The Daily Beans — "The 64 Percent"
February 5, 2026 | Hosts: Allison Gill & Dana Goldberg | MSW Media

Overview

This episode of The Daily Beans delivers a packed rundown of the latest major political stories with the usual cocktail of insight, humor, and righteous indignation. Hosts Allison Gill and Dana Goldberg traverse headline news, including a bombshell whistleblower report implicating Tulsi Gabbard, major newsroom layoffs at The Washington Post, the meltdown of Trump-era immigration policy, Republican pushback against Trump’s immigration camps—even from red districts—and how the Supreme Court is handling California’s new electoral maps. The episode consistently emphasizes truth-telling and the importance of activism, concluding with an especially heartfelt and spirited "Good News" segment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. California’s Prop 50 Maps: Supreme Court Refuses GOP Appeal

[00:57, 21:16 – 23:03]

• SCOTUS declined to block California’s new congressional map, which could net Democrats five House seats.
• Allison critiques headlines implying the maps “favor Democrats,” clarifying public approval and comparing it to Texas’s gerrymandering.
• “The Supreme Court…just denied certiorari. Right. They didn't even give any dissents or any reasons. They were just like, we're not even going to hear your arguments.” (B, 22:50)
• The move is seen as a significant, if rare, win for fair mapping amid frequent GOP-led gerrymanders.

2. Harry Dunn Running for Congress in Maryland

[02:49 – 03:16, 38:38]

• Harry Dunn—former Capitol Police officer turned activist—is running to succeed Steny Hoyer.
• Hosts enthusiastically encourage audience support, highlighting Dunn’s platform and symbolic significance post-Jan 6.

3. Washington Post Layoffs and Media Challenges

[04:23 – 06:09]

• One third of WaPo staff laid off, major sections cut.
• Jeff Bezos, owner, faces fierce criticism for lavish personal spending while gutting the newsroom:
  • “Dude could pay everybody's salary until the end of time and still have $240 billion left over.” (B, 05:00)
• Highlights the increasing necessity of independent media and encourages listeners to support such entities.

4. The Tulsi Gabbard/DNI Whistleblower Complaint

[06:13 – 10:26]

• A highly-classified whistleblower report, implicating DNI Tulsi Gabbard and “probably Donald Trump,” finally reaches Congress after an eight-month delay.
• The complaint alleges politically-motivated suppression of intelligence and failure to report potential crimes to the DOJ.
• Lawyer Andrew Bakai (representing the whistleblower) criticizes the bureaucratic stonewalling:
  • “It does not take eight months to get something like this to the Hill.” (Bakai, paraphrased by B, 09:31)
• Allison announces an upcoming interview with Bakai for a deep-dive.

5. Justice Department’s Overwhelmed Immigration Lawyers

[10:26 – 14:28]

• DOJ attorneys, notably Julie Lee, are overwhelmed by Minnesota’s immigration crisis—over 80 habeas petitions in one month.
• Lee’s anguished courtroom outburst:
  • “The system sucks, this job sucks, and I’m trying every breath that I have so that I can get you what you need… Sometimes I wish you would just hold me in contempt, your honor, so that I can have a full 24 hours of sleep.” (Julie Lee, 10:49)
• Systemic breakdown between ICE and DOJ; rampant defiance of court orders and alleged racial profiling compound the crisis.

6. Massive Blowback Against Trump’s “Prison Camp” Immigration Plan

[15:00 – 18:05]

• ICE is planning to buy/retrofit huge new detention warehouses, even in deep-red districts.
• Local Republican officials and residents in Virginia, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Utah push back hard—sometimes citing humanitarian grounds.
• Quote: “64% of Americans oppose keeping large numbers of immigrants in detention centers while their cases are decided.” (B, 17:56)
• The “64 percent” figure signals a surprising national consensus against mass detention, including in MAGA country.

7. Ed Martin’s DOJ Leaks and Demotion

[18:05 – 19:54]

• DOJ’s Ed Martin leaked grand jury materials in investigations of Trump’s political foes (e.g., Adam Schiff, Letitia James).
• Was demoted and assigned to a marginal role after being caught:
  • “He went from weaponization czar, Assistant Deputy Attorney General…to just the pardon attorney. Now he’s just selling pardons for Donald Trump.” (B, 19:43, 19:56)

8. Congressional Precedent: Subpoenaing Former Presidents and First Ladies

[20:02 – 21:11]

• Bill and Hillary Clinton agree to testify before the House; Democrats warn GOP that this sets a precedent:
  • “We’re absolutely going to have Donald Trump testify under oath when Democrats take back power.” (Rep. Ted Lieu, 20:42)
• Segment reveals growing willingness by both parties to target former officials in congressional probes.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Media Layoffs:
  “Very upsetting, very sad. So we're going to be having to rely on independent media more and more. So thanks for listening to the Daily Beans.” (B, 06:09)
• On the DOJ Immigration Crisis:
  “She told U.S. district Judge Jerry Blackwell…that she was so overwhelmed that she'd already attempted to quit…She's already listed as government counsel on more than 80 habeas corpus petitions filed by immigrants. Holy. No wonder she needs some rest.” (C, 14:28)
• On Red-State Pushback:
  “The Republican mayor of Oklahoma City came out against a proposed ICE warehouse, with the owner also nixing the sale. Officials…are also dead set against plans for ICE camps in their locales. The pushback has come together surprisingly quickly.” (B, 17:08)
• On the Whistleblower Story Process:
  “It does not take eight months to get something like this to the Hill.” (Andrew Bakai via B, 09:31)

Good News Segment

(Starts at 27:36)

Highlights

• Encouraging listeners to submit personal good news, activist victories, shoutouts, and “microdoses of hope.”
• Stories include:
  • Listener art projects addressing ICE brutality (31:28).
  • Anecdotes of activism and protest, cross-generational family participation (38:19).
  • Listeners donating to Harry Dunn’s campaign (38:38).
  • Profound gratitude for public assistance and healthcare (40:14), support of LGBTQ rights, stories of resilience, and community involvement.
• Standout message from Cheyenne about receiving health care and love from her adoptive moms:
  • “…Thank you to the two wonderful women who adopted me. I call them mom and Mommy…This is such a beautiful submission for pod pet tariff.” (C, 40:14)

Notable Quotes from Listeners

• “I broke the cycle today and wanted to share it with you two who give us so much hope while inspiring us to be brave.” (Wendy, 42:55)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:57] News headlines rundown
• [02:49] Harry Dunn Congressional campaign announcement
• [04:23] Washington Post layoffs
• [06:13 – 10:26] Whistleblower complaint (Tulsi Gabbard, Trump)
• [10:26] DOJ/ICE Immigration cases — Julie Lee’s testimony
• [15:00] Trump’s migrant warehouse plans spark bipartisan rural backlash
• [18:05] Ed Martin DOJ leak scandal
• [20:02] Democrats warn: Precedent set on subpoenaing ex-Presidents
• [21:16 – 23:03] Supreme Court allows California’s Prop 50 maps; implications
• [27:36] Good News segment (listener stories, activism, hope)

Tone & Style

• Voice: Conversational, irreverent, determinedly progressive
• Mood: Cautiously optimistic with characteristic snark
• Noted for: Empowering listeners, mixing heavy news with bite-sized “good news,” maintaining community engagement

Summary

This episode exemplifies The Daily Beans’s unique blend of progressive news coverage, pointed political commentary, and uplifting listener interaction. From whistleblower drama and the slow-motion collapse of Trump-era immigration enforcement, to unexpected local resistance against authoritarian policies—even among Republican officials—the show highlights both urgent challenges and authentic pockets of hope. A key theme is the critical role of independent media and grassroots activism amid institutional decay. The “64 percent” of Americans opposing mass immigrant detention is a recurring through-line, giving the episode its title and an optimistic charge. The “Good News” segment, meanwhile, showcases the power of community, mutual aid, and listener resilience.

[End of summary — for full context, listen to The Daily Beans, Feb 5, 2026: “The 64 Percent”]