[AnimalMuppet]

That can become "justify your existence", but it doesn't have to. What you did yesterday can actually be relevant information to your coworkers.

It sounds like either your work culture is somewhat toxic, or else you are rather defensive.

[a_ranom_dev]

Actually, the dev has exactly 0 input on how the standup goes. The middle manager sets the true goals and the dev is either in or out of step. Whether anyone else in the meeting gets anything out of it is strictly a side effect, and not relevant to the manager. I've never been able to make a stand up into what it's supposed to be when the manager makes it about meeting deadline and not hearing about problems, regardless of whether you have any problems. Maybe you have worked in great places where this sort of dynamic doesn't happen, but I've worked exclusively for cold capitalists and it's always been about justifying what you are doing and feeling the pressure to get done faster.