The Daily Beans: "Refried Beans | A Man is Not a Plan" (feat. Rep. Jared Moskowitz)

Original Air Date: February 19, 2024
Rebroadcast (“Refried Beans”): February 21, 2026
Hosts: Allison Gill (“AG”), Dana Goldberg (“DG”)
Featured Guest: Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Daily Beans, part of the "Refried Beans" series, takes listeners back to a high-impact week in February 2024. The show covers a wide range of political and legal news, highlighted by a deep-dive interview with Florida Congressman Jared Moskowitz. The hosts blend sharp analysis, snark, and hope as they discuss Trump’s massive civil fraud fine, the fall of Jim Comer’s impeachment case against Joe Biden, the tragic death of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, dysfunction within the Republican House, Fani Willis’s fiery court testimony, shoes at Sneaker Con, and more.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump Civil Fraud Penalty & NY Business Ban

[04:03–06:19]

• Judge Engoron’s $364 million fine against Donald Trump and his associates, including barring Trump from running a business in New York for 3 years.
  • Trump owes $355 million + 9% interest, pushing liability over $500M with others included.
  • Trump, Weisselberg, and others also face bans from certain business practices.
• Discussion on how Trump can’t easily pay or appeal: "RNC is broke, NRA is broke, Trump Save America PAC is bleeding cash..." (AG, 06:00)
• Dana jokes about Trump raising money by selling $399 sneakers at Sneaker Con.

2. Fani Willis Testifies in Recusal Hearing

[06:29–07:55]

• Fulton County DA Fani Willis gave “absolutely incredible” and “brave” testimony, defending her record and character.
• The scrutiny on Willis is contrasted with unaddressed conflicts involving Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas:
  • "I just… I can't. It's because she's a woman. It's because she's black. I just… I can't." (DG, 07:03)
• Willis’s viral quote: "A man is not a plan. A man is a companion." [07:41]

3. Alexei Navalny’s Death and Russian Repression

[09:11–12:22]

• Reports on the suspicious death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Arctic prison; speculation over Putin’s involvement.
• Media reports of bruises on Navalny’s body; unclear location raises fears of cover-up.
• "This is an assassination." (AG, 10:08)
• The death intensifies urgency for US aid to Ukraine.
• Discussion of Tucker Carlson’s controversial trip to Russia and his casual remarks about political assassination.

4. Trump’s $399 Sneakers and Legal Woes

[12:24–14:38]

• Trump trying to cash in post-judgment by launching branded sneakers—mocked as "bootleg Off-Whites."
• Unable to deliver his full speech at Sneaker Con due to being booed off stage:
  • "He was supposed to give a 45 minute speech but was booed off the stage in under a minute." (DG, 12:56)
• Biden campaign zinger:
  • "[Trump] hawk[ing] bootleg Off-Whites is the closest he'll get to any Air Force Ones ever again…" (Biden Harris spokesperson, 15:07)

5. Indictment of Jim Comer’s Star Witness: Alexander Smirnov

[22:55–31:01]

• Alexander Smirnov, the FBI source behind key anti-Biden impeachment claims, indicted for lying and fabricating evidence.
• Smirnov’s claims formed the basis of GOP impeachment efforts:
  • "He made the whole thing up. It is pure fiction." (Rep. Moskowitz, 33:06)
• Indictment points to “Russian disinformation from a Kremlin spy.”
  • AG theorizes DOJ timing covers for Trump and Bill Barr: "...I think he indicted Smirnov to cover his ass, Bill Barr's ass, Trump's ass, and Scott Brady's ass." (AG, 29:44)
• Explains the broader context of Rudy Giuliani and Russian-sourced smears winding through Congressional GOP.

6. Dysfunction in the 118th Congress

[35:46–36:41, 49:03–51:34]

• Rep. Moskowitz delivers a scathing, sarcastic review:
  • "They're making history. Only Republicans in the 118th Congress could actually give Democrats the border as an issue to run on." (AG, 36:08)
• Chronic dysfunction due to "motion to vacate" threat, controlling Speaker Mike Johnson and limiting any real legislative progress.

7. Future Democratic House Agenda

[42:34–46:55]

• Moskowitz vows to prioritize women’s rights, gun violence prevention modeled after post-Parkland Florida reforms, and to investigate GOP malfeasance.
  • "Twelve thousand times law enforcement deemed someone a danger... Those laws are working... the Second Amendment is well preserved." (Moskowitz, 44:12)
• Lists the need to probe when Republicans knew their impeachment material (the 1023 form) was bogus: "My biggest question now...is when did the Republicans know that the 1023 form...was false?" (42:57)

8. Ukraine & Foreign Aid / House Chaos

[46:55–51:34]

• Will House take up the Senate’s Ukraine/Israel/humanitarian aid bill? Unclear, because success would trigger a Freedom Caucus–driven motion to vacate.
• Moskowitz: "Wherever [Johnson] turns, this is like chess. Someone's going to get him." (Moskowitz, 50:23)
• Expresses cautious hope that if Johnson "does the right thing," Democrats might help him survive a far-right coup attempt.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fani Willis’s testimony:
  • "A man is not a plan. A man is a companion." — Fani Willis, referenced at [07:41]
• On Trump’s financial woes:
  • "How is he going to get this money? …maybe he can borrow it from Jared [Kushner], I guess." — AG, [06:00]
• On congressional dysfunction:
  • "Only Republicans in the 118th Congress could actually give Democrats the border as an issue to run on." — AG, [36:08]
  • "Some of these folks that you serve with… can dish it out, but they cannot take it. They have thin skin. They're snowflakes." — Rep. Moskowitz, [39:22]
• On the House GOP’s impeachment farce:
  • "So thoughts and prayers to James Comer. His days are numbered… even when he called his own witnesses, they said there was no evidence to impeach Joe Biden. And now the very little evidence they had… was all made up." — Rep. Moskowitz, [33:09]
• On Trump’s shoe venture:
  • "Donald Trump showing up to hawk bootleg off whites is the closest he'll get to any Air Force ones ever again for the rest of his life." — Biden Harris 2024 Comms Director, [15:08]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Intro and Top Stories: [01:30–04:03]
• Trump NY Ruling & Fallout: [04:03–06:19]
• Fani Willis Recusal Testimony: [06:24–07:55]
• Navalny’s Death / Russian Repression: [09:11–12:22]
• Trump Sneaker Con Debacle: [12:24–14:38]
• Ken Paxton Legal Troubles: [16:12–19:11]
• Fentanyl Lollipops/CBP Whistleblower: [19:11–22:08]
• Smirnov Indictment & GOP Impeachment: [22:55–31:01]
• Rep. Jared Moskowitz Interview: [31:01–53:18]
  • On Smirnov Impeachment, Republican Dysfunction, and Policy Agenda: [31:01–52:02]
  • On 119th Congress and Hakeem Jeffries: [51:34–53:18]
• Good News Segment: [53:20–end]

Episode Highlights

• Marquee Interview: Rep. Jared Moskowitz, known for his wit and relentless fact-checking of colleagues, unpacks the fall of the Biden impeachment case and the chaos in the House GOP. He delivers both serious policy perspectives and humorous stories about trolling James Comer with a Smurf tie.
• Snarky News Commentary: The hosts lampoon Trump’s sneaker launch and mock Republican attempts to control the House, while also giving flowers to advocacy groups like Equality Florida.
• Real-Time Policy Relevance: The show connects national drama—Navalny’s assassination, Trump’s cash crunch, fake impeachment evidence—directly to upcoming legislative fights and elections.
• Hopeful Closer: The episode highlights positive listener stories in the “Good News” segment and ends with a commitment to activism, mental health, and community resilience.

Takeaways

• The “Daily Beans” blend real-time analysis, biting humor, and urgent calls for accountability.
• Trump’s legal and financial woes are cascading, but the hosts are quick to reveal the underlying grift and GOP complicity.
• The GOP impeachment against Biden was built on Russian disinformation, as fully exposed by the indictment of their own key witness.
• The Democratic minority in Congress is gearing up to thoroughly investigate these abuses when the gavel returns in 2025.
• Despite the overwhelming mess, the pod keeps listeners motivated, informed, and hopeful—just the right mix of snark, substance, and solidarity.