments.
8. Congressional Issues: The Epstein Files and House Maneuvering
- [53:30–56:41] Rep. Goldman discusses House leadership’s shutdown maneuvers to avoid swearing in Adelita Grijalva (AZ-7) and the linkage to a discharge petition seeking release of the Epstein files.
- The GOP’s strategy is to appear cooperative while withholding critical evidence of accomplices—potentially including Donald Trump—from the public.
- Quote [54:54, Rep. Dan Goldman]:
"The reason they’re trying to prevent [this] is that the resolution... does not include any of those materials... They are trying to bamboozle the American people into thinking they are releasing everything, when in reality they are holding back the most critical evidence."
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On DOJ Decay:
"This administration and this Department of Justice has lost all presumption of regularity... judges [are] repeatedly remind[ing] lawyers from the Department of Justice that they’re officers of the court and that they need to be careful about what they say in court."
— Allison Gill, [29:27] - On Indictments and Political Retribution:
“I cannot think of a stronger case, a stronger fact pattern to support a motion for vindictive and selective, partisan political prosecution. And so it would seem to me that if there is ever a case that should be dismissed on those grounds, it has to be this one.”
— Rep. Dan Goldman, [33:23] - On DOJ Appointment Shenanigans:
"[Lindsey Halligan]'s the only one... that signed the Comey indictment. And so... she might not have had the authority to do that. She would have to go back to a grand jury. But, oops, she can't, because the statute of limitations on Comey's testimony expired on September 30th."
— Allison Gill, [30:19] - On ICE Abuse:
"There are many people who would agree we should deport those who have committed crimes... But that's not what's happening here. And when we see the militarization and the National Guard and the military going into our cities for no reason... we're in a very, very different place than we've been in the 250 year history of our country."
— Rep. Dan Goldman, [48:39]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:00 – Show open; overview of news headlines
- 02:00 – Update on National Guard, restraining orders, and federalization of troops
- 04:10 – Trump demands jailing IL & Chicago officials; National Guard in Chicago
- 06:50 – Jim Comey’s arraignment and detailed legal strategy
- 08:54 – Palisades arson arrest news
- 10:28 – Conversion therapy Supreme Court case and misrepresented evidence
- 13:32 – IRS furloughs and shutdown impacts
- 18:44 – Democratic mayoral win in Fairbanks, Alaska
- 20:07 – Joyce Vance’s EAC/voter suppression alert (Good Trouble)
- 24:33 – Interview with Rep. Dan Goldman begins
- [25:49] – Breakdown of Comey arraignment and legal weirdness
- [29:27] – DOJ’s loss of ‘presumption of regularity’
- [35:11] – Grand jury abuses in Comey case
- [40:13] – Rule of law and long-term institutional damage
- [43:31] – ICE officer assault incident and Congressional letter
- [50:29] – Concerns about military/ICE abuse as pretext for authoritarianism
- [53:30] – Swearing-in of Adelita Grijalva, Epstein files, and House challenges
- 57:31 – Good News segment (listener submissions)
Episode Flow & Tone
The tone is energetic, urgent, and deeply critical of the Trump DOJ and its politicization of federal legal norms. Allison Gill’s trademark snark and informed skepticism blend with Rep. Dan Goldman’s passionate, measured legal insight. The show strikes a balance between current events, legal deep-dives, and calls to action on voting rights and civil engagement, with listener stories providing a note of optimism at the close.
Summary Takeaway
This episode underscores a seismic shift in the U.S. justice system, foregrounding the breakdown of trusted norms and the rise of political prosecutions. “Presumption of irregularity” is not only the episode’s title but its central, chilling theme, echoed through abnormally handled federal cases, militarization of domestic spaces, fresh threats to voter rights, and the overarching risk to constitutional democracy. Rep. Dan Goldman warns that rule of law is on the line, making this required listening for anyone concerned about America’s democratic future.