Podcast Summary: Refried Beans | An Epic Day For Justice (feat. Amanda Litman) | 8/4/2022

Host: Alison Gill
Guest: Amanda Littman, Author of Run for Something
Release Date: August 2, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of Refried Beans, host Alison Gill delves into a day brimming with significant political and legal developments, highlighting underreported stories that have major implications for American democracy.

Major News Highlights

1. Federal Subpoenas Target Former White House Officials
   Timestamp: 00:00 - 17:00

   • Pat Cipollone and Pat Philbin Subpoenaed:
     A federal grand jury has issued subpoenas to Pat Cipollone, former White House Counsel, and his deputy, Pat Philbin, as part of the investigation into the January 6th Capitol assault and efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
     Alison Gill: "The move to subpoena Cipollone signals an even more dramatic escalation in the Justice Department's investigation." [02:15]

   • Pete Navarro Sued for Violating Presidential Records Act:
     The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against Pete Navarro to compel him to surrender emails exchanged via his private ProtonMail account during his tenure in the Trump administration. The DOJ cites Navarro's failure to comply with the Presidential Records Act (PRA) and his request for immunity, which was denied.
     Alison Gill: "Navarro asked for immunity. The Department of Justice denied that request. That's why they're suing for the emails." [14:50]

   • Implications of Executive Privilege:
     The DOJ's actions reflect a broader effort to investigate former President Trump, potentially setting the stage for landmark legal battles over separation of powers.
     Alison Gill: "Confronting the privilege issue reflects the care with which the Justice Department is taking as it faces the unusual situation of investigating a former president." [05:30]

2. Alex Jones’s Defamation Trial Mishap
   Timestamp: 17:00 - 19:42

   • Accidental Disclosure of Phone Contents:
     During his Sandy Hook defamation trial, Alex Jones's attorney mistakenly handed over the entire contents of Jones's phone to the opposing lawyers. This revelation suggests that Jones may have committed perjury, with potentially far-reaching implications for himself and his associates.
     Alex Jones: "I see. I told you the truth. This is your Perry Mason moment." [17:23]
     Alison Gill: "Alex Jones could be on the hook for perjury." [19:00]

   • Potential Broader Implications:
     The leaked communications could implicate various controversial figures and organizations, including the Oath Keepers, Proud Boys, and even former President Trump.
     Alison Gill: "Alex Jones 16 Communications could implicate the Oath Keepers, the Proud Boys, Ali Alexander, Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, Brennan Stroit, even Trump himself." [18:50]

3. 2022 Primaries and Political Shifts
   Timestamp: 19:42 - 26:03

   • Kansas Abortion Referendum Victory:
     Kansas voters decisively rejected a Republican initiative to remove abortion rights from the state constitution, defeating the measure by nearly 60% to 40%.
     Alison Gill: "Kansas turned out in epic numbers to shut down the Republican initiative to remove abortion rights from the state constitution." [25:00]

   • Arizona and Michigan Election Outcomes:

     • In Arizona, an election denier won the Republican primary for Secretary of State, while Kerry Lake Secure is poised to secure the Republican gubernatorial nomination against Katie Hobbs.
     • In Michigan, Republican Peter Magear, who voted to impeach Trump, lost his race to a Trump-backed candidate, potentially making the general election more favorable for Democrats.
       Alison Gill: "I hope these victories of Trump-backed and election deniers make these elections easier for Democrats to win in the general." [24:15]

4. President Biden’s Executive Order on Medicaid and Abortion Access
   Timestamp: 26:00 - 34:00

   • Expanding Medicaid to Cover Out-of-State Abortions:
     President Joe Biden signed an executive order enabling Medicaid to cover abortion services for individuals traveling to states where abortion is legal. This move responds directly to the health care crisis following the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade.
     President Biden (Quoted): "Today I'm signing the second executive order that responds to the health care crisis that has unfolded since SCOTUS overturned Roe and that women are facing all across America." [33:30]

   • Mechanism of Implementation:
     States can apply for Medicaid waivers to facilitate coverage for out-of-state abortion services, bypassing the need for a public health emergency declaration.
     Alison Gill: "Technically, these states would apply through what's known as a Medicaid 1115 waiver." [34:00]

In-Depth Interview: Amanda Littman

Timestamp: 26:03 - 40:57

Background and Foundation of Run for Something

Amanda Littman, author of Run for Something and co-founder of RunForSomething.net, discusses her journey from working on political campaigns to inspiring a national movement encouraging young people to run for local and state offices.

• Genesis of the Movement:
  Triggered by a friend's inquiry about running for office, Littman identified a gap in support for young Democratic candidates and took action by founding Run for Something on Trump's Inauguration Day. The initiative quickly gained traction, amassing over 130,000 young people and endorsing more than 2,000 candidates across 48 states.
  Amanda Littman: "We originally thought we'd get maybe 100 people who wanted to run for local office in the first year, and 1,000 people signed up in the first week." [27:40]

Strategic Focus for the 2022 Midterms

1. Endorsing and Supporting Candidates:

   • State Legislatures and Local Offices:
     Focusing on state houses, state senates, and crucial local positions like school boards and election administration roles to build sustainable power structures for the future.
     Amanda Littman: "We are expecting to endorse about 700 candidates this year. We're already up to about 550." [31:20]

   • School Board Races:
     Addressing the increasing influence of the far right in school boards by supporting candidates who advocate for comprehensive education, including LGBTQ equity and reproductive health education.
     Amanda Littman: "A little bit of both. The amount of money that they're spending is pretty unprecedented." [34:50]

2. Election Administration and Democracy Protection:

   • Ensuring that pro-democracy candidates govern election processes to maintain fair and accessible voting systems.
     Amanda Littman: "We really wanted to make sure that there's really good school board candidates to give people an option." [33:10]

Long-Term Vision and Impact

Littman emphasizes the importance of "trickle up politics," where success at the local level builds momentum and paves the way for future national victories. She highlights success stories like Andrew Benardis in New York, who effected immediate policy changes, demonstrating the tangible impact of local governance.
Amanda Littman: "Politics is something that like everything else, takes practice and time and skills to be good at. And you will be better if you start in the place where you can really make a difference first." [35:00]

Call to Action

Littman encourages listeners to support the movement by:

• Running for Office: Utilizing resources on RunForSomething.net to identify and campaign for local positions.
• Volunteering: Assisting local campaigns to bolster Democratic presence and voter turnout.
• Donating: Contributing financially to sustain and expand the initiative.

Closing Remarks

Alison Gill wraps up the episode with acknowledgments to listeners and announcements about upcoming live events, reinforcing the podcast's commitment to fostering informed and active democratic participation.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• On Attorney-Client Privilege:
  "The crime fraud exception is a little bit different. Normally, it would require both attorney and client to be conspiring, but for White House counsel, it only has to be one-sided." [05:30]

• On Alex Jones’s Legal Troubles:
  "This is your Perry Mason moment. I gave them my phone. And then..." [17:23]

• On Kansas Referendum Victory:
  "Kansas turned out in epic numbers to shut down the Republican initiative to remove abortion rights from the state constitution." [25:00]

• On Biden’s Executive Order:
  "Today I'm signing the second executive order that responds to the health care crisis that has unfolded since SCOTUS overturned Roe..." [33:30]

• On Local Politics Impact:
  "Politics is something that like everything else, takes practice and time and skills to be good at. And you will be better if you start in the place where you can really make a difference first." [35:00]

This episode of Refried Beans provides a comprehensive overview of pivotal events shaping the political landscape, coupled with an inspiring interview that underscores the power of grassroots movements in safeguarding democracy.