The Daily Beans – Episode: The Broligarchy | January 6, 2025

Hosted by MSW Media’s Allison Gill and Dana Goldberg, "The Daily Beans" delivers progressive news with a touch of snark, perfect for your morning commute. In this episode titled "The Broligarchy," released on January 6, 2025, Allison and Dana delve into a range of pressing political and social issues, offering insightful analysis and engaging discussion.

1. Election Certification and the Speaker of the House

Overview: Allison Gill opens the episode by outlining key topics, including the impending certification of the 2024 election and the election of Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House.

Key Points:

• Mike Johnson's Election: Mike Johnson secured the Speaker position on the first ballot with a narrow victory of 218 to 215 votes. This came after last-minute vote flips influenced by then-President Donald Trump, who reportedly pressured delegates to support Johnson.

  Allison Gill [03:06]: "Mike Johnson was elected speaker of the House. So we don't have to worry about what would happen today, Monday, as you're listening to this, if there wasn't a Speaker, because we have one."

• Election Certification: Vice President Kamala Harris is set to certify the election results. Allison anticipates potential objections from Democrats, primarily based on constitutional grounds, specifically referencing Section 3 of the 14th Amendment concerning Trump's eligibility.

  Dana Goldberg [04:16]: "Absolutely. Yep."

• Electoral Count Reform Act: The hosts discuss the impact of the Electoral Count Reform Act, which now requires a fifth of both the House and Senate to object to any single state’s electors, making it significantly harder to challenge election results.

  Allison Gill [04:17]: "It's a losing battle, but it's a battle that I would appreciate them fighting. Nonetheless, I'd like them to object on constitutional grounds because I believe Trump is ineligible under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment."

2. Trump’s Inauguration and the Influence of Billionaires (“The Broligarchy”)

Overview: Allison and Dana critique the significant financial backing President-elect Donald Trump is receiving from wealthy business leaders and tech moguls, coining the term "The Broligarchy" to describe this alliance between oligarchs and political power.

Key Points:

• Tim Cook’s Donation: Apple CEO Tim Cook donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural committee, joining a cohort of billionaires contributing substantial funds to secure Trump’s second inauguration.

  Allison Gill [12:21]: "Apple CEO Tim Cook, he plans to donate $1 million to President Elect Trump's inaugural committee."

• Other Notable Donations: High-profile figures and corporations, including Ken Griffin (Citadel), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Sam Altman (OpenAI), Mark Zuckerberg (Meta), and major car manufacturers like Toyota, Ford, and General Motors, each pledged $1 million to the inaugural fund.

  Dana Goldberg [12:22]: "And Jeff Bezos's company is expected to donate 1 million."

• Total Fundraising: The inaugural committee is projected to raise over $150 million, surpassing the previous record of $107 million set during Trump’s first inauguration in 2017.

  Dana Goldberg [15:05]: "The inaugural committee is projected to raise more than $150 million, breaking the previous fundraising record of 107 million."

• The Broligarchy: The term highlights the symbiotic relationship between Trump and billionaires, suggesting that their combined wealth ($340 billion) exceeds the GDP of over a dozen countries, raising concerns about undue influence on political processes.

  Allison Gill [16:34]: "We’re calling this the broligarchy, right?"

3. Legal Proceedings Against President-Elect Trump

Overview: The episode examines ongoing legal battles involving Donald Trump, focusing on Rudy Giuliani’s contempt hearings and the Judicial Conference’s decision regarding Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

Key Points:

• Rudy Giuliani’s Contempt Hearing: Rudy Giuliani took the stand in a contempt hearing last Friday, displaying uncooperative behavior by refusing to provide requested emails, which led to an extension of the hearing.

  Allison Gill [06:13]: "Rudy Giuliani was on the stand and he was just being a fucking contemptuous asshole."

• Judicial Conference and Clarence Thomas: A judicial organization declined to refer Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to the Department of Justice over allegations of undisclosed gifts and free travel. This decision was criticized as the Judicial Conference lacks authority over Supreme Court justices without clear congressional directive.

  Zoe Richards [Hot Notes, 03:06 onwards]: "The Judicial Conference does not superintend the Supreme Court and because any effort to grant the Conference such authority would raise serious constitutional questions."

• Judge Juan Merchan’s Ruling: Judge Merchan denied Trump’s motion to dismiss his 34-count felony conviction, setting the stage for potential sentencing on January 10, just days before Trump’s inauguration. The ruling emphasized the severity of Trump’s actions, describing them as "premeditated and continuous deception."

  Allison Gill [17:58]: "He was convicted... Judge Marchan wrote... 'premeditated and continuous deception by the leader of the free world.'"

  Dana Goldberg [17:48]: "I would be okay with that, by the way."

4. Utah County School Board’s Decision on Banned Books

Overview: Allison and Dana discuss the Cache Valley Board of Education’s recent vote to retain two contested books in school libraries—“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou and “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood—despite appeals to ban them.

Key Points:

• Board’s Vote: The school board voted to keep both books after committees reviewed and determined they did not meet the criteria for removal, despite parents’ objections citing explicit content.

  Dana Goldberg [20:22]: "Cache Valley Board of Education decided to keep two challenged books on school library shelves after denying an appeal to have the books removed."

• Public and Student Response: During the public forum, parents expressed concerns about explicit content, while students defended the books, referencing “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury to highlight the dangers of censorship.

  Dana Goldberg [22:05]: "Is it 451 or 451... students referencing "Fahrenheit 451."

• Educational Value: Educators and parents advocated for the educational importance of the books, emphasizing that difficult topics should be discussed rather than censored.

  Dana Goldberg [21:07]: "Let them learn. What a beautiful paragraph to explain that, isn't it?"

5. Listener Contributions and Good News

Overview: The hosts share uplifting stories and listener submissions, highlighting positive developments and personal achievements within the community.

Key Points:

• Student Loan Forgiveness: A listener named Laura shares her experience benefiting from Biden-era enhanced subsidies, enabling her to retire early despite a demanding career in local government.

  Dana Goldberg [37:08]: "I made my hunches 120th student loan payment the other day, and I quickly proceeded to file my application for forgiveness... over $200,000 will be forgiven."

• Marin Safe Routes to Schools Anniversary: Wendy celebrates the 25th anniversary of Marin Safe Routes to Schools, a program she co-founded to promote biking and walking to school, significantly reducing dependence on driving and enhancing infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists.

  Dana Goldberg [40:41]: "2025 marks the 25th anniversary of Marin Safe Routes to Schools... We were the pioneers for this."

• Positive Feedback: Listeners commend the hosts for their humanity and impactful storytelling, fostering a sense of community and solidarity.

  Allison Gill [36:41]: "Thank you, Beans Crew, for putting such wonderful content out for us."

6. Additional Discussions and Corrections

Overview: The episode also touches on technical topics and listener corrections, ensuring clarity and accuracy in the information presented.

Key Points:

• Net Neutrality Clarification: A listener named Patrick corrects the hosts on the definition of net neutrality, emphasizing its role in ensuring consistent content delivery speeds without favoritism.

  Dana Goldberg [31:51]: "Quote, net neutrality isn't as much about Internet speeds to subscribers as is about delivering content at consistent speeds."

• Myth-Busting: Allison and Dana debunk urban myths, such as the false rumor that Richard Gere had a gerbil in his butt, highlighting the importance of verifying information.

  Dana Goldberg [35:24]: "Gerbiling is a myth, by the way, which gained popularity in the 80s propelled by the Richard Gere rumors."

Conclusion

Allison Gill and Dana Goldberg provide a comprehensive and engaging analysis of significant political developments, legal battles, and social issues, all while fostering a supportive and interactive community among listeners. From dissecting the influence of billionaires in politics to celebrating local educational initiatives, "The Daily Beans" ensures that its audience stays informed and connected.

Notable Quotes:

• Allison Gill [04:16]: "I believe Trump is ineligible under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. If it's not for him, who's it for?"
• Dana Goldberg [12:22]: "They have a combined wealth exceeding $340 billion, larger than the GDP of more than a dozen countries."
• Allison Gill [17:58]: "He was convicted... 'premeditated and continuous deception by the leader of the free world.'"
• Dana Goldberg [21:07]: "Exposing pornography to minors is no trivial thing... This is not education. This has been and always will be abuse."

Join the Conversation: Listeners are encouraged to submit their own good news, corrections, and shoutouts via dailybeanspod.com. Share your stories, celebrate wins, and connect with a community that values progress and justice.