Podcast Summary: The Daily Beans — "Refried | Servants of The Damned (feat. David Enrich)"
Release Date: September 15, 2022 (Republished September 14, 2025)
Host: Allison Gill (AG) | Guest: David Enrich
Episode Theme: A look back at critical legal and political headlines from September 2022, including the fallout from the Trump-Russia investigation, the FBI’s investigation into election breaches, judicial developments, and an in-depth interview with David Enrich on the unsettling influence of giant law firms like Jones Day on American justice and democracy.

Episode Overview

This episode offers a snapshot of major political and legal developments from September 2022, followed by a compelling interview with journalist David Enrich about his book, "Servants of the Damned: Giant Law Firms, Donald Trump, and the Corruption of Justice." The discussion explores the deep entanglement between powerful law firms and right-wing political movements, focusing on their outsized influence over the federal judiciary, regulatory practices, and democratic institutions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Major Headlines Recap ([00:45]–[11:43])

Durham Investigation Winds Down

• The highly anticipated Durham probe, initiated at Trump's urging in 2019 to investigate the "oranges" (origins) of the Trump-Russia inquiry, is concluding without delivering the scandal or prosecutions Trump and allies expected ([00:47]).
  • Key Insight: No significant indictments, mostly minor cases with little impact, and a likely propagandistic final report.
• Notable quote:

  “After Durham's team completes its report, it will be up to Attorney General Merrick Garland to decide whether to make its findings public. The report will be Mr. Durham's opportunity to present any evidence or conclusions that challenged the Justice Department's basis for opening the investigation… and it will also be full of propaganda and lies, I'm sure, as most of his filings have been.” — AG ([02:06])

Mike Lindell (Pillow Man) FBI Seizure

• FBI served Mike Lindell with a search warrant for his phone, as part of an investigation into the Mesa County, CO election security breach ([05:23]).
  • Lindell initially objected but handed over the phone, describing the agents as polite and non-confrontational.
  • Notable quote:

    “I want to say this. They were pretty nice guys. None of them had an attitude, pillow man said.” — AG quoting Lindell ([07:25])

Oath Keepers/Judge Amit Mehta

• Judge Mehta sharply rebukes Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes’ last-minute legal maneuvers before his seditious conspiracy trial.
  • Mehta questions the good faith of Rhodes’ special master request, calling it “mystifying” and rejects claims about lack of discovery ([09:10]).
  • Notable quote:

    “A special master request filed for no apparent purpose and for no apparent reason a week before trial is mystifying.” — Judge Mehta via AG ([10:30])

2. Interview with David Enrich — "Servants of the Damned" ([11:50]–[25:45])

Evolution of Big Law’s Relationship with Trump

• Jones Day’s extensive work for Trump and the GOP, its endurance as one of the last major firms to openly accept Trump-related work, and real-time influence in key legal battles, such as the special master selection in the Mar-a-Lago documents case.
  • Notable quote:

    “It’s just been very bizarre to see how the entire legal establishment has gone from being somewhat okay with Trump, to being not so okay with Trump. … Jones Day, one of the lone holdouts, as recently as a month or two ago was still receiving money from him.” — David Enrich ([12:28])

Aggressive & Borderline Tactics by Major Law Firms

• Enrich details Jones Day’s and other firms’ ethically questionable methods, including:
  • Intimidation of plaintiffs and whistleblowers in tobacco litigation.
  • Abusive legal strategies against families harmed by baby formula.
  • Using government connections to delay or derail investigations (e.g., Walmart opioid case).
  • Notable quote:

    “In one case study involving Abbott Labs… a federal judge told me there were very abusive practices as Jones Day tried to steamroll families whose infants had been brain damaged after consuming powdered formula.” — David Enrich ([15:34])

Revolving Door: Law Firms and Federal Government

• The seamless movement of Jones Day lawyers into top Trump administration posts, and back into private practice, leveraged to benefit their corporate clients through access and influence inside government agencies.
  • Example: Access gained for clients like Walmart, and influence on criminal justice and regulation ([16:46]).

Judicial Shaping and Federalist Society Connections

• Don McGahn, ex-Jones Day partner, and the firm’s pivotal role in selecting and advancing Trump’s judicial nominations — a lasting legacy shaping the bench for generations ([20:09]).
  • Notable quote:

    “Jones Day, along with the Federalist Society, was playing a pivotal role in vetting and selecting a group of high-powered judicial nominees... And once Trump got elected, McGahn was named his White House counsel... and had virtually unfettered authority.” — David Enrich ([21:00])

  • Social ties between Jones Day and justices: Amy Coney Barrett’s attendance at a Jones Day partner’s 50th birthday shortly after Roe was overturned (23:00).

Ideological Drive vs. Money

• While financial motivation is present, Enrich emphasizes the ideological nature — especially conservative Catholicism — behind Jones Day’s leaders and their commitment to shaping law and society according to that worldview ([23:54]).
  • Notable quote:

    “Jones Day’s leader and for the very most part, the people surrounding him at the top of the law firm are conservative Catholics who have a very clear worldview. And it’s a worldview that aligns almost perfectly with those of the justices and the federal judges that were selected and are now going to be with us for generations to come.” — David Enrich ([24:06])

Host Reflection and Closing

• AG reacts strongly to the intertwining of ideology and power-seeking:
  • Notable quote:

    “It’s interesting that these conservative Catholics would use someone like a Donald Trump… to help advance their agenda. And then their agenda includes things that hurt people. It’s just absolutely beyond me how they square that circle, you know?” — AG ([25:00])

Memorable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• "The report will be Mr. Durham’s opportunity to present any evidence or conclusions that challenged the Justice Department’s basis for opening the investigation… and it will also be full of propaganda and lies, I’m sure, as most of his filings have been." — AG ([02:06])
• "I want to say this. They were pretty nice guys. None of them had an attitude, pillow man said." — AG quoting Lindell ([07:25])
• "A special master request filed for no apparent purpose and for no apparent reason a week before trial is mystifying." — Judge Mehta via AG ([10:30])
• "And it’s a worldview that aligns almost perfectly with those of the justices and the federal judges that were selected and are now going to be with us for generations to come." — David Enrich ([24:06])
• "It’s interesting that these conservative Catholics would use someone like a Donald Trump… to help advance their agenda. And then their agenda includes things that hurt people. It’s just absolutely beyond me how they square that circle, you know?" — AG ([25:00])

Important Timestamps & Segments

• [00:45]–[11:43]: News Recap — Durham investigation, FBI targets Mike Lindell, Oath Keepers trial developments
• [11:50]: Introduction to David Enrich interview
• [12:03]–[25:45]: Interview with David Enrich on "Servants of the Damned"
  • [12:28]: Jones Day’s ongoing relationship with Trump/GOP
  • [15:34]: Aggressive legal tactics/abuses
  • [16:46]: Use of DC connections for clients
  • [20:09]: Judicial nominations and Don McGahn’s legacy
  • [23:54]: Ideological underpinnings of Jones Day’s leadership
  • [25:00]: AG’s reflection on ideology and power

Summary Takeaways

• The episode provides a penetrating look at how high-level legal, political, and business interests intersect in America’s justice system.
• The Durham investigation fizzled out, failing to produce desired results for Trump.
• The FBI's widened probe into election security included the high-profile seizure of Mike Lindell's phone.
• Stewart Rhodes and Oath Keepers' trials preview the difficult terrain ahead for January 6 defendants.
• David Enrich’s interview starkly details how giant law firms like Jones Day, motivated by ideology as much as profit, have altered the landscape of American justice — from influencing legislation and regulation to reshaping the federal judiciary for a generation.
• The lines between legal ethics, political ideology, and the pursuit of power have blurred alarmingly.

Recommended for listeners concerned about the rule of law, judicial independence, and the unseen power of elite legal institutions in American democracy.