The Daily Beans – “Refried Beans | Pnut Gingrich (feat. Hugo Lowell)”
Date of Original Episode: January 10, 2023
Hosts: Allison Gill (AG) & Dana Goldberg
Special Guest: Hugo Lowell (The Guardian)
Episode Overview
This episode of The Daily Beans is a "Refried Beans" edition, replaying a news-packed episode from earlier in 2023 to reflect on history and gauge progress. Topics focus on major political and legal news: updates on investigations into Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents, the release of the Fulton County special grand jury report regarding 2020 election interference, ethics complaints against Congressman George Santos, classified documents from Biden’s vice presidency found at a D.C. office, and an exclusive interview with journalist Hugo Lowell about the independence of investigators Trump hired for his document search. The hosts bring their signature snark and humor, especially when discussing GOP antics and ongoing scandals.
Main Discussion Points
1. Fulton County Special Grand Jury Report
- [02:41] AG: The Atlanta area special grand jury investigating Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election has finished its work and submitted a final report.
- The report might be made public, with a hearing set for January 24 to consider unsealing it.
- The process and legal background are discussed in detail in the next episode of “Cleanup on Aisle 45.”
- Key witnesses: Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani, Lindsey Graham, Mike Flynn, Newt Gingrich—all compelled to testify.
- DA Fani Willis will make charging decisions based on the jury’s recommendations.
Notable Quote
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AG [03:27]: “The special grand jury also probed Trump’s January 2, 2021 phone call with [Secretary of State] Raffensperger, famously asking him to find 11,780 votes.”
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Dana brings humor to the mention of Newt Gingrich:
Dana [05:50]: “Well, donerich. [laughter]”
2. Rep. Scott Perry’s Refusal to Recuse
- [06:19] Dana: Scott Perry (R-PA), under DOJ investigation for Jan 6th, declines to recuse himself from House investigations into Jan 6th.
- Perry argues being accused shouldn’t bar him from oversight duties.
- His involvement with Trump’s efforts (particularly attempts to install Jeffrey Clark at DOJ) is highlighted.
- House GOP, under Speaker McCarthy, plans to heavily scrutinize the Jan 6th investigation’s conduct and federal “weaponization.”
Notable Quote
- Perry (quoted by Dana) [06:44]: “Why should I be limited just because someone has made an accusation? Everybody in America is innocent until proven guilty.”
3. Biden Classified Documents Discovery
- [09:06] AG: Merrick Garland assigns the U.S. Attorney in Chicago (Trump appointee John Lausch) to review classified documents found at the Penn Biden Center.
- The documents were found, reported, and turned over to the National Archives immediately.
- The process with Biden is compared favorably to Trump’s handling of classified materials (“no subpoena ignored, no lying to the Archives”).
- [10:48] AG: “I’ll bet the beans that the Trump-appointed U.S. attorney…will decline to even investigate it, let alone prosecute anyone. Trump, on the other hand, is another story indeed.”
4. George Santos Faces FEC Complaint
- [11:46] Dana: Newly elected Rep. George Santos faces a formal ethics (FEC) complaint.
- Accusations: Illegal campaign spending, questionable personal spending, and falsely reporting donations—including a mysterious $705,000 loan he made to his own campaign despite having little-known assets.
- Numerous campaign expenses pegged at $199.99—just below the $200 threshold requiring itemized receipts.
- [15:58] Dana: “This is one of the sketchiest fuckers I have seen in a long time. And that is saying something about the GOP.”
Notable Moment
- AG [16:04]: Explains the $200 cutoff for FEC receipt requirements and why so many expenses were just under that amount.
Exclusive Segment: Hugo Lowell Interview
[17:35–27:19]
Topic: DOJ Skepticism Toward Trump’s “Independent” Document Search
Key Points:
- DOJ Frustrations: After Trump’s team belatedly hired investigators to search his properties and found more classified materials, the DOJ wanted to identify and question the “independent” searchers.
- DOJ finds out these investigators were not truly independent—more like Trump’s friends or associates.
- DOJ’s desire to bring these individuals before a grand jury signals “an escalation” in the investigation.
- AG [19:45]: “What you found…is another really important part of the story…this was not a fully independent firm hired by the Trump team.”
- DOJ’s top priority: Recovering all classified documents, then criminal accountability.
- The increased assertiveness was described as marking a wider, more aggressive phase, possibly spurred by Special Counsel Jack Smith taking over.
Notable Quotes:
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Hugo Lowell [23:28]: “It really does seem like that kind of accommodating attitude from the Justice Department in the weeks and months after the Mar-a-Lago search has dissipated. These recent actions…signal a new level of aggression.”
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Hugo Lowell [25:30]: “Conferring limited use immunity to Kash Patel was a real move that telegraphed…how much the Justice Department was zeroed in on Trump. You don’t give someone like Kash Patel use immunity if you really didn’t see a bigger fish.”
“Good News” Segment & Listener Mailbag
[28:25-end]
Fun & Uplifting Submissions:
- Viewer-submitted pet stories and pictures, light-hearted anecdotes, and a memorable story about a mom unwittingly calling a priest a profanity.
- Pet “tax” photos and witty banter keep things lively.
- AG drops a brief breaking news update: Special Counsel Jack Smith subpoenaed Rudy Giuliani regarding Trump’s post-election fundraising ([34:46]).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Dana, on George Santos [15:58]: “One of the sketchiest fuckers I have seen in a long time.”
- AG, on FEC cutoff [16:04]: “That’s what requires a receipt with details. $200 or more when you file with the FEC. So that’s why.”
- AG, on Biden documents [10:48]: “Nor did Biden then have his Diet Coke boy secretly move the documents to another location.”
- Hugo Lowell, on DOJ urgency [23:28]: “It really does seem like that kind of accommodating attitude from the Justice Department…has dissipated.”
- Dana, on the lighter side [30:45]: “Welcome to the light side, Max. Welcome to Wokeville.”
Important Segment Timestamps
| Topic | Timestamp | |-------|-----------| | Fulton County Grand Jury Report | [02:41] | | Scott Perry’s Recusal Refusal | [06:19] | | Biden Classified Documents | [09:06] | | George Santos FEC Complaint | [11:46] | | BREAKING: Hugo Lowell (DOJ & Trump Docs) | [17:35 – 27:19] | | Good News (Listener Mailbag) | [28:25] | | Jack Smith subpoenas Giuliani | [34:46] |
Overall Tone
Clever, irreverent, and urgent, the hosts blend deep knowledge of current events with sharp comedic timing, particularly in dissecting Republican misdeeds and legal maneuvering. The Hugo Lowell interview grounds the episode with clear-eyed reporting, while the closing segment infuses positivity and warmth.
Conclusion
A substantial episode rich in legal and political insight, focusing on Trump’s legal troubles, ongoing January 6th fallout, and the importance of process and transparency in government investigations. The exclusive with Hugo Lowell brings extra clarity to the latest twists in the classified documents saga. Listener contributions ensure a hopeful, community feel despite the serious news.