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The DSR Network

The DSR Network·1000 episodes

Government

The official home of Deep State Radio, Need to Know, Words Matter, The DSR Daily, The Daily Blast, Siliconsciousness, and more. If you are enjoying this podcast, please consider becoming a member by visiting https://dsrnetwork.substack.com/

Episodes

41 min
Jul 21, 2026
Words Matter: Trump’s Biggest War is Against the American People

We are fast approaching midterm elections which Trump and his cronies will try to corrupt. Pete Hegseth is asking for more money to fund the most unpopular war in American history, and social programs are being cut left and right. It’s not just the quagmire of a war in Iran - Donald Trump is waging a war against the American people. There’s no other way to put it: “We are so f*cked by this guy, it’s hard to imagine.” Listen in as Norm Ornstein and David Rothkopf discuss the never-ending corruption and greed that is literally killing Americans. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

19 min
Jul 21, 2026
DSR Daily July 21: Houthis Declare Saudi Arabia Blockade in Major Escalation

On the DSR Daily for Tuesday, we discuss the Houthis declaring a blockade of Saudi Arabia, new 50% tariffs on Canadian imports, disputes over arresting Netanyahu in New York, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

24 min
Jul 21, 2026
The Daily Blast: Trump Hits Record-Breaking Low in Polls, Shocking Analyst: “Horrible!”

Donald Trump is cratering in several new polls: They have his approval at an average of 22 points underwater. That’s just abysmal. Indeed, as CNN’s Harry Enten notes in a striking on-air analysis, it’s a “record” and “the worst this century,” worse than both George W. Bush and Barack Obama at similar points in their second terms, which produced midterm wipeouts. And Enten points out that Trump is 45 points underwater with independents, also a new record. Enten concludes: “These are horrible numbers!” And yet there are numerous signs that Democrats are not converting this into quite the midterm edge they need. So we talked to veteran Democratic strategist Christina Reynolds. We discuss why the Democratic advantage is insufficient as of now, what’s really making that happen, how to turn it around, and why Trump’s awful numbers will likely prove impossible for the GOP to outrun in the end.  Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

34 min
Jul 20, 2026
AI, Energy and Climate: Distributed Home Data Centers: Arch Rao

NVIDIA, the Silicon Valley-based company SPAN and a major homebuilder recently announced a partnership to deploy mini-data centers at homes around the US. By using existing grid capacity, the companies hope to close the speed-to-power gap by building networks of distributed compute capacity while cutting power costs for homeowners. Join host David Sandalow as he explores this exciting and innovative idea with Arch Rao, founder and CEO of SPAN.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

24 min
Jul 20, 2026
DSR Daily July 20: Two More Americans Killed as War in Gulf Spirals

On the DSR Daily for July 20, we break down the deaths of two more American service members, Maine Democrats consolidating around Troy Jackson, Trump’s strange World Cup antics, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

25 min
Jul 20, 2026
The Daily Blast: Trump’s Plot to Rig Midterms Gets So Unhinged that Even Fox Is Rattled

During his prime-time speech dissembling endlessly about our elections, Donald Trump raged at news organizations for refusing to carry him live. Then his Homeland Security secretary also smeared the media, a sign Trump’s fury continues to deepen. We think this means Trump fully expects news organizations to help him amplify his lies about our elections to sow distrust in them. As we discuss in this episode, his speech revealed that he’s plainly mulling an effort to rig the midterms, and sowing that distrust is key to it. A funny thing, though: Fox News explicitly declined to endorse his claims and refrained from carrying his DHS secretary. And according to Fox sources, insiders were dismayed to hear Trump obsessing over our elections, thought it was bad politics for the GOP, and even worried it was bad for business given post-2020 litigation against Fox. We talked to Harvard political scientist Ryan Enos, who explains how Trump is telegraphing an authoritarian plot to corrupt the elections, why the assaults on the media are central to that, and what we must see in response from Democrats and the American people. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

28 min
Jul 19, 2026
DSR Weekly Wrap-up: Trump’s Deranged Speech Angers China (and Fans of Democracy)

On the DSR Weekly Wrap-up for July 17th, we break down Trump’s prime-time address, the dangerous wildfire smoke blanketing parts of the US, the source of the cyclosporiasis breakout, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

36 min
Jul 17, 2026
Siliconsciousness: Entering a New Chapter in the Debate on AI Policy

The landscape of AI policy is changing rapidly. From a one year data center moratorium in New York to sweeping new energy laws in Thailand, it’s clear that governments around the world are exploring radical new approaches to artificial intelligence. AI, Energy and Climate host David Sandalow and Siliconsciousness host David Rothkopf join forces to examine the far-reaching debate over AI policy to examine what’s working and what the future might hold.  This material is distributed by TRG Advisory Services, LLC on behalf of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the U.S.. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

21 min
Jul 17, 2026
Best of the Daily Blast: Trump Spirals into Crazed Fury after Harvard Humiliates Him Very Badly

Original air date: February 2, 2026 With the Daily Blast on break this week, join us as we revisit some of our top episodes of 2026! After The New York Times reported that President Trump has backtracked on a major demand he’d made on Harvard University, he spiraled out of control in three wild tirades. He angrily insisted on a correction from the Times, and levied unhinged new threats against Harvard, demanding a new billion-dollar extortion payment while calling for the university’s criminal prosecution. Harvard officials clearly leaked word of Trump’s backtracking to humiliate him at a moment of political weakness. It worked: Trump appeared panicked and weak as he fired off half-cocked threats. Which raises a question: Why don’t more institutions grasp that standing firm against Trump is the only way? We talked to Ryan Enos, a Harvard political scientist who has long argued for a strong stand. He explains the internal politics at Harvard leading to its current posture, why this fight’s outcome has broader significance amid our slide into authoritarianism, and what the prospects are for Harvard holding firm. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

52 min
Jul 16, 2026
Words Matter: What to Do When Trump Tries to Steal the Next Election

Trump and his cronies are already laying the groundwork to get involved in this year's elections. As Trump prepares to give a major speech on Thursday night where he will undoubtedly speak on "election fraud", it's clear there is no accountability for their corruption. So the question is - what do we do when Trump tries to steal the next election? Tune in as David Rothkopf and Norm Ornstein address what’s at stake. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

42 min
Jul 16, 2026
NTK: Top Expert Outlines What Ultimate Iran Deal Will Look Like

The Groundhog Day War with Iran grinds on and though we feel no closer to a conclusion, some kind of resolution to this phase of the conflict is inevitable. So what will such a deal look like? And what does it mean for US relations throughout the Middle East? Former White House Senior Advisor to the President Amos Hochstein joins David Rothkopf to explore the often overlooked factors driving a major regional reshuffling.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

31 min
Jul 16, 2026
DSR Daily July 16: Vance Admits Admin Bungled Epstein Files

On the DSR Daily for Thursday, we discuss the US launching more strikes on Iran, JD Vance admitting the administration dropped the ball on Epstein, Hegseth implementing testosterone testing in the military, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

27 min
Jul 16, 2026
Best of the Daily Blast: Why Trump Will Be Removed from Office Sooner Than You Think

Original air date: April 17, 2026 With the Daily Blast on break this week, join us as we revisit some of our top episodes of 2026! In today’s episode, George Conway argues that as improbable as it might seem right now, congressional Republicans will ultimately decide they have no choice but to remove Donald Trump from office before his term ends. Conway, the former GOP lawyer-turned-Trump-critic, is ⁠running for Congress as a Democrat⁠. One of his ads ⁠is a montage of all the horrors⁠ that Trump has unleashed, followed by Conway’s promise to be a different kind of Congressman in response. In our conversation, Conway explains why he thinks Republicans will eventually decide Trump has to go and talks about how he’ll push for impeachment immediately if elected. Conway also lays out an accountability agenda that includes impeaching many cabinet officials, criminal referrals for high-level Trump administration officials, and extensive other reforms designed to prevent anything like this from ever happening again.  Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

45 min
Jul 15, 2026
Is There Any Way Out of the Groundhog Day War in the Gulf?

The U.S. has found itself in a seemingly endless cycle of conflict with Iran. Each episode brings familiar patterns: threats of military action from the U.S., Iranian responses, and eventually, a return to a tense standoff. The first phase ended in humiliation and defeat - can we lose the same war twice? How do we get ourselves out of this situation? Joe Cirincione and Alon Pinkas join David Rothkopf to discuss this “Groundhog Day” conflict with Iran and more. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

24 min
Jul 15, 2026
DSR Daily July 15: Senate Dems Block $1 Trillion in Defense Spending as Iran War Spirals

On the DSR Daily for Wednesday, we cover the Senate Democrats blocking a $1 trillion defense bill, Trump’s opposition to the suspension of ICE vehicle stops, scrutiny of Todd Blanche ahead of his hearing, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

23 min
Jul 15, 2026
Best of the Daily Blast: Trump Epstein Mess Worsens as MAGA Cracks Up: “He Lame-Ducked Himself”

Original air date: June 1, 2026 With the Daily Blast on break this week, join us as we revisit some of our top episodes of 2026! Former attorney general Pam Bondi testified behind closed doors Friday about the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. She effectively ⁠let it be known⁠ that Todd Blanche, now acting AG, has been responsible for this debacle, ⁠creating a new inquiry⁠ for Democrats to pursue that will be fraught for Trump. Bondi also ⁠went mum⁠ on how Trump instructed her to handle the Epstein files, basically declining to back Trump’s spin that he was pro-transparency, raising still more questions for Democrats to pursue. Meanwhile, Trump’s sinking approval, Iran debacle, ballroom and slush fund are fracturing Trumpworld and the GOP: One Republican ⁠told⁠ The Atlantic that he has “lame-ducked himself.” We talked to historian Nicole Hemmer, author of ⁠several books⁠ ⁠about the right⁠. We discuss why the Epstein scandal continues to fracture the MAGA movement, the deeper reasons for Trump’s weakening hold on the GOP, and why MAGA will go into deep turmoil once Trump passes from the scene.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

39 min
Jul 14, 2026
Siliconsciousness: Like It or Not, the AI Bubble Is Real

The question is when, not if, the AI bubble is going to pop. As tech companies see share values skyrocket, it becomes more clear with each passing day that the value of these companies is built on a house of cards. So just how bad will the fallout be? Distinguished Fellow at the Center for Economic and Policy Research Dean Baker joins David Rothkopf to answer this question and more.  This material is distributed by TRG Advisory Services, LLC on behalf of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the U.S.. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

28 min
Jul 14, 2026
DSR Daily July 14: ICE Violence Escalates with Killing in Maine

On the DSR Daily for Tuesday, we break down the escalating violence perpetuated by ICE, Trump’s upcoming primetime speech, the impending confirmation hearings for Todd Blanche, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

28 min
Jul 14, 2026
Best of the Daily Blast: Krugman: Trump’s Unnerving Mental Breakdown Signals Nation in Decline

With the Daily Blast on break this week, join us as we revisit some of our top episodes of 2026! Original air date: June 22, 2026 Donald Trump’s war with Iran is making it clear this presidency could have much worse long-term consequences than we expected. Yet Trump is spending his nights indulging his crazed obsessions. In one ⁠early-morning tirade⁠, he raged about “fools” who criticize his Iran fiasco, calling them “bad people” and “stupid.” In another, he ⁠fulminated at length⁠ about his ballroom. He’s posting ⁠updates⁠ on the gilding of statues and ⁠images⁠ of himself on international magazine covers. The gap between the gravity of the moment on one side and his trivial megalomania on the other is jarring. We talked to economist Paul Krugman, who has been ⁠writing really well on his Substack⁠ about ⁠both sides⁠ ⁠of this divide⁠. He goes big-picture, detailing the signs that we’re a country in decline, why other countries are looking toward a post-American world, and why it’s shocking that we put up with his worsening megalomania and nonstop desecration of our republic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

23 min
Jul 13, 2026
DSR Daily July 13: Lindsey Graham Dead at 71

On the DSR Daily for Monday, we discuss the death of Lindsey Graham, Iran expanding strikes throughout the Gulf, Maine Democrats telling Chuck Schumer to back off, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

23 min
Jul 12, 2026
DSR Weekly Wrap-up: Trump Guts Bipartisan Election Commission

On the DSR Weekly Wrap-up for July 10, we cover Trump’s ousting of key members of the bipartisan Election Assistance Commission, new revelations on the ICE killing of an immigrant, 8 indictments over a planned attack on the White House UFC event, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

21 min
Jul 10, 2026
The Daily Blast: Texas ICE Killing Takes Damning Turn as Even MAGA Judges Abandon Trump

Big developments on the immigration front: First, ICE killed a 52-year-old undocumented immigrant in Texas this week. ICE’s account was already suspect. But now a representative for the man’s family says that the three other men driving with him—who are likely witnesses to the killing—are getting pressured to self-deport in a potential effort to silence them. That’s utterly damning. Second, Politico reports that a key piece of Trump’s deportation agenda—detentions without bond—has now lost in court a staggering 15,000 times. And get this: A majority of Trump-appointed judges who have considered the policy have rejected it. These things are related: The mounting lawlessness on many fronts is alienating even Trump judges. We talked to New Republic staff writer Melissa Gira Grant, author of a good piece on the Texas shooting. We discuss why it’s essential to focus on this one killing, why Trump judges turning against him constitute a vulnerability for his agenda, and why the American people can’t get complacent, now that he’s trying to deport huge numbers a lot more quietly.  Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

53 min
Jul 9, 2026
Words Matter: Dead or Alive, Mitch McConnell is a Bad Man

The Supreme Court would not be what it is today without Mitch McConnell. We would not have the six-person, ultra-conservative, corrupt majority that we have now without him. As our democracy continues to die in front of our eyes, and as Donald Trump continues to destroy our relationships with our allies, the US is at a crossroads - can we ever recover? Do we have any emerging politicians to lead us out of this mess? Norm Ornstein and David Rothkopf discuss Mitch McConnell’s tenure, Trump’s geopolitical disasters, and the future of our democracy. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

32 min
Jul 9, 2026
DSR Daily July 9: Disgraced Graham Platner Drops out of Senate Race

On the DSR Daily for Thursday, we break down Trump’s poor showing at the Ankara NATO summit, Graham Platner dropping out of the Maine Senate race, fresh military strikes on Iran, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

34 min
Jul 9, 2026
NTK: How Dems Can Get Their Act Together to Win in November

Donald Trump and his MAGA allies are more unpopular than ever, but that doesn’t mean November will be a cakewalk for Democrats. Between entrenched leadership that refuses to get with the times and issues like the shocking fall of Graham Platner, it’s clear that Dems have their work cut out for them. Wajahat Ali of The Left Hook Substack joins David Rothkopf to lay out just how Democrats can unite and win big in the midterms and beyond.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

21 min
Jul 9, 2026
The Daily Blast: A Danish Journo’s Viral Takedown of Trump Caps Off Epic NATO Meltdown

At the NATO summit on Wednesday, Donald Trump lashed out wildly at, well, everyone in sight. He threatened more war with Iran. He angrily vowed to cut off all trade with Spain. He hinted again at stealing Greenland. There were many other pratfalls. Amid all this, a Danish journalist had an extraordinary confrontation with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, asking him point blank: What does sitting next to Trump and praising him while he viciously attacks allies, threatens to take whole countries by conquest, and unleashes wildly destructive trade wars do to your “self-respect”? In an understated way, it was a crushing takedown of Trump, treating him as a ludicrous, sidelined figure while essentially saying: All that matters is how the rest of us react to this lunatic. We talked to foreign policy expert Elizabeth Saunders. She explains how deep and lasting Trump’s damage to the alliance will be, how our NATO allies are quietly managing Trump with flattery until he’s gone, and how they’re even trying to “de-Americanize”—that is, move on into the future without us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

46 min
Jul 8, 2026
Making Sense of Trump’s Erratic Performance at the NATO Summit

NATO allies spent much of the summit in Ankara attempting to manage Donald Trump. Meanwhile, our president’s unpredictable commentary and bizarre statements only deepened the rift between the US and its allies. What does this mean for the future of NATO? Is the core mission of NATO undergoing a fundamental shift? Lieutenant General Mark Hertling and former Ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder join David Rothkopf and Ed Luce to discuss the NATO summit in Turkey and the future of the alliance. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

23 min
Jul 8, 2026
DSR Daily July 8: Trump Says Iran Ceasefire is Dead

On the DSR Daily for Wednesday, we discuss Trump saying that the Iran ceasefire is dead, Trump bringing chaos to the NATO summit, dire forecasts from the IMF, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

21 min
Jul 8, 2026
The Daily Blast: Trump’s Rage over Midterm Woes Badly Unnerves GOPers: “He’s a Bully”

For weeks, Donald Trump’s fury has been growing at Republicans for failing to pass voter suppression legislation, demanding that they end the filibuster to do so. In a late-night tirade, he urged them to attach the SAVE Act to a must-pass defense spending bill, a dramatic move that reveals his deep frustration with them. As everybody knows, Trump sees restricting voting as the only way to stave off a midterm calamity. Meanwhile, in a striking piece, NBC News reports that Trump’s angry pressure has left Senate Republicans at wit’s end. They privately fear Trump is laying the groundwork to pin a midterm fiasco on their failure to pass something. They also blame Trump for letting this obsession take his focus off costs. One GOP Senator even tells NBC: “He’s a bully, and he’s f------ things up as fast as he can.” We talked to congressional scholar Norm Ornstein. He walks us through the details of the GOP predicament, decodes the real reason Republicans aren’t nixing the filibuster, and explains why it’s premature to rule out passage of the SAVE Act, offering a road map to what’s next.  Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

25 min
Jul 7, 2026
DSR Daily July 7: The Curious Case of the Missing Mitch McConnell

On the DSR Daily for Tuesday, we break down Mitch McConnell’s absence from the public eye, damning new allegations against Graham Platner, the start of a critical NATO summit in Turkey, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

22 min
Jul 7, 2026
The Daily Blast: Trump Wrecks His Own 250 Crowd Size Claims in Final, Epic Humiliation

Donald Trump ended the tortured saga around his gala for America’s 250th anniversary in typical fashion. Trump claimed 150,000 people attended his final speech, which was humiliatingly contradicted by videos of the event. Then Trump made it worse. During the speech he insisted that 375,000 people had been present before storms and an evacuation caused chaos and turmoil, reducing the crowd to 150,000 (again, a baseless number). But then afterward he posted that the initial total had been 422,000. Somehow the number ballooned by nearly 50,000, delivering still another blow to his credibility. We talked to New Republic senior editor Alex Shephard, who writes really well about MAGA’s dwindling cultural relevance. We discuss the deeper failures of Trump’s extravaganza, why he can’t tell a compelling story about the country anymore, why Barack Obama’s national narrative is far superior, and why the World Cup is acting as a perfect counter-narrative to Trumpism.  Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

25 min
Jul 6, 2026
The DSR Daily for July 6: Trump Ruins Everything He Touches

On the DSR Daily for Monday we break down Trump's July 4th disaster, the upcoming NATO summit, Trump’s FIFA interference, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

23 min
Jul 6, 2026
The Daily Blast: MAGA Wants to Force Women to Pee in Cups at Airports

Ever since the Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship in June, MAGA personalities have really gone off the rails. Many angrily started saying it’s time for the U.S. to find new ways to bar women from coming to this country and having babies. Some are talking about pregnancy tests upon arrival. Others are discussing the possibility of unleashing federal law enforcement on women suspected of pregnancy—and unnervingly, this includes the acting Attorney General. And as a Media Matters roundup shows, some are talking about truly crackpot ideas like forced sterilization. Talking Points Memo writer Sarah Posner sums it up well: “Will every woman now have to pee in cups at airports?” We talked to Posner, a scholar of Christian Nationalism and the religious right. We discuss how all this reflects a genuine and ambitious, if vile, vision for the country, why JD Vance may take up this cause in some form when his presidential run begins next year, and what it all says about MAGA’s deeper misogyny and darkening extreme nationalism.  Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

45 min
Jul 2, 2026
NTK: The Good News for Democrats

The Democratic Party is not totally hopeless! But in this era of rising frustration, economic insecurity, and radically changed media, who actually understands how to meet people where they are and win the future? Tara McGowan and Simon Rosenberg join David Rothkopf to discuss some of the Democratic Party’s internal debates and offer some hope that this midterm election’s diversity and primary-season conflict are signs of a healthy, evolving big-tent coalition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

52 min
Jul 2, 2026
Words Matter: America at a Crossroads for Our 250th Birthday

This Independence Day, we’re face with a stark reality: the values and ideals that lay the foundation of our democracy are consistently being undermined by a corrupt, authoritarian president. The Supreme Court rulings of the past week have effectively cemented Trump as the most powerful executive in U.S. history - isn’t this exactly what our Founding Fathers fought against? This 250th celebration feels tainted by this regime and brings us as a nation to a crossroads. How do we celebrate our democracy amidst such political turmoil? Grab yourself a hot dog, eat a slice of apple pie, and tune in as Norm Ornstein and David Rothkopf examine the United States on the eve of its 250th birthday. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

25 min
Jul 2, 2026
The DSR Daily for July 2: The Founding Fathers Would be Ashamed of America 250

On the DSR Daily for Thursday, we break down Trump taking a trip on the new Air Force One, the White House proposing cuts to hospital payments for scans, Trump’s America 250 problem, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

23 min
Jul 2, 2026
The Daily Blast: Trump Blurts Out Vile Scheme to Rig Midterms as Polls Take Brutal Turn

In today’s episode, MS NOW’s Steve Benen makes a strong case that Donald Trump has corrupted the process of awarding disaster aid to states. Trump has been rejecting aid requests from blue states at a lopsided rate. But this week, Trump announced that he’s awarding aid to Democratic-run swing states with critical gubernatorial, Senate, and House races in them. But here’s the key: As Benen details, in these announcements, Trump openly linked the awarding of aid right to his preferred candidates, even suggesting voters should reward them for securing the money. Trump blurted out the scheme, which Benen calls “breathtaking” in its “brazenness.” It all comes as New York Times polls find Democrats highly competitive in six key Senate races that no one expected to be close. Trump’s numbers are abysmal across these battlegrounds, particularly on the economy, even though he won five of them in 2024. Benen explains why Trump’s scheme matters, why the new polling is brutal for him, and why both developments neatly capture this moment.  Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

37 min
Jul 1, 2026
NTK: On Courage: A Conversation with Ami Fields-Meyer and Julia Angwin

The first two years of Trump’s second term have been a full-fledged attack on American democracy. So what can we do to fight back? Julia Angwin and Ami Fields-Meyer join David Rothkopf to provide an answer through their new book On Courage: How to Be a Dissident in an Age of Fear. Drawing on the experiences of hundreds of dissidents and activists from around the world, we can learn how to fight and win.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

37 min
Jul 1, 2026
Reasons for Optimism as We Celebrate America’s 250th

America’s 250th anniversary is just a few days away, and what should be a proud celebration will be tainted by the corruption of the Trump regime. The Supreme Court seems to disregard our Constitution and the ideals that our country was founded on no longer seem integral to our government. Is democracy in the United States working? What do we have to look back on, and what do we have to look forward to? David Rothkopf, Rosa Brooks, and Ed Luce discuss the current state of America, its past and its future ahead of our 250th anniversary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

24 min
Jul 1, 2026
DSR Daily July 1: Supreme Court Protects Birthright Citizenship

On the DSR Daily for Wednesday, we break down the Supreme Court’s huge decisions on money in politics and citizenship, big wins for Democratic Socialists in Colorado, Trump’s insane profits from crypto, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

17 min
Jul 1, 2026
The Daily Blast: MAGA Rage Takes Unnerving Turn as Birthright Loss Rattles Trump Badly

After the Supreme Court upheld the Constitution’s guarantee of birthright citizenship, Trump and MAGA lost it. Trump threatened to get Congress to end the guarantee, which he can’t do, and he lamely claimed it was a “WIN” for China: The sheer haplessness of his response hinted at how disoriented the ruling left him. But MAGA exploded: One personality called on the masses to “use whatever force is necessary” to repel “invaders,” a clear threat of violence. Another one, flagged by Media Matters, accused the liberal justices of wanting to “burn the country to the ground” and suggested “men of action” must stop them, also a dark, veiled threat. And Stephen Miller absurdly described the ruling as “national self-obliteration,” which would seem to justify anything in response. We talked to Raul Pinto, deputy legal director of the American Immigration Council. We discuss why the ruling was too close for comfort, how that’s inviting MAGA to wage a longer war to overturn birthright citizenship, how that might unfold, and why there’s cause for cautious optimism about what’s next. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

20 min
Jun 30, 2026
DSR Daily June 30: Trump’s Great American State Fair is a Hilarious Disaster

On the DSR Daily for Tuesday, we discuss the hilarious travesty of the Great American State Fair, Trump doubling down on the SAVE America Act, impending changes to the federal student loan system, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

20 min
Jun 30, 2026
The Daily Blast: Trump Rages Wildly at SCOTUS Losses as Plot to Rig Midterms Collapses

Donald Trump lost three big cases at the Supreme Court on Monday. His appeal of E. Jean Carroll’s verdict failed. He was blocked from firing a Federal reserve official. And most important, the court upheld the counting of late-arriving mail ballots. He ranted wildly over these losses. On the last one he exploded in a long and angry tirade, demanding again that Republicans pass onerous voter suppression in response. It’s clear why: This deals a major blow to Trump-GOP hopes of stealing the midterms by invalidating untold numbers of votes. Yet Trump won big at the court, too, securing the power to fire independent regulators at will. We talked to Lisa Graves, a former Senate Judiciary Committee counsel who writes about the Supreme Court. We discuss what the ruling on mail-balloting does, why it will thwart a major piece of the Trump-GOP election-rigging scheme, how Trump and the Supreme Court are teaming up to empower themselves at the expense of Congress, and how a future Democratic Congress can fight back.  Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

16 min
Jun 29, 2026
DSR Daily June 29: Supreme Court Decision Bonanza

On the DSR Daily for Monday, we cover a sweeping slate of important Supreme Court decisions, Trump’s ridiculous plans to renovate a DC golf course, tragic updates from the Venezuelan earthquake catastrophe, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

25 min
Jun 29, 2026
The Daily Blast: Trump Reflecting Pool Arrests Take Unnerving Turn—and Officials Go Mum

Donald Trump has insisted six people have been arrested and many more have been given citations for vandalizing the renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. This allegedly includes carving a 350-foot gash in the pool’s sealant, and in a dark and angry tirade, Trump just described these people as akin to enemies of the state. But The New York Times just obtained a new statement from federal prosecutors. While they confirmed some citations, the Times also reports that administration officials and prosecutors are refusing to provide a single detail about what happened, refusing to divulge anything about who’s been targeted or what their offenses were, and refusing to confirm any arrests of any kind. As former prosecutor Ankush Khardori tells us in today’s episode, this is deeply strange. We discuss why it’s unusual for officials to clam up about such a high-profile claim, how this raises unnerving possibilities about the unhinged despot in the Oval Office, and why it all points to a deeper rot of Trumpian corruption.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

24 min
Jun 28, 2026
DSR Weekly Wrap-up: Death Toll Climbs as World Responds to Devastating Quakes in Venezuela

On the DSR Weekly Wrap-up for June 26th, we cover the horrifying fallout from twin earthquakes in Venezuela, new wrinkles in the US/Iran peace talks, a ridiculous development in the Reflecting Pool saga, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

40 min
Jun 26, 2026
Words Matter: Now Playing! Donald Trump and the Impeachables

Our Supreme Court can’t even pretend to uphold the integrity of the law anymore. We essentially have a lawless court, not a conservative court. Their latest disturbing ruling? A ruling in favor of deporting Haitians and Syrians currently legally residing in the United States. Could this lead to another impeachment of Donald Trump? How could Dems use impeachment as a political tool ahead of the next presidential election? Norm Ornstein and David Rothkopf are back to discuss the Courts and the long road ahead for Dems. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

33 min
Jun 26, 2026
Siliconsciousness: How Can Democrats Get Their Act Together on AI?

After recent primaries, it’s clear that AI is top of mind for many Americans. Whether it’s a mistrust of AI as a whole or just the people at the helms of the companies reaping massive profits, it’s clear that it’s past time for Democrats to have a robust tech and AI strategy. Former Director of the National AI Office Karen Kornbluh joins David Rothkopf to consider what Dems need to do for the midterms and beyond to address this critical issue.  This material is distributed by TRG Advisory Services, LLC on behalf of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the U.S.. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

24 min
Jun 26, 2026
The Daily Blast: Trump 250 Gala Grows More Humiliating as Fox Grapples with Low Turnout

After Donald Trump kicked off his personalized celebration of America’s 250th birthday with a rally on the National Mall on Wednesday night, news accounts described the event as very sparsely attended. Trump himself practically begged for more people to show up to the next event set for July 4. Amusingly, this comes after Fox News madly hyped the Wednesday rally in an effort to drum up excitement. But then, as Matt Gertz of Media Matters reports in a good piece on all this, Fox grappled with the bad initial turnout by largely avoiding any discussion of it. We think that’s pretty revealing. So we talked to Gertz about all of it: We discuss why Trump’s whole gala is so important for the broader, more sinister Trump-Fox project that's underway, the real reason Trump-Fox want our the 250th anniversary to be a celebration of Trump’s “personalist” rule, and what it will really mean if it’s all a bust.  Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

21 min
Jun 25, 2026
DSR Daily June 25: Trump Slaps Down Housing Bill (and Senate Republicans)

On the DSR Daily for Thursday, we discuss Trump’s refusal to sign a bipartisan housing bill, twin deadly earthquakes in Venezuela, Senate Republicans caving to Trump on a war powers vote, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices