The Daily Beans: "Tax On. Tax Off." (feat. Miles Taylor) – Episode Summary

Release Date: June 5, 2025
Host/Authors: Allison Gill and Dana Goldberg
Guest: Miles Taylor

Introduction

In the June 5, 2025 episode of The Daily Beans, hosts Allison Gill and Dana Goldberg delve into a myriad of pressing news topics, intertwining political discourse with social justice insights. The episode, titled "Tax On. Tax Off." and featuring former Department of Homeland Security Chief of Staff Miles Taylor, offers listeners a comprehensive analysis of current events, legislative developments, and personal narratives that underscore the ongoing political climate in the United States.

Major News Topics Discussed

1. Legal and Judicial Updates

a. Abrego Garcia Case: Allison Gill opens the discussion by highlighting a significant legal development where Judge Sinis has granted a motion to unseal documents related to Abrego Garcia. Additionally, the judge approved Garcia’s lawyers' motion to file for sanctions against the Trump administration for failing to comply with discovery requests.

• Allison Gill (00:37): "Judge Sinis has granted a motion to unseal Abrego Garcia documents and grants his lawyers their motion to file for sanctions against the government."

b. Democratic Lawsuit Against Trump’s FEC Order: The hosts discuss the dismissal of a Democratic lawsuit that challenged President Trump's executive order affecting the Federal Election Commission's independence.

• Allison Gill (10:03): "A federal judge has dismissed a Democratic Party lawsuit claiming an executive order issued by President Trump was intruding on the independence of the Federal Election Commission."

c. Assault Charges Against Tennessee Assistant District Attorney: The episode covers the troubling charges against Quinn Rodriguez, an assistant district attorney from Rutherford County, who faces multiple counts of domestic and aggravated assault.

• Allison Gill (13:59): "Quinn Rodriguez... had assaulted a woman, waving a gun around as a threat to kill the victim and then hitting her with it."

d. Federal Appeals Court on Department of Education Layoffs: A unanimous decision by the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a judge’s ruling that blocks the Trump administration from dismantling the Department of Education.

• Miles Taylor (14:16): "A federal appeals court declined to lift a judge's ruling that blocked the Trump administration from effectively shutting down the Department of Education."

2. Economic Concerns

a. US Inflation Data Accuracy: The hosts express concerns over the reliability of recent U.S. inflation data, citing staffing shortages at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) that have hindered the ability to conduct comprehensive monthly surveys.

• Allison Gill (06:50): "Economists say the staffing shortage raises questions about the quality of recent and coming inflation reports."

b. Trump’s Steel Tariffs and UK Exemption: Discussion centers on President Trump enacting a 50% steel and aluminum tariff, followed by a temporary exemption for the United Kingdom under the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD).

• Allison Gill (09:00): "The UK has been temporarily spared from... steel and aluminum tariffs from 25% to 50 because taco, taco, taco."

3. Political Developments

a. Election of Keshan Scott in South Carolina: A spotlight on young Democrat Keshan Scott's significant victory in a South Carolina state House race, defeating his Republican opponent by a landslide.

• Miles Taylor (04:53): "Scott won by 41 points. He is now the youngest member of the South Carolina's House, which is still unfortunately dominated by Republicans."

b. South Korea’s Liberal Party Victory: The Liberal Party candidate Lee Jae Meng's election as South Korea's president marks a pivotal shift in the nation’s political landscape following backlash against the previous administration's martial law decree.

• Allison Gill (15:10): "South Korea's Liberal Party candidate Lee Jae Meng was elected president in Tuesday's snap election..."

4. Healthcare Policies

a. Rescinding Biden’s Emergency Abortion Guidance: The Trump administration has officially revoked the Biden-era policy that mandated hospitals to provide emergency abortions to stabilize patients' health, even in states with restrictive abortion laws.

• Allison Gill (10:14): "The Trump administration has rescinded Biden era guidance requiring hospitals to provide emergency abortions when necessary to stabilize a patient's health, even in states that ban the procedure."

5. Cultural and Social Impact

a. Decline in Kennedy Center Subscriptions: A notable 36% drop in subscription sales at the Kennedy Center since President Trump’s administration took over, suggesting a broader cultural backlash.

• Allison Gill (16:10): "Sales of subscriptions for the coming season of programming at the Kennedy center have fallen by almost $1.6 million, or roughly 36% compared with last year."

Host Conversations and Highlights

1. Bailout Bill and Elon Musk’s Reaction:

Allison Gill and Miles Taylor discuss the controversial bailout bill dubbed the "We're All Gonna Die Bill," which has elicited strong opposition from figures like Elon Musk, who has demanded the firing of lawmakers who supported it.

• Allison Gill (02:34): "We are gonna die Bill... Elon has really blown up Twitter about how much he hates this thing, and he wants everyone who voted for it to be fired."

2. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Handling of Legislative Process:

A candid critique of Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene's approach to legislative duties, particularly her admission of not reading bills before making public statements.

• Miles Taylor (03:28): "That's what you have staffers for. But someone needs to read the fucking bill."

3. 'Gay of the Day' Segment:

Miles Taylor introduces a new series highlighting significant LGBTQ figures, celebrating icons like Audre Lorde and Bayard Rustin, and emphasizes the importance of allies in advancing social justice.

• Miles Taylor (03:48): "So the gay of the day, as you're listening to this on Thursday, is Audre Lorde."

Guest Interview: Miles Taylor

a. Targeted by Trump Administration: Miles Taylor discusses being specifically named in President Trump’s executive order, which directed federal investigations into his actions and stripped him of security clearances. He elaborates on the personal and professional ramifications of these actions.

• Allison Gill (22:22): "Miles Taylor sent a letter... to investigate whether anyone at DOJ or DHS had acted unlawfully in response to Trump's April 9th order."

b. Impact on Personal Life: Taylor shares the profound personal impact, including losing his job and becoming a full-time stay-at-home dad due to the executive order. He highlights the broader implications of social isolation tactics employed by the administration to silence dissent.

• Miles Taylor (26:21): "But socially, it's been devastating... there have been... some close friends... who've said to me and my wife, hey, we need to step back until this blows over."

c. Legal Actions and Whistleblower Aid: He details his legal strategy, including collaborating with Whistleblower Aid to challenge the executive orders and seeking support through legal defense funds.

• Miles Taylor (30:43): "Whistleblower Aid... has launched something called endpresidentialrevenge.org, a legal defense fund for us to be able to do this."

d. Broader Implications for Free Speech: Taylor warns of the dangers posed by such executive actions to free speech and democratic principles, urging listeners to recognize and combat these erosions of constitutional rights.

• Miles Taylor (35:16): "It's so clear from the dozens of federal judges who've now struck down unconstitutional orders from this administration that they are engaged in unlawful activity."

Good News and Listener Submissions

The episode transitions to a lighter segment where listeners share uplifting stories, adorable pet photos, and positive community initiatives. Highlights include:

• Pronunciation Corrections: Clarifying that "chetta" is pronounced with a hard "K" sound.

  • Allison Gill (43:56): "Ketta is an Italian word for fork. It's pronounced with a hard K for ketta."

• Pet Highlights: Featuring pictures and stories of listener pets, including a great horned owl fledgling and lovable mixed-breed dogs.

• Community Groups: Shoutouts to supportive Facebook groups like "Pot Smoking Atheists who Love Dogs," fostering inclusivity and positivity.

• Humorous Anecdotes: Tales of long wait times on the Social Security hotline juxtaposed with brief, effective conversations, adding humor to daily frustrations.

Conclusion

Allison Gill and Dana Goldberg wrap up the episode by encouraging listeners to engage in activism, support whistleblowers, and stay informed. They emphasize the importance of community support and resilience in the face of political and social challenges, leaving listeners with a blend of critical insights and heartwarming stories.

Notable Quotes:

• Allison Gill (06:50): "Economists say the staffing shortage raises questions about the quality of recent and coming inflation reports."

• Miles Taylor (14:16): "A federal appeals court declined to lift a judge's ruling that blocked the Trump administration from effectively shutting down the Department of Education."

• Dana Goldberg (24:36): "There's nothing right now stopping the President... from signing executive orders from him, launching investigations into anyone."

• Allison Gill (33:27): "I think it's amazing that first of all, testing those guardrails. And I think DOJ inspector general is still the same guy, right."

The Daily Beans continues to provide progressive news coverage, blending in-depth analysis with engaging conversations. For more information, visit mswmedia.com.