The Daily Beans — “Winning The Fall” (Feat. Simon Rosenberg)

Date: September 30, 2025
Hosts: Allison Gill (AG), Dana Goldberg (DG)
Guest: Simon Rosenberg (~30:00–57:00)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Daily Beans jumps right into a whirlwind of breaking political news—a looming government shutdown, escalating confrontations over the National Guard’s deployment to Portland, efforts to evict ICE, fallout from mass shootings, political shifts in New York, and international intrigue. “Winning the Fall,” the episode’s core focus, is explored at length with progressive strategist Simon Rosenberg, who shares detailed insight on Democratic wins, the evolving political landscape, GOP authoritarian maneuvers, and crucial strategies for defending democracy heading into the crucial fall elections.

The trademark Beans blend of breaking news, sharp analysis, snarky commentary, and a hopeful “good trouble” spirit drive the episode throughout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Top News Headlines Rundown [00:00–04:15]

• Government Shutdown Imminent: Republicans are set to shut the government at midnight as negotiations stall. AG and DG stress that Republicans, controlling Senate rules, can keep government open without Dems.

• Portland on Edge: Trump, with aide Pete Hegseth, visits Quantico after deploying the National Guard to Portland, framing small protests as war zones—AG notes: “Stephen Miller is showing him [Trump] videos of something else that’s not Portland and telling him tall tales...” [06:21]

• ICE Under Fire: Portland attempts to evict ICE over permit violations; ICE agent who assaulted a woman returns to duty amid public outrage.

• Violence & Investigations: FBI leads probe into a Michigan LDS church shooting by a Trump supporter; criminal investigation launched into ICE agent firing a chemical projectile at a CBS reporter in Chicago.

• New York Politics Upheaval: Eric Adams drops from mayoral race, while Zoran Mamdani surges ahead; election financing scandals detailed.

• International Beat: Moldova’s pro-EU party wins in spite of Russian meddling.

• Super Bowl Halftime Storm: Bad Bunny announced as next performer, expected to spark right-wing outrage for his political stances and insistence on performing only in Spanish.

  “I hope Bad Bunny doesn't say one lick of English... so MAGA loses their mind.” —Dana, [01:45]

2. Deep-Dives & Notable Stories

Portland Emergency & ICE Battles [04:15–08:01, 11:57–13:06]

• Local and federal legal clashes over Trump’s National Guard deployment and ICE operations, with AG noting the legal limits on ICE’s detention facility in Portland.

Mass Shootings and Political Weaponization [08:01–10:18]

• DG details the Michigan shooting perpetrator’s right-wing ties; AG calls out Trump’s hypocritical claim of “attack on Christians.” Victim’s photo featured Trump slogans; shooter identified as a supporter.

Media and Law Enforcement Tensions [10:22–13:06]

• AG lauds local police for investigating ICE agent assaulting a reporter, urging more local action.
• DG points out ICE’s backtrack in discipline, exposing lip service by DHS.

Stephen Miller’s Expanding Power [13:08–15:01]

• Miller directs Venezuela boat strikes, bypassing usual security protocols. AG and DG call out his extremism and role as a key “bad actor.”

New York Mayoral Primary Chaos [15:01–17:13]

• Adams’ dropout is dissected, with Mamdani’s rise attributed to grassroots activism and affordability messaging. AG exposes campaign finance fraud by Adams attempting to secure public funds.

Soros Foundation Under Threat [17:13–18:25]

• Alex Soros, son of George Soros, vows the foundation “would back down to Trump over my dead body” during a private panel. [17:40]

AI Disinformation Willpower [18:25–20:08]

• AG & DG cover Trump’s sharing of a fake AI “medbed” video—QAnon cranks up conspiracy volume, and the hosts skewer the absurdity.

Moldovan Election Mandate [20:12–21:20]

• Moldova’s pro-EU win hailed as a regional milestone against Russian interference.

Super Bowl, Pop Culture & Politics Collide [21:20–24:53]

• Bad Bunny’s selection—politically potent, following Kendrick Lamar’s controversial performance. DG highlights Bad Bunny’s conscious exclusion of US tour stops over ICE fears:

  “He missed out on millions of dollars… to make sure that people were not grabbed up by ICE at his concerts.” —Dana, [23:23]

  “He continually performs only in Spanish… the ‘fuck your feelings’ crowd is going to be really, really upset.” —AG, [24:21]

Judge Simon’s Emergency Hearing in Oregon [24:54–26:10]

• AG updates listeners that the hearing on National Guard deployment’s legality is set for Friday, exposing DOJ’s “dumbest argument” that 200 troops are “not an emergency.” DG mocks their hypocrisy.

3. Feature Interview: Simon Rosenberg [30:00–57:00]

Main Theme: How to “win the fall”—by both winning the coming elections and defeating GOP authoritarianism in the battle for the country’s future.

Key Insights & Quotes

• "Growing the Circle of Defiance": Rosenberg and AG focus on building momentum, citing Jimmy Kimmel’s return after network censorship as proof of people power:

  “The circle of defiance is growing… companies like Disney and ABC have a role to play in creating greater defiance.” —Simon Rosenberg, [39:33]

• Democratic Overperformance and Hope:

  “We are just smashing elections. Every single election, I think, except for two—Florida 1 and Florida 6—we’ve won. And in those, we made up 12 or 22 points... People power beats money.” —AG, [29:50]

• Framing the Fight:

  “The fight we’re really in now is not about health care. It’s about Trump’s betrayal of the country, his failure to deliver… his failed economic strategy. All of this… is fair game in this coming fight.” —Simon Rosenberg, [34:10]

• Budget Battles & Filibuster:

  “It’s very likely… the debate over the next two to three months is going to end up in [Republicans] getting rid of the filibuster… Democrats can’t vote for tripling the ICE budget or tariffs. They’ve been so extreme.” —Simon Rosenberg, [33:29]

• Importance of Early Voting:

  “One of the most powerful tools we have is early voting. If 60–65% of the vote is in before Election Day, it’s hard for them to disrupt it. And as soon as you vote early, the campaign moves to lower-propensity voters, which boosts turnout.” —Simon Rosenberg, [49:39]

• Addressing Fears of Election Theft/Authoritarian Moves:

  “Anything that discourages people from doing the work to win elections—by saying ‘there’s no election’—is as corrosive as MAGA… We have to act as if they’re going to happen and do everything we can to win. And we need a conversation about the real, not imagined, threats.” —Simon Rosenberg, [45:59]

Memorable Moments

• AG and Simon agree that positive reinforcement for leaders is key and that people are “learning you can stand up to a bully and win.”
• “If you want to decrease the price of dissent, you have to increase the supply… when that circle of defiance grows, the price of dissent goes down.” —AG, referencing a strategy to normalize resistance, [43:00]
• AG stresses not to give up hope: “I like to move forward with the assumption that we will have free and fair elections, because billions are spent to make us believe our vote doesn’t matter.”

4. Good News & Community Features [57:02–70:33]

• Listener Good Trouble: Local activism highlights (e.g., Mainline Good Troublemakers by Dana), praise for collective action, and adorable pet pictures lighten the tone.
• Beans Community: Multiple listeners share journeys of hope, resilience, and activism—reminding everyone of the value of mutual support.
• Call to Action: Encouragement to join local Trouble Nation groups, support each other, and keep submitting good news.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Headline Rundown: 00:00–04:15
• Oklahoma School Superintendent Scandal: 02:09–04:15
• Portland National Guard Legal Fight: 04:15–08:01, 24:54–26:10
• Michigan LDS Shooting Coverage: 08:01–10:18
• ICE Attacks on Reporter & Detainee: 10:22–13:06
• Stephen Miller’s Role in Venezuela Strikes: 13:08–15:01
• NYC Mayoral Race: 15:01–17:13
• Soros/Open Society Investigation: 17:13–18:25
• Trump AI Medbed Video: 18:25–20:08
• Moldova Election News: 20:12–21:20
• Super Bowl/Bad Bunny Segment: 21:20–24:53
• Simon Rosenberg Interview Begins: 30:00
• Defiance, Democratic Wins, and Voter Strategy: 30:00–54:42
• Kimmel/ABC Free Speech Victory: 36:49–43:00
• Addressing Authoritarian Threats & Early Voting: 44:59–54:42
• Closing Questions & Goodbyes: 54:42–57:00
• Good News Community Submissions: 57:02–70:33

Notable Quotes (with Speaker & Timestamp)

• “Do not let anyone tell you that the Democrats shut this down… Republicans can keep [the government] open by themselves.” —AG, [04:15]
• “He [Trump] wanted to be able to shoot protesters during the George Floyd protests.” —AG, [05:35]
• “I hope Bad Bunny doesn't say one lick of English... so MAGA loses their mind.” —Dana, [01:45]
• “Over my dead body.” —Alex Soros on ending Open Society’s work in response to Trump pressure, recounted by AG, [17:40]
• “We are just smashing elections... people power beats money.” —AG, [29:50]
• “The circle of defiance is growing…” —Simon Rosenberg, [39:33]
• “If you want to decrease the price of dissent… you have to increase the supply.” —AG referencing Miles Taylor, [43:00]
• “Anything that discourages people from doing the work to win elections… is as corrosive as MAGA is when you do that.” —Simon Rosenberg, [45:59]

Tone & Style

Sharp, irreverent, and energized—a blend of progressive hope, political wariness, and righteous snark. While the stakes are high and the news at times grim, both hosts and guest refuse despair, continually urging action, solidarity, and a focus on what everyday people can do to “win the fall”—both at the ballot box and in the public square.

Summary Takeaways

• The Republican Party is poised to shut down the government but owns the path to avoid it.
• Trump’s use of the military, ICE’s abuses, and Miller’s unchecked power signal escalating authoritarianism.
• Grassroots organizing and local pushback are effectively fighting back—from city halls to broadcast networks.
• Community, early voting, and expanded activism (“the circle of defiance”) are essential tools as US democracy faces unprecedented stress tests.
• Listeners are reminded that hope is both necessary and actionable: “People power beats money.”

For further details, check out episode-specific resources at dailybeanspod.com and subscribe to The Hopium Chronicles and Mueller, She Wrote on Substack.