The Daily Beans – Refried Beans | Sliding Into Donald's DMs | August 16, 2023
Episode Date: August 17, 2025 (Airing Refried Beans from August 17, 2023)
Hosts: Allison Gill (AG), Dana Goldberg
Theme: A rapid-fire breakdown of major political and social justice news stories, with a focus on reproductive rights, Trump investigations, judicial scandals, and ongoing battles for democracy—with plenty of sharp humor and unfiltered commentary.
Overview
In this “Refried Beans” episode, hosts Allison Gill and Dana Goldberg revisit a Daily Beans episode from August 17, 2023, providing a time capsule of progressive analysis and snark on a week packed with breaking news: updates on Trump investigations, abortion rights victories, judicial scandals in Kansas, corruption in political fundraising, and the latest on President Biden's response to Maui wildfires. The episode’s throughline is a celebration of continued resistance against anti-abortion forces and political corruption, punctuated by accountability updates and moments of levity from listener submissions.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Breaking Legal & Political News – [00:45]
-
Trump Investigations:
- Fulton County DA Fani Willis set arraignments for Trump’s RICO case (all 19 defendants) on Sept 5, 2023 (coincidentally the same day as Peter Navarro’s contempt trial).
- Willis requested a March 4, 2024 trial—right before Super Tuesday, potentially maximizing political consequences.
- An overview of Trump’s legal calendar described as “just news story after news story breaking.”
- Summary of the DOJ’s ongoing appeal regarding the Fifth Circuit’s restriction on mailing mifepristone, a key abortion pill.
- “I honestly think the DOJ will win even with this Supreme Court. But we'll see.” – Allison Gill [03:28]
-
Biden to Maui:
- President Biden delayed his visit to Maui to avoid disrupting aid. “He said the soonest we can go without disrupting the aid getting to the island.” – AG [03:01]
2. Trump Twitter Account Search Warrant – [04:08]
- Jack Smith’s Probe:
- Special counsel Jack Smith obtained a sweeping search warrant for Trump’s Twitter (now “X”) data — DMs, drafts, location info, associated/burner accounts, device and IP login data, and deleted tweets [05:11].
- Twitter fought the order, drawing $350k in fines and a lashing from Judge Beryl Howell for “unprecedented steps to protect Trump” over other users.
- Memorable Quotes:
- “Is this to make Donald Trump feel like he is a particularly welcomed new renewed user of Twitter?” – Judge Howell [05:51]
- “You don't even know the half about the very warrant you are coming here to delay the execution of.” – Judge Howell [09:05]
- DOJ used a 2703(d) order, allowing them to collect third-party digital data without notifying the subject.
- Twitter claimed potential executive privilege concerns, which Howell dismissed: “Trump was unlikely to be doing government business with senior aides via Twitter DM and also it’s his privilege to raise, not yours, Elon.” – AG [08:17]
3. Kansas Magistrate Judge Scandal and Illegal Newspaper Raid – [10:10]
- Key Events:
- Judge Laura Vier, who approved the controversial police raid on the Marion County Record, has a hidden history of DUIs (2012), which she failed to fully disclose — casting the legality and ethics of the raid in doubt.
- Local officials’ convoluted ties and conflicts of interest magnified suspicions of retaliation and corruption.
- Hosts’ Commentary:
- “How do you have a whole alias? I mean, I'm not judging if you change your name…But a whole different one. Why? That's sketch.” – AG [13:32]
- “All of this sounds some weird retribution for something, clearly.” – Dana [17:27]
- Notable Moments:
- The judge was prosecuted by friends and colleagues who later recused themselves; vital records on the second DUI case vanished from court files.
- The warrant was withdrawn only after the illegal raid had already occurred, and the hosts highlight the tragic death of journalist Joan Meyer as a consequence.
4. George Santos Fundraiser Indicted for Impersonation – [17:30]
- Details:
- Sam Miley, former Santos fundraiser, indicted for impersonating Kevin McCarthy’s chief of staff to solicit donations—“faking my identity to a big donor” (in writing).
- Each wire fraud count carries up to 20 years (4 counts + one identity theft charge).
- “Well, here comes the risk part. And, you know, this is the find out phase of your high risk, high reward scheme.” – AG [19:39]
- Santos was not charged in this indictment, but the hosts note overlap with his own legal troubles.
5. Abortion Rights Unbeaten at Ballot Box since Dobbs – [20:49]
- Trend:
- Since Roe was overturned (June 24, 2022), abortion rights have prevailed on every ballot question in seven states, including red ones; every GOP effort to restrict rights has failed.
- “Every time this is an issue, the candidate has lost. The measure has lost. People are fired up. Gen Z is tired of this part. They, they fuck off. Don’t tell me what to do with my bodies.” – Dana [21:55]
6. Listener Good News & Community Submissions – [22:48]
(A signature Beans feature: levity, pet photos, and activism highlights)
- Pronunciation Debates:
- Clarification on the name “Voigt” (pronounced foigt, and means ‘humidity’ in German).
- Personal Triumphs:
- Listener Jenny in Cincinnati celebrates submitting her tenure dossier:
- “I’m feeling like Inigo Montoya and I just killed Count Rugen. ... So maybe give me a fuck yeah. All right.” – Jenny (read by AG) [25:15]
- “Fuck yeah, Jenny.” – Dana [25:45]
- Listener Jenny in Cincinnati celebrates submitting her tenure dossier:
- Podpet/Adoptable Pet Showcase:
- Listeners share pics and stories about dogs Benny, Ellie, Indy (short for “indictment”), and a Tampa dog needing rescue.
- Radical Hospitality & Banned Books:
- Tracy S. shares her Iowa church’s instant response to a book ban—turning the church into a “banned book library” exemplifying “Radical hospitality.” [29:15]
Timestamps of Major Segments
- News Headlines Rundown: 00:45 – 04:08
- Twitter Search Warrant/Trump Investigation: 04:08 – 10:10
- Kansas Judge Scandal/Marion County Raid: 10:10 – 17:30
- George Santos Fundraiser Indictment: 17:30 – 20:49
- Abortion Rights Ballot Victories: 20:49 – 22:48
- Listener Good News & Podpets: 22:48 – 31:08
Memorable Quotes (with Attribution & Timestamps)
- “I honestly think the DOJ will win even with this Supreme Court. But we'll see.” – Allison Gill [03:28]
- “Is this to make Donald Trump feel like he is a particularly welcomed new renewed user of Twitter?” – Judge Beryl Howell (quoted by AG) [05:51]
- “You don't even know the half about the very warrant you are coming here to delay the execution of.” – Judge Beryl Howell (quoted by AG) [09:05]
- “Well, here comes the risk part. And, you know, this is the find out phase of your high risk, high reward scheme.” – Allison Gill [19:39]
- “Every time this is an issue, the candidate has lost. The measure has lost. People are fired up. Gen Z is tired of this part. They, they fuck off. Don’t tell me what to do with my bodies.” – Dana Goldberg [21:55]
- “How do you have a whole alias?...That's sketch.” – Allison Gill [13:32]
- “All of this sounds some weird retribution for something, clearly.” – Dana Goldberg [17:27]
- “Fuck yeah, Jenny.” – Dana Goldberg and AG [25:45]
Tone and Style
- Conversational, irreverent, and often caustic—blending hard news with witty asides
- Language is direct and explicit (“Republicans who are fucked,” “sketchy as fuck,” “find out phase of your high risk, high reward scheme”)
- Encourages activism, solidarity, and community-building through both activism and everyday joys (pets, banned book efforts, shout-outs)
Conclusion
This Refried Beans episode captures the urgency, cynicism, and hopefulness animating progressive resistance in 2023. Gill and Goldberg juggle hard-hitting updates from the Trump legal saga, judicial corruption in Kansas, the ongoing threat to reproductive rights, and victories at the grassroots and ballot box. The listener segment closes the show on a high note, with successes, activism, and adorable podpet pics. The episode stands as both a time capsule of democratic struggles and a real-time antidote—reminding listeners, “We will not forget” what’s at stake.
For a rich and relatable progressive news fix—full of snark, substance, and community—this episode delivers.