The Daily Beans – August 27, 2025

Episode Title: Too Slow Chicken Marengo
Guest: Mrs. Frazzled (former teacher, host: Teacher Quit Talk)
Hosts: Allison Gill ("AG"), Dana Goldberg ("DG")
Network: MSW Media

Episode Overview

This episode dives into a whirlwind of breaking progressive news—legal setbacks for the Trump administration, escalating attacks on federal agencies and democratic institutions, and new threats to immigration and voting rights. Allison and Dana pair their signature snark with deep concern as they discuss the latest developments, before Allison interviews education advocate and viral creator Mrs. Frazzled about the GOP's privatization push and the dismantling of public education. The show closes with hope: listener-submitted good news and community shoutouts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Opening Banter: Energy, Community, and Recent Events

• Both hosts admit to exhaustion from the relentless pace of news, but promise a lively show ("We're gonna pull it together... it's the Beans." – AG, 01:23).
• Allison plugs a recent live video podcast with Politics Girl, Heather Cox Richardson, and others, highlighting the sense of community and insight it brought (02:21).

Hot Notes: Breaking News Roundup

1. Jack Smith's Legal Team Pushes Back

• Jack Smith, former Special Counsel investigating Trump, fires back at conservative ethics accusations, calling them "imaginary and unfounded" (03:10).
• The Hatch Act explained; the Trump family's frequent violations are ridiculed.
• "For months, Mr. Smith has remained silent as the president... publicly attacked him..." – AG (03:11)
• Allison will analyze Smith's detailed response with Andy McCabe on the Unjustified podcast (05:00).

2. FEMA Crisis & Politicization

• Over 180 FEMA employees warn Congress that Trump’s appointees lack qualifications, risk returning the agency to a "pre-Katrina era".
• Chilling quote from the letter:

  "Our shared commitment to our country, our oaths of office... compel us to warn Congress and the American people of the cascading effects..." – FEMA staff letter (06:32)

• A new restrictive spending policy delays disaster response; leadership accused of prioritizing personal interests (07:55).

3. Immigration: Neighborhood Checks Return

• Trump administration revives invasive "neighborhood checks" on immigrants, last used before 1991 (08:13).
• AG lambasts the program as "another one of those snitch on your neighbor programs" and "so Nazi" (08:48).
• The broader context: applicants already undergo rigorous checks; this adds fear and intimidation.

4. Election Integrity Unit Under Siege

• Heather Honey, an election conspiracy theorist, appointed to a new elections role at DHS (10:03).
• AG and DG deeply concerned about undermining trust in voter registration, especially withdrawal from the nonpartisan ERIC system.
• "Anyone Cleta Mitchell likes is also awful." – AG (12:05)

5. Trump Fires Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook

• Trump attempts to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook over dubious "mortgage fraud" allegations.
• Cook and her attorney vow to fight the action:

  "President Trump purported to fire me for cause when no cause exists under the law..." – Lisa Cook (13:33)

• Despite a recent Supreme Court ruling barring such firings, hosts worry the court may side with Trump anyway.

6. Mail-In Ballot Win in Pennsylvania

• Federal appeals court rules mail-in ballots without correct dates in PA cannot be discarded (14:38).
• The ruling could boost Democratic votes in a key swing state.
• "So obvious—they just don’t want people to be able to vote." – AG (16:10)

7. Trump’s Lawsuit Against Maryland Judges Tossed

• Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, harshly rejects Trump’s lawsuit against all Maryland federal judges.
• Notable judicial rebuke:

  "This concerted effort by the executive to smear and impugn individual judges... is both unprecedented and unfortunate." – Judge Cullen (17:10)

8. Carrie Lake Faces Court-Ordered Deposition

• Senior Judge Lamberth orders Carrie Lake to testify under oath regarding her efforts to undermine Voice of America (18:12).
• Judge scolds DoJ for their "hide the ball" legal tactics (19:58).

Transition to feature interview with Mrs. Frazzled at 21:45.

Featured Interview: Mrs. Frazzled on Privatization of Education

[Starts at 22:38]

Department of Education: What’s at Stake?

• Mrs. Frazzled explains the Department was founded to ensure every child gets a fair chance at education—"rich or poor, black or white, disabled, able-bodied..." (24:07).
• Chronic underfunding and attempts to offload responsibility to states undermine the mission.
• The Trump administration pushes "off the wall shit nobody's ever said would help education... they're just going on extremist vibes alone" – Mrs. Frazzled (24:45).

Vouchers & Privatization Cycle

• AG and Mrs. Frazzled unpack the voucher system as a mechanism to drain public funds and enrich private schools (25:08).
• "It’s money going to the most marginalized groups... If we don’t have that money... you're going to see things like property taxes rise... and states just don’t have it." – Mrs. Frazzled (26:45)
• The reason for federal oversight: "We needed federal intervention to desegregate schools... to educate disabled students equitably..." – Mrs. Frazzled (27:43).

Risks of State Control

• Without federal guardrails, states can (and have) mismanaged or discriminated in education—e.g., Ryan Walters in Oklahoma spends $1.6 million on Bibles instead of actual education (29:49).
• "You can't... be left to your own devices, sir." – Mrs. Frazzled (31:11)

Core Insight

• Education is inherently political; controlling the narrative in schools shapes the future electorate.
• "If you look throughout history, education controls the narrative, it controls the future electorate..." – Mrs. Frazzled (32:57)

On Charlie Kirk: Satirical Roast

• Mrs. Frazzled and AG lampoon right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk’s extremism, labeling him "mediocre white men with a lot to say, big old mouth and bad ideas" (34:08).
• Running joke on right-wing outrage over Cracker Barrel's logo changes.
• On debates: "I’d be like, yeah, but you’re dumb." – AG (34:42)

Woke, Gender, and School Culture Wars

• They skewer conservative obsession over the definition of "woke" and what defines a woman, using humor and biology ("Well, seahorses, the men carry the babies…" – Mrs. Frazzled, 37:12).
• AG’s favorite response: "Somebody who would cover their drink when you come in." (37:49)

Wrapping Up

• Mrs. Frazzled shares her Substack where she posts deep-dive essays on education and politics.
• Joke about being "clipped" by right-wing media ("I'll be on Ben Shapiro again…" – Mrs. Frazzled, 39:02).
• AG: "We'll be seeing…and really feeling…the impacts" of the Department’s dismantling soon (39:16).

Listener Good News & Community Shoutouts

[Starts at 39:58]

• Listeners share small joys, protest victories, and personal milestones.
• Highlight: Utah Supreme Court overturns GOP gerrymandered maps, restoring a likely Democratic district (48:44).
• Shoutout to VA hospitals for world-class care for women veterans (51:43).
• Propagate Studios in NJ praised for accessible and affordable art supplies (52:01); adorable cat photo included.

Notable Quotes & Moments:

• "If you can guess where Too Slow Chicken Marengo comes from, you get a prize…" – AG, explaining the episode’s inside joke (49:57).
• Listeners express pride in local activism, frustration at institutional regressions, and celebrate everyday victories and humor as essential tools of resistance.

Notable Quotes

• "The Trump administration’s memo upends a decades-old US policy…they’re bringing back an old arcane zombie Nazi law." – AG on neighborhood checks (09:56)
• "It’s really unfortunate. And the privatization of public education really seems to be the ultimate goal, in my opinion." – Mrs. Frazzled (24:55)
• "They have distorted [‘woke’] through several funhouse mirrors." – Mrs. Frazzled (36:20)
• "Somebody who would cover their drink when you come in. That’s really all I could think of." – AG’s definition of a woman (37:49)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – 03:10: Show opening & recent news/events
• 03:10 – 21:45: Hot Notes (Jack Smith/FEMA/Immigration/DHS/Elections/Trump/Fed/Courts)
• 22:38 – 39:42: Interview with Mrs. Frazzled
• 39:58 – End: Good News & Listener Submissions

Tone & Style

The episode blends urgent progressive reporting with irreverence, dark humor, and relatable weariness. Guests and hosts deploy wit and sarcasm—often mocking right-wing figures or policies—while still grounding the discussion in policy impacts and social justice values.

For Listeners Who Haven't Tuned In

• The episode offers a sharp, conversational, and sometimes biting perspective on today’s big political stories—anchored by women who value both activism and laughter.
• Mrs. Frazzled’s interview is a must for anyone alarmed by attacks on public education and the creeping privatization of government services.
• Listener-submitted good news cultivates hope and community amid the storm.

Skip the ads and intros—the best meat is in the Hot Notes and the Mrs. Frazzled interview sections.