The Daily Beast Podcast

Episode: ‘Waste of Space’ Chuck Schumer Needs to Resign

Date: March 18, 2025

Hosts: Joanna Coles, Andy Levy, Danielle Moody
Guests: Asha Bhandari (ACLU), Kayla Gogarty (Media Matters)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into frustrations with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic leaders over legislative capitulations to the GOP, an escalating crisis in American democracy and civil liberties, and alarming new frontiers in online political media. The hosts take aim at Schumer's conduct in passing a controversial continuing resolution (CR), discuss the dangerous erosion of checks and balances under the Trump administration, and feature expert interviews on the weaponization of immigration law and the right's dominance in digital media.

Main Segments & Key Discussion Points

1. Schumer’s Senate Compromise and Democratic Capitulation

Start: 02:43

The Hosts’ Opening Salvos

• Danielle Moody's Rant: Schumer, joined by other Senate Democrats and one independent, supported Republicans in passing a CR, gutting social safety nets and abandoning leverage for real negotiation.

  • “Chuck Schumer, however, decided, no, no, I care more about my donors and what's happening on Wall Street than I do about democracy and any leverage that the Democratic Party could muster in this moment as we're in the midst of an entire coup.” (Danielle Moody, 03:36)

• Andy Levy’s Proposal: Schumer and Gillibrand should honor the precedent set by New York’s 19th-century senators who resigned in disgrace—Schumer’s tenure is now actively harmful.

  • “It's not enough that he should no longer be minority leader. He needs to go... He's worse than worthless. He is actually a hindrance.” (Andy Levy, 04:51)

Host Frustration & Calls to Action

• Schumer’s supposed "strategic calculation" is called delusional and out-of-touch, with both left and centrist Democrats infuriated.
• Indivisible and Pass the Torch have called for his resignation; his public excuse for cancelling his book tour (“security concerns”) is called out as cowardice.
• Levy suggests NY Governor Hochul appoint AOC to the Senate if Schumer resigns.
  • “Chuck Schumer is not that person and he needs to resign, as does Gillibrand. Like, you are a waste of space, and you've worked your whole life to be in a position to do what? Capitulate to the enemy?” (Danielle Moody, 10:11)

Notable Quotes

• Schumer's “bravery” lampooned:
  • “I'll take some of the bullets… as if he's being some brave sort of shield. No, you are the cause of this.” (Andy Levy, 07:33)
• On Democratic leadership:
  • “When you prove yourself to be useless and the people finally see that… he ain't running from this decision.” (Danielle Moody 10:10)
• “How many times are you going to fall for this crap? …You are being curb-stomped by Donald Trump, by Russell Vought, by Elon Musk, by the entire Republican and MAGA apparatus. It's embarrassing.” (Andy Levy 09:28)

2. Erosion of Checks and Balances—Trump, Immigration, and Judicial Defiance

Start: 11:46

Deportations and Disregard for Rule of Law

• 137 immigrants deported under the Alien Enemies Act (a law dating to the 1700s), despite explicit federal court orders.
• Trump administration is openly defying judicial authority, with chilling impunity—deportation flights left before rulings could even be formally issued, and administration officials mock court authority on social media.
• Key example: Dr. Rasha Allaway, a kidney surgeon with a valid visa, is deported due to photos on her phone, despite a court order blocking her removal. (60:48)

The Hosts’ Analysis

• The judiciary’s inability to enforce its orders sets a precedent for constitutional crisis.
  • “We're now finding out how little the courts matter if the executive branch simply doesn't care.” (Andy Levy, 16:46)
• Danger to all marginalized groups—if legal immigrants and permanent residents can face this, so too can citizens who dissent.
• Criticism of Democrats for failing to foresee and plan for such disregard of the rule of law, and for confirming right-wing cabinet members under Trump.

Notable Quotes

• “Our laws are only as strong as those that are willing to follow it. And what Donald Trump proved over the weekend, once again, is that ain't nobody going to check him, namely the courts.” (Danielle Moody, 11:46)
• “Why are we here? The lack of imagination by Democrats to believe what this regime would be possible of doing. As if they didn't write a book about it, found it and published it for the world to see called Project 2025.” (Danielle Moody, 16:46)
• “This was the act used to put Japanese Americans in internment camps during World War II... now being used in a time when we're not at war.” (Andy Levy, 18:43)

3. Guest Segment: Asha Bhandari (ACLU) — The Case of Mahmoud Khalil

Start: 20:41

Mahmoud Khalil’s Detention

• Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful US resident and Columbia graduate, abducted by ICE. His only "crime" appears to be his activism and political speech about Gaza.
• The Alien Enemies Act is being invoked by the administration to deport lawful residents for their political opinions—Bhandari calls this “unprecedented and unconstitutional.”
  • “This action to seek to deport Mahmoud Khalil, who is a lawful permanent resident... solely on the basis of his viewpoint, his political ideology... is extreme. It is unprecedented and it does violate the Constitution.” (Asha Bhandari, 22:21)

Implications for Free Speech

• The case echoes crackdowns in authoritarian countries.
  • “The reason we have these protections of the First Amendment... is for times like this... We don't need the First Amendment to protect speech that is uncontroversial… It is exactly for times like this that we have the protections.” (Asha Bhandari, 25:04)
• Dangers not limited to immigrants—state power is being leveraged to silence dissent more broadly, via funding restrictions, employment threats, and media investigations.
  • “It is about what the government has the power to do. If the government can do this to Mr. Khalil, they can do this to other people… on other issues.” (Asha Bhandari, 33:15)

Current Status & Next Steps

• Khalil remains detained in Louisiana; lawyers seeking his immediate release. Court decisions pending could set critical legal precedents (27:59).
• Bhandari is hopeful due to a bipartisan outcry and calls for public engagement:
  • “Speaking out is one of the most important things people can do... Whether that's calling your elected representatives… or talking to people you know.” (Asha Bhandari, 36:29)

4. Guest Segment: Kayla Gogarty (Media Matters) — The Right’s Dominance in Online Media

Start: 37:48

Study Overview

• Media Matters analyzed political podcasts and online video, cataloging ideology, self-description, and audience reach on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and more.
• Found “substantial asymmetry”—right-leaning shows vastly outpace left-leaning shows in reach and engagement.

Key Findings

• Right-leaning online shows claim 255 million followers/subscribers; left-leaning, just 60 million. (41:02)
• Many right-leaning shows self-identify as comedy, sports, or general entertainment, but push political content—including support for Trump.
  • “Comedy specifically... 15 right-leaning shows self-described as comedy... over 115 million followers and subscribers, which is actually 20% of the total following of all shows we assessed.” (Kayla Gogarty, 43:21)
• Nine of the top 10 “political” online shows are right-leaning (e.g., Rogan, Shapiro, Jordan Peterson, Russell Brand, etc.), with only Trevor Noah breaking into the list for the left.
• Podcasts and streamers avoid overt politics, making it easier to reach broader, non-political audiences with ideological content.
• Rumble acts as an additional platform to multiply right-wing reach, rather than a full replacement for YouTube (47:34).
• The right’s success comes from a long-term, well-funded, emotional strategy that leverages platform algorithms and fragmented digital audiences.
  • “For decades they've been building up these media ecosystems to prop up right wing narratives and politicians. And they are much better at exploiting these media platforms and building that ecosystem.” (Kayla Gogarty, 49:01)

TikTok & Pop Culture Infiltration

• Right-leaning content has outsize reach on TikTok, especially through comedy and pop culture clips aggressively clipped and promoted.
  • “They are very good at using the algorithms, knowing what's going to get engagement and they use that to spread their content. …It can be a pipeline to get these new audiences to these right wing narratives.” (Kayla Gogarty, 53:18)

Notable Quotes

• “What we wanted to show was this asymmetry and just how much the right has built up a massive media ecosystem.” (Kayla Gogarty, 49:01)
• “That dominant ecosystem isn't something that exists on the left... They’re able to spread their narratives in this fragmented media ecosystem.” (Kayla Gogarty, 50:14)

5. Closing Rants: Erosion of Rights & Erasure of History

Start: 54:57

Valerie & Andy: “Fuck That Guy” Segment

• Andy’s Rant (DoD valor stories erased):

  • African-American Medal of Honor recipient Charles Calvin Rogers' story, along with units of Japanese-American WWII heroes, has been silently erased from military history sites, labeled as DEI “diversity” to be erased.
  • “They are erasing this guy from history... not fit to shine Charles Calvin Rogers' boots...” (Andy Levy, 56:45)

• Danielle’s Rant (Deportations & Weaponized “Vibes”):

  • Dr. Rasha Allaway, a kidney transplant surgeon, deported for images on her phone, despite following all legal protocols and a standing court order.
  • “It does not matter what legal documents you have, it doesn't matter what the courts say. It matters how Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Hegseth and the others feel about you. And their feelings matter more than the rule of law.” (Danielle Moody, 62:08)
  • Consequences: Signal to all legal immigrants—your status is at risk if you anger authorities or “look suspicious.”

• The result of these actions, hosts warn, is a “brain drain” and the destruction of procedural protections and American exceptionalism.

Notable Quotes

• “What they are doing to this country is going to take so long to recover from. It's unthinkable. Fuck these guys.” (Andy Levy, 65:29)
• “We are erasing any and all achievements made by people who aren't white men.” (Andy Levy, 60:48)
• “If you are deemed to have even a thought in your head that goes against this current regime, well, we can kidnap you and drop you into detention in Louisiana. …MAGAs at war and has been at war with American values.” (Danielle Moody, 63:37)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Schumer’s leadership:

  • “He is worse than worthless. He is actually a hindrance.” (Andy Levy, 04:51)

• On the judiciary’s collapse:

  • “We're now finding out how little the courts matter if the executive branch simply doesn't care.” (Andy Levy, 16:46)

• On American exceptionalism and civil liberties:

  • “To see the American government, of all governments, turning that back around on people and saying, ... you don't get the rights that are afforded to everyone in America, well, that's wrong as a legal matter, but it also is just... a complete misunderstanding of what actually is so important and special about America's free speech protections.” (Asha Bhandari, 25:04)

• On digital media asymmetry:

  • “Right-leaning online shows had nearly five times the total following ... compared to left leaning online shows.” (Kayla Gogarty, 40:15)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Schumer and Democratic Leadership Critique: 02:43–11:32
• Unchecked Executive Power & Immigration/Alien Enemies Act: 11:46–19:37
• Asha Bhandari (ACLU) Interview - Mahmoud Khalil’s Case & Free Speech: 20:41–37:26
• Kayla Gogarty (Media Matters) Interview - Online Media Asymmetry: 37:48–54:54
• Closing Rants (“Fuck That Guy”): 54:57–66:29

Tone & Style

The conversation is passionate, exasperated, and at times profane—hosts do not mince words in their critique of Democratic “appeasement,” the Trump regime’s authoritarian power grabs, and the ongoing democratic backslide. There’s bleak humor amid the outrage, but a clear sense of urgency and warning throughout.

Takeaways & Calls to Action

• Push for accountability in Democratic leadership—Schumer’s actions reflect a dangerous pattern of spinelessness amid rising authoritarianism.
• Protect free speech and due process for all, regardless of origin or political beliefs.
• Stay vigilant against historical erasure and against the normalization of unchecked executive power.
• Recognize, discuss, and counteract the right’s near-monopoly in digital political media spaces.
• Support civil liberties organizations and participate in direct action, whether through protest, contacting representatives, or engaging in difficult but necessary conversations about the fragility of American freedoms.