Podcast Summary: The Daily Beans
Episode: Refried Beans | The State of DC Statehood (feat. Meagan Hatcher-Mays) | 3/17/2021
Release Date: March 15, 2025

Hosts:

• A.G.
• Dana Goldberg

Guest:

• Megan Hatcher-Mays, Director of Democracy Policy for the Indivisible Project

Introduction and Top News Highlights

The episode opens with A.G. and Dana Goldberg greeting listeners and briefly discussing personal anecdotes related to St. Patrick’s Day. They swiftly transition into the day's major news topics, setting a progressive and engaging tone for the episode.

Key News Topics Discussed:

1. Cooperation of Jennifer Weisselberg:

   • A.G. highlights that Jennifer Weisselberg, daughter-in-law of Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg, is cooperating with prosecutors investigating Trump’s finances. He references a New Yorker article by Jane Mayer detailing her allegations against Donald Trump.
   • Quote (04:17): "She is committed to speaking the truth, no matter how difficult that may be." – Jennifer Weisselberg's attorney, Duncan Levy

2. Russian Interference in the 2020 Election:

   • Confirmation from Biden’s Office of the Director of National Intelligence that Russia attempted to influence the 2020 election through various disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining President Biden and the Democratic Party.
   • Quote (06:10): "The landmark Intelligence Report provides the most comprehensive assessment of foreign threats to the 2020 elections to date."

3. Biden Administration’s COVID-19 Preparedness:

   • Efforts to prevent a potential fourth surge of COVID-19 cases through vaccine distribution and public health measures.
   • Quote (07:16): "The White House is racing to prevent and prepare for a potential fourth coronavirus surge."

4. Corporate Opposition to Georgia's Voting Laws:

   • Major Georgia-based corporations like Coca-Cola and Home Depot oppose Republican-led voter suppression laws, aligning with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s stance against restrictive voting measures.
   • Quote (09:15): "There should be no silence from the business community when anyone in power is trying to strip away the right to vote from the people." – Senator Stacey Abrams

5. FBI Investigation into Brett Kavanaugh’s Confirmation:

   • Senator Sheldon Whitehouse alleges that the FBI's background check on Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was incomplete and possibly biased, urging Attorney General Garland to oversee a more thorough investigation.
   • Quote (13:36): "The tip line appears to have operated more like a garbage chute."

Humorous Interlude:

• A.G. and Dana discuss lighter topics, including Roger Stone’s fundraising efforts and his failed ventures, injecting humor into the episode.

In-Depth Interview: Megan Hatcher-Mays on DC Statehood and Court Reform

Introduction of Guest:

• A.G. welcomes Megan Hatcher-Mays, praising her expertise and the timely nature of her work.

1. The For the People Project

• Megan explains the mission of the For the People Project, which focuses on structural democracy reforms, including passing the For the People Act (HR1/S1) and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act (H.R.4), alongside advocating for DC statehood.
• Quote (18:27): "The for the People Project is really all about structural democracy reform... making D.C. the 51st state."

2. History and Importance of DC Statehood

• Megan delves into the historical struggles for DC statehood, emphasizing the systemic denial of political power due to DC’s predominantly POC demographic.
• Quote (23:35): "DC is mostly a democratic jurisdiction and they are calling it a partisan power grab to make DC a state."

3. Obstacles: Filibuster and Senate Dynamics

• The conversation shifts to the significant barrier posed by the filibuster in the Senate, necessitating 60 votes for passage of legislation like DC statehood.
• Megan discusses ongoing efforts within the Democratic Party to reform or eliminate the filibuster, with support emerging even from traditionally conservative Democrats like Dick Durbin.
• Quote (32:46): "The best path forward is just to get rid of it [the filibuster]."

4. Upcoming Oversight Hearing on DC Statehood

• A.G. and Megan anticipate the March 22 Oversight Committee hearing on DC statehood, expecting it to showcase the constitutional viability and financial stability of DC as a state.
• Quote (37:15): "There should be no silence from the business community when anyone in power is trying to strip away the right to vote from the people." – Senator Stacey Abrams

5. Court Reform and Brett Kavanaugh Investigation

• Megan outlines the urgent need for Supreme Court reform, including adding seats to counterbalance an extreme conservative majority and implementing ethics reforms.
• She criticizes the current Supreme Court's makeup and the challenges in addressing perceived injustices related to Justice Kavanaugh’s confirmation.
• Quote (45:44): "We need to see some ethics reforms for the Supreme Court in particular, but kind of federal judges across the board."

6. Strategies for Neutralizing Judicial Extremism

• Megan underscores the necessity of adding seats to the Supreme Court and lower federal courts to restore balance and diversity.
• She advocates for term limits and enhanced ethical standards to prevent long-term ideological domination by unelected, anti-democratic forces.
• Quote (47:09): "We need to add some seats to the lower courts, too, to make them more fair and restore a little bit more balance and increase diversity on the bench."

Good News Segment

The hosts transition to a heartfelt segment featuring listener submissions of good news, personal achievements, and adorable pet stories.

Notable Submissions:

1. Wedding Celebrations Amid COVID-19:

   • Trevor shares his experience of a Zoom wedding during the pandemic, highlighting resilience and joy despite logistical challenges.
   • Quote (55:23): "Having the Zoom wedding with family and friends was the most important part."

2. Academic Achievements:

   • An anonymous listener celebrates defending her doctoral dissertation on women’s history, inspiring others with her perseverance at 58.
   • Quote (59:05): "Defended my doctoral dissertation on March 8th. Perfect way to celebrate International Women's Day with a dissertation on women's history."

3. Pet Stories:

   • Amanda and others share endearing stories of their pets, emphasizing the comfort and companionship animals provide during challenging times.
   • Quote (60:22): "Pearl reached out and touched my hand. It was such a wonderful experience."

Closing Remarks:

• The hosts encourage listeners to continue sharing their positive stories and remind them to take care of their mental health and each other, wrapping up with warm wishes for St. Patrick’s Day.

Conclusion

This episode of The Daily Beans masterfully balances serious political discourse with lighthearted personal stories, providing listeners with both insightful analysis and uplifting content. The in-depth interview with Megan Hatcher-Mays offers a comprehensive look into the critical issues of DC statehood and court reform, highlighting the challenges and strategies for advancing democracy in the United States.

Notable Quote to Remember:

• "There should be no silence from the business community when anyone in power is trying to strip away the right to vote from the people." – Senator Stacey Abrams

Listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the structural barriers to DC statehood, the importance of Senate reform, and the ongoing efforts to create a more equitable and representative democracy.