The Daily Beans: "Refried Beans | Carb Onesie (feat. Andy McCabe)" — January 31, 2023

Episode Overview

This episode of The Daily Beans, hosted by Allison Gill (AG) and Dana Goldberg, looks back at a pivotal week in 2023 packed with major legal and political developments—from the Manhattan DA finally impaneling a grand jury focused on Donald Trump’s hush money payments, to arrests tied to Russian espionage. Former Acting FBI Director Andy McCabe joins the show for an in-depth conversation about the arrest of Charles McGonigal, a former top FBI counterintelligence agent charged with working for Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. With characteristic snark, humor, and attentive legal analysis, the hosts untangle these events and reflect on their significance in the context of ongoing threats to democracy.

Main Topics & Insights

1. Trump Hush Money: The Manhattan DA Moves Forward

• (04:00) AG reports the Manhattan District Attorney impaneled a grand jury to investigate Donald Trump’s payments to Stormy Daniels, with the case nearing criminal indictment.

• Witnesses being called include David Pecker (former National Enquirer publisher), Dylan Howard, and Trump Organization employees.

• Quote [05:20, Dana Goldberg]:

  “Is that gonna be a Pecker flip? I’m sure there’s something there. There’s a Pecker flip.”

• The episode discusses legal hurdles: evidence hinges on record falsification and Michael Cohen's testimony, plus the challenge of the prosecution's "untested legal theory."

• Trump could face only probation or up to four years if convicted.

2. Campaign Finance Charges: Mark Meadows Ally Pleads Guilty

• (09:44) Dana covers Linda Bennett (a Mark Meadows ally) pleading guilty to campaign finance law violations during her 2020 Congressional run.
• Contributions from family exceeded limits and were disguised—paralleling George Santos’ financial maneuvers.
• Insight into how candidates can make unlimited loans to their own campaigns, contrasting what is legal vs. what is not.
• Underlines Republican hypocrisy in repeatedly committing the election fraud they accuse others of.
  • Quote [12:58, AG]:

    “We found some election fraud. Once again, it’s a Republican.”

3. DOJ, Congress, and Scott Perry’s Phone: Media Spin Correction

• (13:02) AG breaks down media mischaracterization: DOJ has not been blocked by the courts from accessing House Rep. Scott Perry’s phone—this is a typical procedural stay while appeals are considered.
• A bipartisan House panel voted unanimously to intervene in the DOJ’s attempts to access Perry’s phone, citing the Speech or Debate clause.
• Prediction: the full appeals court and Supreme Court are likely to side with the DOJ.
  • Quote [15:41, AG]:

    “At first you’d think—fucking Republicans trying to block this investigation. But... it’s a bipartisan panel... McCarthy and Hakeem Jeffries ... voted unanimously to intervene.”

4. DOJ Refuses House GOP Info Requests on Biden Documents

• (16:48) Dana reports the DOJ declining to share details about the Biden classified documents probe, citing risk of undermining investigations.
• Letter from Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte refuses GOP Judiciary Committee’s demands, noting regulations bar disclosures in ongoing investigations.
  • Quote [17:18, Dana quoting DOJ letter]:

    "Disclosures to Congress about active investigations risk jeopardizing those investigations and creating the appearance that Congress may be exerting improper political pressure or attempting to influence department decisions."

• Emphasizes consistent DOJ treatment for both Trump’s and Biden’s document cases, refusing both sides’ requests.

In-Depth Interview: Andy McCabe on Arrest of FBI Agent Charles McGonigal

Background and Charges

• (22:31 - 41:44) AG interviews former Acting FBI Director Andy McCabe regarding McGonigal’s arrest for allegedly working with Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.
• McGonigal was reputed as a top counterintelligence agent, making these allegations especially shocking within the intelligence community.
• Alleged crimes included facilitating favors for Deripaska’s associates, concealing payments, and traveling/meeting with foreign intelligence representatives while still in the FBI.
• Quote [24:39, Andy McCabe]:

  “Charlie had an incredibly strong reputation in the Bureau... So for that person, for it to be even alleged that that person was involved in this kind of activity, this is like the most blatant kind of stuff that you would never, ever... contemplate getting involved in as an FBI agent.”

• DOJ is likely conducting a broad review into all McGonigal’s contacts, work, and cases—potential for far-reaching counterintelligence damage assessment.

Impact on Counterintelligence, Mueller Probe, and FBI Integrity

• AG probes possible link between FBI NY Field Office leaks and Russian interference; McCabe calls speculations about wider conspiracy “misplaced,” but acknowledges urgent questions remain.

• The Special Agent in Charge in NY would not have received case updates from the Mueller probe; investigative direction was controlled tightly by Mueller’s team.

• McCabe refuses to discuss identities of "Agent 1" or "Oligarch 2" cited in the indictments, citing FBI non-public information policies.

• Quote [30:01, McCabe]:

  “There are very good questions about what happened to the overall counterintelligence concerns that we had when we opened Crossfire Hurricane... but I don’t really think [McGonigal] played a role in the way that people are speculating about in the media.”

Oversight and IG Horowitz’s Role

• Questions linger about the effectiveness of the DOJ Inspector General (Michael Horowitz), past internal FBI referrals regarding possible unauthorized media contacts, and what the IG actually found in NY office investigations.
• McCabe suggests IG reports may have classified appendices not released to public, but laments lack of transparency.
  • Quote [38:40, Andy McCabe]:

    “We made a lot of referrals... And really nothing has come of any of that... I think it raises good questions about Michael Horowitz’s office and what exactly they do with those referrals and how our concerns... were or were not addressed.”

• AG calls on the Senate Intelligence Committee to raise such concerns directly to current FBI Director Wray and to the IG.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Pecker Flip Jokes: Extended riff on witness David Pecker led to recurring innuendo and laughter.
  • [05:20, Dana]: “Is that gonna be a Pecker flip?”
  • [05:43, Dana]: “Is someone squeezing Pecker to get him to flip?”
• Taint Team Jokes: A running gag about the Department of Justice’s “taint team.”
  • [13:21, AG]: “Why don’t we have more jokes about the taint team?”
  • [13:24, AG]: “Pecker and Taint is our episode title…”

Listener Good News & Community (43:34–51:25)

Lighter fare to close the show, with listener stories and pet photos—hilarious, heartfelt, and classic Beans:

• Mari bumps the podcast “above the New York Times” as her daily top listen. Mari’s “husband is not pleased” and listener offers a nostalgic Denny’s commercial for AG and Dana to riff on. ([44:03])
• Adorable pet stories, children, and “carb onesie” jokes.
• Mooney shares frog photos from Costa Rica and gratitude for Patreon angels.
• Ongoing updates about the search for AG’s lost cat, Bruce Willis, and a sweet story about a cat possibly not wanting to return to its original owners. ([54:04])

Memorable Sign-Offs

• AG thanks Andy McCabe for his friendship and work:
  • [51:25, AG]: “He had a front row seat to... what was going on with Crossfire Hurricane and the FBI and became a target of many right wing political nut jobs, including Donald Trump himself. ”
• Closing with the Golden Girls theme “Thank you for being a friend” as a shout-out to loyal listeners and guests ([52:12–52:37]).

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Trump Grand Jury & Pecker (Stormy Daniels): 04:00 – 09:44
• Mark Meadows Ally Campaign Finance Guilty Plea: 09:44 – 12:58
• DOJ vs. House & Scott Perry’s Phone: 13:02 – 16:48
• Biden Documents, DOJ Stonewall: 16:48 – 21:03
• Interview: Andy McCabe on McGonigal Arrest: 22:31 – 41:44
• Listener Good News & Community: 43:34 – 51:25
• Sign-Off, Lost Cat Search & Closing Thoughts: 51:25 – End

Summary

This episode blends sharp political commentary, legal insights, and the hosts' trademark humor (“Pecker flip”, “taint team”). The deep-dive interview with Andy McCabe is a standout, providing expert perspective on counterintelligence vulnerabilities within the FBI and the implications of the McGonigal case for ongoing investigations into Russian interference. The episode concludes with engaging listener stories and a heartfelt community vibe. For anyone tracking the evolution of major Trump-era legal sagas and ongoing threats to US institutions, this episode offers rich, accessible insight—with plenty of laughs along the way.