The Daily Beans: "Refried Beans | A Market For The Truth"

Episode originally aired December 11, 2024; rebroadcast December 14, 2025
Host(s): Allison Gill (AG), Dana Goldberg
Guest: Harry Litman (Former Federal Prosecutor, Legal Commentator, ex-LA Times Columnist)

Episode Overview

This episode serves as a time capsule, revisiting a news-packed December 2024 episode at the intersection of accountability, democratic guardrails, and media truth-telling. The hosts, AG and Dana Goldberg, recap significant breaking developments involving Donald Trump, accountability lawsuits, SPOTUS actions, and a major guest segment with Harry Litman, who discusses his public departure from the LA Times and the need for truth in mainstream media. The conversation juggles serious analysis, legal insight, and signature witty banter, all underpinned by a call for civic engagement and media responsibility.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Legal Accountability in the Trump Era

• Letitia James’ Stand on Trump’s Civil Fraud Judgment

  • NY Attorney General Letitia James refuses to drop her $450+ million civil fraud case against Trump, despite his re-election.
  • Trump's lawyer John Sauer argued dropping the case would “promote unity” and not impede presidential duties—a claim rebuffed by James’ office.
  • Quote: “This office will not stipulate to vacate the final judgment against Trump and his company…” (AG, 12:13)
  • James points out the robust evidence and irrelevance of dropped federal criminal cases to ongoing state civil action.

• Mike Flynn Lawsuit Dismissed

  • A federal judge tossed Michael Flynn's civil suit alleging the Russia investigation was a “witch hunt.”
  • The judge found no claim, labeling it baseless.

• SCOTUS Maintains Gag Order on Trump

  • The Supreme Court declines to lift a gag order barring Trump from discussing key players in his NY criminal trial.
  • Dana underscores the rarity of successful gag order challenges and the unique context surrounding Trump.
  • Quote: “As for Trump's underlying claim that gag orders are unconstitutional, no court has ever reached such a conclusion, by the way. None.” (Dana, 11:36)

• Manhattan DA Opposes Trump’s Dismissal Bid

  • DA Alvin Bragg files to sustain the 34 felony counts; Trump’s conviction stands pending appeal.
  • Discussion of the distinction and state-level autonomy in civil matters, which cannot be dismissed or pardoned by presidential power.

2. DOJ Secret Surveillance Revelations

• 2017-2018 DOJ Leak Investigation

  • Inspector General’s report details that DOJ secretly subpoenaed records from journalists, staffers, and Congressional members, including Adam Schiff, Eric Swalwell, and Kash Patel.
  • AG highlights the chilling effect on Congressional oversight and press freedoms.
  • Report reveals DOJ failed to follow protections for journalists and Congressional staff, and that Bill Barr declined an IG interview.

• Press Protection Legislation

  • Trump publicly urges Republicans to kill the pending Press Act, which would protect journalists’ sources from government subpoenas.

3. Consumer Financial Relief & Agency Spotlight

• Massive CFPB Refund Announcement
  • Over 4 million Americans slated to receive $1.8 billion in refunds after predatory practices by Lexington Law and CreditRepair.com.
  • Dana lauds Elizabeth Warren’s role in creating CFPB.
  • Political tension: Elon Musk and Trump-aligned Republicans advocate for abolishing or slashing the CFPB.

4. Notable News in Brief

• Mitch McConnell’s Physical Fall
  • McConnell injured in a fall; commentary on his rumored imminent retirement and the ongoing transitions in GOP leadership.

In-Depth Interview: Harry Litman

Segment Start: 20:43

Harry Litman on Leaving the LA Times & the State of the Media

Why He Left the LA Times

• Litman expresses grave concern about the media climate, emphasizing a societal nadir where “we can’t even agree on what the facts are.”
• Describes ownership decisions (notably LA Times and WaPo rescinding support for Kamala Harris) as capitulations to Trump’s intimidation, not content-based disagreements.
• Quote: “These are not normal times. So for whatever my little voice can achieve by saying, media, please do your job… 2 out of 5 biggest papers in the country were face down by Trump before he even took office.” (Litman, 29:45)

Media's “Fair and Balanced” Trap

• Recalls instances where striving for “balance” equates to giving a platform to “racist, bigoted, fascist, oligarchic” voices, while truth and fact-based reporting are labeled as biased.
• AG critiques the fear among newsroom executives of appearing liberal, which results in a distortion of fact-based news toward performative neutrality.

The Collapse of Institutional Guardrails

• Litman and AG discuss how judicial and executive powers can undermine legal accountability, noting that even robust Justice Department action is checked by Supreme Court delays or decisions.
  • Quote: “It's a phone call. Because the pardoning himself… is dubious even with this Supreme Court. But doesn't matter." (Litman, 21:51)
• Systemic obstacles and the sheer length of the appeals process make timely justice for political crimes impractical.

Support & Aftermath

• Litman reports an outpouring of support—from mass media to regular readers—for taking a public stance.
• Stresses the goal is not partisanship, but the fundamental need for factual reporting and institutional independence.

The “Market for Truth”

• AG and Litman agree there is strong demand for fact-driven independent media, evidenced by the growth of digital-first and independent outlets.
  • Quote: “There is actually a market for truth.” (AG, 31:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• AG’s Snark on Delayed DOJ Oversight:
  “If you're releasing inspector general reports for shit that happened in 2018, in 2024, you need more inspectors general or a faster one or something.” (AG, 04:10)

• Dana on CFPB’s Defenders:
  “Oh, just a bunch of real good upstanding people in the payday lending industry…They're in it for the little guy, you know what I mean.” (Dana, 18:13)

• Harry Litman’s Call to Action:
  “Newspapers ought to see their first responsibility as setting out the actual facts...it's just a dereliction of duty to have a, on the one hand, on the other hand approach. There is no other hand. Your first duty has to be to inform people about the facts.” (Litman, 34:11/35:04)

• AG on “Fairness” in Media:
  “When facts are on the side of liberalism...then you’re trying to shy away from being factual at that point.” (AG, 32:10)

• Harry on Media Responsibility:
  “These are not normal times...media, please do your job." (Litman, 29:45)

Segment Timestamps

• 00:45: Episode intro & news rundown by AG and Dana
• 03:45: DOJ Spying on Congress & Journalists
• 08:57: Supreme Court maintains Trump's gag order
• 12:13: Letitia James refuses to drop Trump civil case
• 15:51: CFPB refund pay-outs and agency spotlight
• 20:43: Harry Litman interview begins
  • 21:19: DOJ power structure, pardon limitations
  • 25:26: Motivations behind leaving LA Times
  • 29:45: The “market for truth” & media capitulation to Trump
  • 34:11: “Dereliction of duty” in “both sides” reporting
  • 36:56: Public and press response to Litman’s resignation
• 39:13: Good News segment and listener mail
• 50:54: Show close

Tone & Style

The episode blends incisive legal commentary, progressive advocacy, and comedic snark. Both hosts bring a sense of urgency and personal investment, underscoring the stakes for democracy and the role of honest media. Litman is erudite, candid, and passionate in his arguments against media capitulation.

Listener Takeaways

• Ongoing state-level and civil legal actions against Trump continue regardless of his office.
• The press and Congress are facing unprecedented challenges to independence and privacy.
• Major consumer relief efforts provide a counterpoint to the retrenchment of regulatory agencies.
• Media criticism is not mere inside baseball: fact-based reporting is itself a guardrail for democracy.
• There’s growing support and demand for independent, truth-first journalism—listeners are part of a much-needed market for facts.

For further reading/listening:

• Talking Feds Podcast
• HarryLitman.substack.com
• DailyBeansPod.com (for good news submissions & more details)

"Refried beans. I like refried beans. That's why I want to try fried beans, because maybe they're just as good and we're wasting time."
—Harry Litman (00:22)