The Daily Beans — "Provide For The Common Defense"

Podcast: The Daily Beans
Date: August 28, 2025
Hosts: Allison Gill (AG), Dana Goldberg (DG)
Guest: Naveed Shah (Political Director, Common Defense)

Episode Overview

This episode addresses a tumultuous week in U.S. news, balancing tragedy, government missteps, and some glimmers of hope from the world of politics. The central theme is the politicization and deployment of the National Guard and military forces domestically, with guest Naveed Shah delving into the damaging effect on morale, recruitment, and civil-military relations. Other news highlights include mass shootings, data security failures, highly restricted COVID vaccine approvals, and Democratic victories in special elections.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Top News Stories (00:00–17:40)

• Catastrophic Events:

  • Mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis—two children dead, 14 injured (04:20).
    • AG: "Don't say this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying."
  • Data Breach: Millions of Americans’ Social Security numbers put at risk due to a government server vulnerability (05:00).
    • AG: "John Roberts let big balls have your Social Security number…all of the information, personally identifiable information."

• Government & Agency Accountability:

  • FEMA staff placed on administrative leave after signing dissent letters (03:10).
  • EPA employees face similar disciplinary actions.

• Vaccines and Public Health:

  • FDA approved a highly restricted updated COVID booster—most under 65 without risk factors left unprotected (06:24).
    • AG, discovering she's ineligible: “As it turns out, I am not eligible for the vaccine anymore. Mexico is a 20-minute drive…”

• Election and Civil Rights Wins:

  • Utah judge orders new congressional maps to address illegal gerrymandering (09:26).
  • Democrats win a key Iowa special election, breaking a Republican supermajority (14:15).

• Police Surveillance & Privacy:

  • License plate camera company Flock Safety halts federal agency cooperation over concern about government motives (10:32).

• Public Dissent:

  • Senator Susan Collins heckled by constituents at a ribbon-cutting after years of dodged town halls (11:49, 12:31).
    • Collins, exasperated [13:35]: "I have a suggestion. Would you listen to the suggestion?"
    • Protester: "Vote Graham Platner!"

• Immigration Justice:

  • Kilmar Abrego’s asylum eligibility clock reset due to government error, underlining incompetency in deportation proceedings (07:27).

2. Main Interview: Provide For The Common Defense — Naveed Shah of Common Defense (21:30–34:13)

Background

Naveed Shah, political director of Common Defense and an Iraq War veteran, discusses the alarm caused by the deployment of National Guard and military units for domestic political aims.

Key Points

• Military as Political Pawn

  • Shah [22:11]: "What Trump is doing is…using the military as a political pawn. Veterans know that we took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution…and the military's purpose is not to occupy our own cities, our own capital, and police our own people."
  • These deployments to D.C. and Los Angeles were not emergency/disaster response but an intimidation tactic—what Shah sees as "manufactured crisis" for power grabs and autocratic creep.

• Morale & Recruitment Harm

  • Shah [24:19]: "This is not why they should be away from their families, away from their jobs…it's really hurting morale among the troops."
  • Debasing orders (picking up trash) diminish respect and willingness to serve; Shah notes this severely hurts recruitment and retention, vital for disaster response when FEMA is weakened.

• National Security Risks

  • Shah warns [26:20] that misusing the Guard reduces readiness for actual crises.
  • Reports of the Pentagon "padding" recruitment numbers with future enlistees suggest internal panic as morale and interest drop.

• Lawful vs. Unlawful Orders

  • Troops report they will not obey unconstitutional orders, but picking up trash isn't unlawful, just wasteful and humiliating (28:08–30:00).
  • Shah: "We know that Trump will pardon himself and his cronies, but there's probably not gonna be pardons coming down for regular Joes…They're the ones right now being given weapons as they do patrols in American cities."

• D.C. as an Occupied City

  • Shah [31:14]: "It definitely feels like an occupying force. Walking out of Union Station and seeing MRAPs and troops, armed troops there, it definitely feels like an occupying force."

• Call to Action

  • Common Defense mobilizes veterans and civilians to speak out, especially in red districts.
  • Shah [31:49]: "It's really important…Call your elected officials, call your representatives…That's one of the only levers we still have and we have to exercise our strength that way right now."

Memorable Quotes

• AG [24:18]: “Have you heard from any of your friends who are still active duty about their dislike or distrust of what the administration is doing or about these orders that they've been given?”
• Shah [25:36]: “He calls the troops suckers and losers but then wants to pose for photos with them, even though he dodged the draft himself. It’s just the ultimate disrespect.”
• Shah [33:41]: “Having folks who speak out...can be really challenging, it can be scary. But there is help available and you should reach out…”

3. Listener Good News and Community Section (36:10–47:13)

• Listeners share personal victories, thoughts on language and grammar, and responses to podcast jokes and pop culture references.
• Numerous shout-outs for democratic wins, local activism, and community resilience.
• Heartwarming pet photos and touching stories (e.g., listener’s mother as a WASP pilot who evolved politically, [43:52]).

Notable Listener Section Quotes

• Listener, on the Iowa special election: “As a resident of the state my entire life, it's at least one step towards not being as fascist a hellscape as it was before.” [40:28]
• Linda, on grammar and immigrants: "I volunteer with immigrants who are learning English and let me tell you, they know more about English grammar than most monolingual English speakers." [43:33]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro & Headlines: 00:00–07:27
• Rapid-fire news & analysis: 07:27–17:40
• Good Trouble mission (supporting FEMA staff): 17:42
• Main Interview with Naveed Shah: 21:31–34:13
• Listener Good News: 36:10–47:13

Notable Episode Quotes

• On Political Abuse of Military:
  Shah [22:11]: “Veterans know that we took an oath...the military's purpose is not to occupy our own cities, our own capital, and police our own people.”
• On Grassroots Action:
  Shah [31:49]: “It's really important that people get together...call your elected officials, call your representatives, especially those in red states or red cities.”
• On Morale:
  Shah [24:19]: “It's really hurting morale amongst the troops.”
• On Public Protest:
  Collins vs. Protesters [13:18]:
  • Collins: “Could you please just listen? Just one—”
  • Protester: “We want you to listen!”

Tone & Takeaways

The episode combines sharp-edged snark and compassionate concern, characteristic of The Daily Beans. AG and DG highlight the relentless pace of distressing news but ground it in community, self-care, and tenacious activism. Shah’s segment is grave, urgent, and clear-eyed about the erosion of democratic norms and military professionalism under Trump’s misuse of national security authority.

The show closes (as always) by inviting listeners to both take care of themselves and re-dedicate to progressive action—and by celebrating even the smallest wins for democracy, empathy, and justice.

For full Common Defense resources and to join the effort: commondefense.us.