The Daily Beans: Episode Summary – "You Dirty Rat" (feat. Rep. Sara Jacobs)
Release Date: January 23, 2025
Host/Author: MSW Media

Overview
In this intense and revealing episode of The Daily Beans, hosts Allison Gill and Dana Goldberg delve into the latest political upheavals orchestrated by the Trump administration. Featuring a special interview with Congresswoman Sara Jacobs from California’s 51st district, the episode tackles executive orders affecting federal agencies, controversial pardons, immigration policies, and the revocation of long-standing civil rights measures. Amidst the turmoil, the hosts also highlight heartening listener-submitted good news stories, providing a balanced perspective during challenging times.

1. Trump’s Executive Orders: Federal Communication and Workforce Overhaul

The episode opens with Allison Gill outlining a series of sweeping executive actions by President Donald Trump aimed at reshaping federal operations and communications.

• Limiting Federal Communications: Trump has directed health agencies to halt all external communications, including social media posts and public health advisories. Allison remarks, “It’s terrifying considering what the CDC is charged with” (16:07).

• Probationary Employee Assessments: Acting Director of OPM, Charles Ezell, has instructed federal agencies to submit lists of employees within their probationary periods by the end of the week. This move could facilitate significant layoffs, especially given the existing federal hiring freeze. Kevin Owen from Gilbert Employment Law speculates, “This appears to be a series of reminders… whether or not this is a signal that they’re going to be significant layoffs” (07:00).

• DEI Reporting Mandate: Federal workers are now required to report any modifications to their positions related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Allison describes an email sent to employees demanding they “rat out” colleagues who alter DEI-related roles, labeling it as “frightening” (04:13).

• Pardoning Ross Ulbricht: In a controversial move, Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, igniting debates about libertarian influences within the administration. Dana comments sarcastically, “That's him. Apparently, he made a promise to libertarians” (04:41).

2. Controversial Executive Order Revoking Civil Rights Protections

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to Trump’s executive order that revokes President Lyndon B. Johnson's 1965 directive on diversity and affirmative action within federal contractors. Allison highlights the historical context, noting, “The order came more than a year after Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964” (19:36), and the repercussions it may have on federal employment practices.

Civil rights advocates, including Jocelyn Fry of the National Partnership for Women and Families, express deep concern. Fry states, “It sends a message and gives a green light to contractors that nobody is watching” (19:36). The hosts connect this reversal to ongoing efforts to dismantle DEI programs, emphasizing the administration's push to prioritize direct hiring practices over inclusive policies.

3. Tulsi Gabbard’s Meetings with Assad Under Scrutiny

Allison transitions to discussing Tulsi Gabbard’s controversial meetings with former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during her 2017 trip. Sources reveal that Gabbard’s team attempted to obscure the nature and duration of these meetings, raising questions about her judgment and affiliations.

• Unplanned Meetings: Gabbard met with Assad without prior notice, leading to internal confusion and strategic efforts to downplay the interactions. Allison notes, “Gabbard can’t pass up the opportunity once it arose” (08:30).

• Impact on Confirmation: The revelations intensify scrutiny ahead of her confirmation hearings, with nearly 100 former U.S. diplomats urging a thorough review of her government files. Dana expresses frustration, stating, “I sure the fuck hope they do this because that is one of the appointments I am actually most worried about” (08:30).

4. Interview with Congresswoman Sara Jacobs

The highlight of the episode is an in-depth interview with Rep. Sara Jacobs, who addresses the multifaceted challenges posed by the current administration’s policies.

• Cabinet Picks and Policy Disagreements: Jacobs voices concerns over Trump’s cabinet nominations, describing them as “ridiculous loyalty tests” that lack qualifications (24:21). She specifically criticizes Pete Hegseth’s viewpoints on women in the military and other appointees’ questionable policies.

• Department of Justice Overreach: Addressing Trump's order for the DOJ to target local law enforcement on immigration matters, Jacobs warns of the military’s ineffective “first approach” in border security, drawing parallels to past foreign interventions. She states, “Trump is trying to deploy the military to the southern border… a military first approach just doesn’t work for these kinds of issues” (26:12).

• Withdrawal from WHO and Global Health Concerns: Jacobs expresses alarm over the U.S. pulling out of the World Health Organization, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in pandemic preparedness. “Without the WHO, a power vacuum is created that the PRC will step into,” she warns (32:57).

• Economic Implications: Highlighting the economic fallout from aggressive immigration policies, Jacobs discusses potential increases in housing costs and the negative impact on labor markets. “Donald Trump is trying to deflect and distract us from the fact that he doesn’t have an economic plan” (30:40).

Jacobs reiterates her commitment to protecting her constituents and maintaining oversight on federal agencies, especially amid escalating executive mandates.

5. Good News Segment: Listener Submissions

In a refreshing turn, Allison and Dana invite listeners to share positive stories and photos, fostering a sense of community and resilience. Highlights include:

• Support for Activism: Listeners submitted photos of animal companions, community organizing efforts, and personal victories amidst political chaos.

• Heartwarming Stories: Submissions ranged from pets providing comfort to individuals participating in national days of action for women’s, LGBT+, and immigrant rights.

Allison encourages continued submissions, stating, “We need to create our own good news because there’s going to be a lot of bad news” (36:01).

6. Call to Action: Responding to DEI Crackdowns

Towards the episode’s conclusion, the hosts issue a direct challenge to their audience to counteract the administration’s DEI initiatives by inundating the designated reporting email with disruptive content. Allison emphasizes the importance of active resistance: “Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to flood that email inbox and render it useless” (19:45).

Conclusion
The Daily Beans delivers a comprehensive and impassioned analysis of the Trump administration’s latest maneuvers affecting federal governance and civil rights. Through incisive commentary and a candid conversation with Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, Allison Gill and Dana Goldberg provide listeners with critical insights and actionable steps amidst an era of significant political turbulence. Balancing the gravity of the discussed issues with uplifting community stories, the episode serves as both a clarion call for social justice and a beacon of hope.

Notable Quotes

• Dana Goldberg (02:26): “There's so much fuckery. So just that. Why would that happen? It's bullshit.”

• Allison Gill (04:13): “It's frightening to ask federal workers to inform on their colleagues.”

• Rep. Sara Jacobs (24:21): “There’s a difference between having policy disagreements and having these kinds of wholly unqualified people.”

• Allison Gill (32:57): “He’s now withdrawing from the World Health Organization. What kind of oversight is your committee going to provide just so we can get the actual numbers of what's happening?”

• Rep. Sara Jacobs (34:30): “Donald Trump is trying to deflect and distract us from the fact that he doesn’t have an economic plan.”

Note: Timestamps are referenced for illustrative purposes based on the provided transcript and may not correspond to the exact second in the actual podcast.