The Daily Beans – “Refried Beans | Buckle In (feat. Lev Parnas)”

Date Aired: September 28, 2025
Recording Date: Original episode from September 24, 2024
Host: Allison Gill
Guest: Lev Parnas
Theme: Reflecting on recent and past progressive political news, followed by an explosive and deeply candid interview with Lev Parnas about the real story behind Ukraine, the Hunter Biden laptop, shadow diplomacy, and Donald Trump’s inner circle.

Episode Overview

This episode of “The Daily Beans” features a special “Refried Beans” segment with host Allison Gill revisiting a news-packed episode from September 24, 2024. The highlight is an extended, bombshell-laden interview with Lev Parnas—once a key figure in Trump’s Ukraine shadow diplomacy and now the subject of the documentary From Russia with Lev and author of Shadow Diplomacy. Parnas offers detailed, insider revelations on the Hunter Biden laptop affair, the mechanics of disinformation campaigns, Trump-world corruption, and his own transformation from Trump enabler to whistleblower.

Headlines and Key Political News (00:45–20:59)

• Nebraska Electoral College Vote Change Blocked (01:00)

  • State Senator Mike McDonnell will not support a last-minute GOP push to alter Nebraska’s split-vote system (00:45–04:40).
  • Quote: “After deep consideration, it is clear to me that right now, 43 days from Election Day, is not the moment to make this change.” — Mike McDonnell (03:20)

• Missouri Execution Controversy (01:10–03:55)

  • Missouri Supreme Court refuses to halt the execution of Marcellus Williams, a man with credible innocence claims, even as prosecutors and the original jurors object.
  • Analysis/Tone: Allison Gill sharply criticizes Governor Mike Parsons’ decision: “At the very least, he deserves a new trial.” (03:50)

• NC Lt. Governor Mark Robinson’s Staff Resignations (04:40–08:25)

  • Mass exodus from Robinson’s gubernatorial campaign after racist, misogynistic, and pro-Hitler online comments are revealed.
  • Republicans fear Robinson is damaging Trump’s chances in North Carolina—a must-win state in 2024.
  • Quote: “Why is nobody calling for him to step down as the f***ing lieutenant governor? I am blown away by this.” — Allison Gill (06:15)

• Kamala Harris vs. Trump: The Chicken Suit Campaign (08:30–10:45)

  • The DNC targets Trump for refusing another debate, launching billboards showing him as a “chicken.”
  • Plan for staffers in chicken suits replaced by inflatable chickens at Trump rallies.
  • Quote: “I love this for him.” — Allison Gill (09:20)

• Trump’s Georgia Ad Fail (10:45–12:05)

  • Trump campaign airs digital ads in Georgia using images from the country Georgia, not the state.
  • Quote: “Let’s not confuse him further by using the word ‘caucuses,’ shall we?” — Allison Gill (11:30)

• Melania Trump’s Unusual Paid Appearances (12:05–21:00)

  • Melania Trump took $237,500 for a rare fundraiser speech—ethics experts call the spousal payment “self-serving” and “ethically questionable.”
  • Quote: “You got to pay me six figures to show up and support you.” — Allison Gill (13:15)
  • Discussion of other Trump family members (Kimberly Guilfoyle’s $60k speaking fee) and comparison to practices of First Ladies/Jill Biden.
  • Quote: “It’s just f***ed up… it’s just laundering money, isn’t it?” — Allison Gill (17:45)

FEATURED INTERVIEW: Lev Parnas (21:01–1:00:00)

Introduction & Documentary Background (21:01–26:52)

• Allison Gill introduces Lev Parnas, Ukraine shadow diplomacy whistleblower, subject of From Russia with Lev, and author of Shadow Diplomacy.
• Parnas details the four-year journey to making the documentary, the legal vetting process, and how Rachel Maddow’s involvement jumpstarted the project.
  • Quote: “I would have no editorial rights… It was important because, at that time, I was being framed by the DOJ and the media—that I was a Russian spy, a liar, a thief. So it was extremely important to get the truth.” — Lev Parnas (22:46)
• The story’s ending changed several times due to new revelations, including Parnas’s congressional testimony and reconciliation outreach to Hunter Biden.

Becoming the Fall Guy & Making Amends (26:52–28:59)

• Parnas compares his case to Michael Cohen’s—taking the fall for Trump and Giuliani, who “get a pass because of the weaponized Department of Justice.”
  • Quote: “You were a fall guy. You, much like Michael Cohen.” — Allison Gill (27:46)
• Parnas describes apologizing to Marie Yovanovitch (ex-U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine) through her attorney, expressing the wish to apologize in person.
  • Quote: “The first call I made…was to Masha Yovanovitch…I look forward to one day meeting her in person and apologizing to her.” — Lev Parnas (28:23)

The Real Hunter Biden Laptop Story (29:09–41:41)

• Parnas reveals the complicated origins of the “Hunter Biden laptop”:
  • There were actually several devices (laptop, hard drive).
  • Devon Archer, Hunter’s close business associate, was acting as a “handler”—the real conduit between Hunter and Russians/Ukrainians, not Hunter himself.
  • Archer got Hunter “blackout on drugs and drunk and wakes up in Kazakhstan,” where GRU/Russian-aligned agents copied his laptop for future blackmail/disinformation (34:43–35:05).
  • Quote: “He was Hunter Biden’s handler...Hunter…trusted Devon. They had a very friendly relationship. But unbeknownst to Hunter, what Devon was doing at the time… was setting up similar fake corporate companies that sounded the same…” — Lev Parnas (31:16)
  • The operation: Giuliani’s crew tried to strong-arm Ukrainian oligarchs for “dirt” on the Bidens, using U.S. DOJ access as leverage.
  • A plan was hatched to fly to Vienna and retrieve the “hard drive,” but Parnas was arrested just before the meeting; others continued laundering the story to Rudy, Fox News, and ultimately the public.
  • Another laptop (from Dr. Abedin) was part of the disinformation network pushed by Steve Bannon and Roger Stone’s circle.

Information Laundering & Congressional Complicity (41:47–44:59)

• GOP Senators, specifically Ron Johnson, were conduits.
  • Quote: “Senator Ron Johnson was our guy in the Senate that was pushing it. He was close to Victoria Tunzing and Joe diGenova…I remember them speaking to him…we’re going to give you the information…” — Lev Parnas (42:40)
• New York Times reporter Ken Vogel is named as crucial in legitimizing the disinformation campaign via his May 10 article, breaking it to mainstream media.

Justice Obstructed: Bill Barr, DOJ, and Foreign Agents (43:28–44:43)

• Reflects on how Trump’s allies avoided accountability: “I remember Bill Barr was there the whole time…probably just writing non-prosecution memos and closing it down.” — Gill (43:40)
• Unable to shed light on the mysterious “Trump crime” Italy relayed to Bill Barr and John Durham.

Trumpworld as a Cult & Project 2025 (44:44–46:20)

• Parnas describes the “mob-like” structure of Trump’s circle and warns of Project 2025 figures: Jason Miller, Kash Patel, Stephen Miller, Michael Flynn, and even Elon Musk as potential administration officials.

Memoir: Shadow Diplomacy (46:58–51:58)

• Parnas explains his motivations for writing the memoir in prison—documenting his side for history in the face of coordinated DOJ/media vilification.
  • Quote: “What people don’t understand—that this hour-and-a-half movie with Rachel and Billy did, it’s just the tip of the iceberg.” — Lev Parnas (47:50)
• Memoir includes details on:
  • Trump’s back-channel attempts to give “Maduro a soft landing” in Venezuela (50:04)
  • Rudy Giuliani's secret tapes and shadow lobbying
  • Trump’s deals with Turkish President Erdogan involving Firtash, Brian Ballard, and the HALKBANK scandal

The Power of Dmitry Firtash & Missing Stories (52:07–58:57)

• Firtash described as “one of the most powerful men in the world,” controlling vast gas/oil flows, key Putin ally.
• Details on U.S. attempts to extradite Firtash, Rudy’s negotiations with him, and how Victoria Toensing and John Solomon provided classified leaks to impress Firtash.
  • Quote: “I'll be back, [Solomon] went to his car, came back and whipped out a manila folder...State Department, secret stuff, Victoria Nuland communications.” — Lev Parnas (54:35)
• Firtash’s involvement pivotal in orchestrating the Hunter Biden disinformation campaign and Giuliani’s evidence gathering against the Bidens.
• Rick Grinnell, as U.S. Ambassador to Germany, is named as another key player providing behind-the-scenes support.

Final Bombshells & Reflections (58:57–1:00:00)

• Weissman allegedly offered Firtash a Mueller-era deal to testify against Trump—Firtash refused, stays unindicted (58:57).
  • Quote: “The fact that Andrew Weissman offered Firtash a deal to testify against Trump and he didn’t take that deal and he was never indicted is just mind-blowing.” — Allison Gill (58:57)
• Parnas closes by emphasizing his willingness to share more, the need for more films, and the importance of getting the full truth out.

Notable Quotes and Timestamps

• “Why is nobody calling for him to step down as the f*ing lieutenant governor?”**
  — Allison Gill on Mark Robinson scandal (06:15)
• “You were a fall guy. You, much like Michael Cohen.”
  — Allison Gill (27:46)
• “He was Hunter Biden’s handler...unbeknownst to Hunter, what Devon was doing at the time…”
  — Lev Parnas (31:16)
• “Senator Ron Johnson was our guy in the Senate that was pushing it.”
  — Lev Parnas (42:40)
• “This hour-and-a-half movie with Rachel and Billy did, it’s just the tip of the iceberg.”
  — Lev Parnas (47:50)
• “Every sentence is a bombshell, Lev.”
  — Allison Gill (58:57)

Additional Insights

• Tone:
  Characteristic snark and righteous outrage from Allison Gill balance Parnas’s matter-of-fact, heavily detailed recounting of disinformation operations, DOJ complicity, and interpersonal betrayals.

• Memorable Moments:

  • Allison’s recurring jokes about the “chicken suit” and Trump’s incompetence with Georgia geography (10:45–12:05).
  • Parnas’s description of how a blacked-out Hunter Biden was moved across borders for espionage purposes—a narrative largely absent from public reporting until now (34:08–35:05).
  • The intricate play-by-play of DOJ, Congress, and right-wing media coordination—naming names and methods.

Summary Flow and Usefulness

This episode is both a news recap and an extended, first-hand “deep dive” into the mechanics of Trump-era shadow diplomacy, information laundering, and right-wing influence operations. Lev Parnas’s interview provides granular insight for anyone interested in untangling the knots of the Ukraine scandal, the true story behind the Hunter Biden laptop, and the rot in Trump’s orbit.

Listeners/Readers Will Learn:

• How the Hunter Biden laptop became a political weapon and who orchestrated it.
• The detailed role of figures such as Devon Archer, Ron Johnson, Rudy Giuliani, Victoria Toensing, Rick Grinnell, and Firtash.
• How the DOJ was manipulated to shield key Trump allies.
• The personal cost to whistleblowers—Parnas’s journey from enabler to truth-teller.
• Why From Russia with Lev and Shadow Diplomacy are must-consume sources for understanding modern political disinformation campaigns.

For more:

• Watch From Russia with Lev (MSNBC).
• Read Shadow Diplomacy (Lev Parnas).

End of Summary