The Daily Beans
Episode: Profiles In Cowardice (feat. John Fugelsang)
Date: January 16, 2026
Host: Allison Gill, with Dana Goldberg
Special Guest: John Fugelsang
Episode Overview
This episode of The Daily Beans tackles a range of urgent political and social justice topics: disturbing incidents involving ICE brutality and lack of oversight; the killing of Minneapolis activist Renee Goode and subsequent efforts for accountability; the specter of Trump invoking the Insurrection Act amid unrest; the Senate’s defeat of the Venezuelan War Powers Resolution—spotlighting Republican “profiles in cowardice;” ongoing ICE recruitment and training failures; and the growing issue of covert right-wing actors running as Democrats in response to redistricting. The show closes with uplifting community actions and listener good news, after an extended deep-dive with comedian and commentator John Fugelsang.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. ICE Brutality, Lack of Oversight, and a Death Ruled Homicide
- [02:23-06:10] Allison and Dana break major news: ICE detainee Geraldo Lunas Campos died in a Texas detention camp (Fort Bliss). Contrary to ICE’s initial statement, both a medical examiner and internal ICE document suggest his death was a homicide—"asphyxia due to neck and chest compression."
- Abuse at Fort Bliss is not new; reports of sexual assault and humiliation previously surfaced.
- Dana highlights a Slate piece exposing a total lack of vetting/training in ICE hiring—"they had hired her without her even signing the paperwork."
- Quote: “Not just another detainee that saw this, but an internal memo from ICE that this man was choked to death at this concentration camp in Texas.” —Allison Gill [03:02]
2. The Killing of Renee Goode: Legal Action and Outrage
- [07:00-09:37] Trump and ICE’s roles in escalating tension in Minneapolis are discussed following an ICE officer fatally shooting Renee Goode, a mother and activist. The family hired the George Floyd law firm (Romanucci & Blandon).
- Protests have largely been peaceful despite rising police/federal violence.
- “We had whistles. They had guns.” —Becca Goode (Renee’s partner), via law firm statement [09:16]
- Dana and Allison frame the event as emblematic of systemic racism and violent authoritarianism.
3. ICE Recruitment Failures and Dangerous Automation
- [11:34-13:54] Due to an AI error in resume screening, many ICE recruits with zero law enforcement experience were sent into the field after minimal (or no) training. The error: resumes with “officer” (even “compliance officer” or ‘aspire to be ICE officer’) short-circuited into ICE’s fast-track training.
- Massive operational dangers raised; many officers were never properly vetted or trained.
- Quote: “They were using AI to scan resumes and found a bunch of the people who were LEOs were not actually LEOs.” —Allison Gill [13:03]
4. Senate Kills Venezuelan War Powers Resolution—A “Profile In Cowardice”
- [14:09, 22:36-26:46] J.D. Vance, as Vice President, casts the tie-breaking vote to defeat a War Powers Resolution that would have required Congressional approval for military operations in Venezuela.
- Five Republicans originally voted with Democrats but flipped under Trump pressure, leaving only Collins, Murkowski, and Rand Paul standing firm. Josh Hawley especially called out for cowardice.
- John Fugelsang delivers a scathing, comedic evisceration of GOP “cowardice.”
- Quote: “Mean girls with war crimes… It’s like they’re avoiding eye contact with the Constitution.” —John Fugelsang [24:13]
- Quote: “When Rand Paul is the grown-up in the room, you know we're all in the Upside Down.” —John Fugelsang [25:54]
- Allison and John emphasize that procedural tricks and peer pressure allowed Republicans to sidestep constitutional checks and reposition themselves without accountability.
5. Right-Wing Incursion Into Democratic Primaries
- [15:41-17:23] In California, ex-GOP gubernatorial candidate Kyle Lankford, notorious for using Auschwitz as an “unemployment plan” talking point, is now running as a Democrat post-redistricting. The hosts discuss the prevalence of “fake” Democrats running to trick voters, drawing comparisons with past Florida races.
6. ACLU Lawsuit and “Kavanaugh Stops”
- [17:36-19:12] The ACLU files a class action lawsuit against Trump administration, ICE, CBP and other federal agents for “Kavanaugh stops”—warrantless, racially-motivated arrests and detentions in Minnesota targeting Somali and Latino communities.
- Unlawful racial profiling, unlawful seizures and arrests—“Pure racism.”
- Quote: “It’s what we call a Kavanaugh Stop.” —Allison Gill [19:12]
John Fugelsang Interview – “Profiles In Cowardice”
[22:10-40:23]
On the Senate’s Venezuela Vote
- Explains how GOP senators talk fierce, then fold under Trump’s threats—“brave on paper, cowardly in action.”
- Quote: “J.D. Vance...cast the deciding vote to make sure Congress never has to approve a war ever again. Hillbilly Elegy to lapdog autocracy—one career arc.” —Fugelsang [23:14]
- Quote: “Mean girls with war crimes…. It’s like they’re avoiding eye contact with the Constitution.” [24:13]
On ICE, Authoritarian Drift, and Democratic Strategy
- “The abolish ICE movement will get used just like ‘abolish the police’—centrist Dems seize it to posture as reasonable.”
- Democrats will likely resist “abolish” rhetoric in favor of tepid reform, a predictable election playbook.
On Trump’s Threats, Insurrection Act, and the GOP’s Authoritarian Turn
- Trump openly threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act to clamp down on Minnesota protests.
- John and Allison detail how Trump and Stephen Miller “telegraph” next moves, focus-grouping autocratic strategies.
- Quote: “It’s all authoritarianism. And when you embrace that, nothing they do surprises.” —Fugelsang [31:26]
- Trump now flirting with suspending midterms, exploiting Supreme Court ambiguities on deployment of federal forces and National Guard.
On Supreme Court’s Consistency: Only About Power
- Allison details the Supreme Court’s rationale for allowing gerrymandered Texas maps and speculates on similar issues in California, noting the hollow nature of “states’ rights” when Republican control is at stake.
On Right-Wing Hypocrisy
- John slams the right’s contradictory stances on “back the blue,” police violence, and selective outrage.
- Quote: “These are the homophobes who always want it both ways.” —Fugelsang [36:50]
- Quote: “If Rand Paul is the grown-up in the room, you know we’re in the Upside Down.” [25:54]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “We had whistles. They had guns.” —Becca Goode [09:16]
- “Profiles in cowardice this week when Rand Paul is the one telling the truth. You know we're all in the Upside Down right now.” —John Fugelsang [25:54]
- “Mean girls with war crimes… It’s like they’re avoiding eye contact with the Constitution.” —Fugelsang [24:13]
- Response to Trump’s threats:
- “It’s all focus grouping. He puts these things out there to see how they test with the right wing powers.” —Fugelsang [33:06]
- On ICE’s training scandal:
- “They were using AI to scan resumes and found a bunch of the people who were LEOs were not actually LEOs.” —Allison Gill [13:03]
Important Timestamps
- 00:54: Episode starts; news summary
- 02:23: ICE homicide at Fort Bliss
- 06:10: Trump threatens Insurrection Act
- 07:00-09:37: Renee Goode killing & legal steps
- 11:34: ICE AI resume debacle
- 14:09: JD Vance War Powers vote
- 15:41: Pro-Auschwitz GOP running as Democrat
- 17:36: ACLU sues ICE, CBP for racist “Kavanaugh stops”
- 22:10: John Fugelsang joins (main interview segment)
- 24:13-26:46: Venezuela War Powers—GOP cowardice breakdown
- 27:32: Defunding government/ICE strategy
- 32:27: Trump and Insurrection Act outlined
- 34:13: SCOTUS, gerrymandering, and redistricting
- 39:41: End of Fugelsang interview
Good News / Listener Uplift
[43:26-end]
- Community action and resources to support immigrant communities in Minneapolis amid ICE crackdowns.
- Listeners share positive protest efforts, activist T-shirts, beloved pet stories, and small acts of resistance.
- A shout-out to Haverford Township, PA, for banning police partnership with ICE—showing local impact is possible (“Your township can do this too!” —Listener, [53:09])
- Multiple listener photos: protest shirts, cats, dogs, goats—underlining show’s “microdosing on hope” theme.
Tone and Style
The hosts’ tone is fiercely progressive, urgent, and underscored by biting humor and snark (“mean girls with war crimes”). John Fugelsang brings dark, sharp comedy to the discussion, blending constitutional clarity with comedic condemnation of GOP hypocrisy. Throughout, there’s a mix of outrage, hope, and pragmatic organizing—even as the gravity of events weighs heavily.
In summary:
This episode unflinchingly confronts ICE violence, systemic racism, the drift toward authoritarianism, and the Republicans' abandonment of constitutional norms, while celebrating “profiles in courage” among protesters, reformers, and listeners themselves. Listeners come away informed and energized, with tools for both outrage and hope—classic Daily Beans.