The Daily Beans Refried Beans | Bootleg Grover (feat. Barb McQuade) | Feb 15, 2024
Feb 15, 2026
Barb McQuade, former U.S. Attorney and law professor who studies national security and disinformation, joins to discuss how misinformation shifted from foreign actors to domestic operatives. She talks about social media algorithms that amplify outrage. She explains reflexive control tactics and why pausing before reacting matters. Practical steps to reclaim civic discourse are also highlighted.
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DOJ Pushes To Keep D.C. Trial On Track
- DOJ sought denial of Trump's stay to keep the D.C. trial on schedule and pressed SCOTUS for expedited review if it insists.
- Jack Smith argued Trump is unlikely to win the stay standard.
Special Election Upset Beats The Polls
- Tom Suozzi's special-election win flipped George Santos's seat and outperformed polls by a significant margin.
- Local wins like this can reshape messaging on issues like border policy for Democrats.
Impeachment As Political Theater
- House Republicans impeached DHS Secretary Mayorkas largely as a partisan spectacle.
- The Senate is very likely to acquit, making the move symbolic and political rather than substantive.
