The DSR Network

How does someone become a child solider? More importantly, how do they escape? Anthony Opoka joins the podcast with Mick Mulroy and Eric Oehlerich to share his journey from unwilling soldier in Kony’s LRA to crusader for the freedom of child soldiers. Don’t miss his incredible story.

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You can never be too certain about what might happen next in Iran. With the death of President Raisi, the country’s future is more unpredictable than ever. Thankfully, expert Barbara Slavin joins Heather and Jon to analyze what could come next for both Iran and the region.

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On the DSR Daily for June 7, we cover a federal judge ordering Steve Bannon to prison, Joe Biden’s meeting with Zelenskyy in Paris, Netanyahu’s upcoming visit to the US, and more.

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A judge just ordered longtime Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon to surrender to prison on July 1st after his conviction for defying the Jan. 6th committee’s subpoena. Not surprisingly, Trump and MAGA have already exploded in rage. Making this worse, Bannon is one of the leading pro-Trump figures calling on Trump to jail Democrats without cause if he wins the White House—and Bannon’s jail time will only fuel that mania. We talked to Eric Columbus, a lawyer who represented the Jan. 6th committee, about the alarming signals this sends about the perils of a second Trump presidency. Listen to this episode here.

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On the DSR Daily for June 6, we cover an Israeli strike on a UN school in Gaza, shifting support towards Biden in the wake of Trump’s conviction, the Houthi rebels’ new missile, and more.

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On Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal published a dodgy hit piece about President Biden’s age. Then something unusual happened: Democratic lawmakers went nuclear on the piece, going on record to forcefully undermine its core assertions. This deserves some discussion: Could Dems better “work the refs” the way Republicans do? When liberals do criticize coverage, why do newsroom leaders shrug it off? Why do editors insult our intelligence with phony justifications for the overemphasis on Biden’s age? We chatted with Aaron Rupar, a shrewd media observer and author of the “Public Notice" Substack, about the deeper problems with the press this episode reveals. 

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Modi has claimed victory in the Indian elections, but the reality isn’t so rosy for the BJP. For the first time in his tenure, Modi has failed to secure the majority. Journalist Rana Ayyub joins David Rothkopf alongside Rosa Brooks, Kori Schake, and Ed Luce to break down why this election could be a turning point for India and how Modi lost his touch.

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On the DSR Daily for June 5, we cover President Biden’s new asylum restrictions, the House efforts to sanction ICC officials, an election debate in Britain, and more.

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MAGA loyalists have been relentlessly pushing a silly talking point: The American people are in full scale revolt against the criminal conviction of Donald Trump. Guess what? The polls are telling a different story, finding majority support for the verdict. One of these, from the progressive firm Data for Progress, finds that this is also true among swing voters. We chatted with Data for Progress’s executive director, Danielle Deiseroth, about what all these numbers are really telling us, most (though not all) of it good news. Listen to this episode here.

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The competitive relationship between the US and China manages to be both novel, and strikingly familiar. With shades of the Cold War, the potential for escalation is a constant threat. Dmitri Alperovitch joins David Rothkopf to discuss his book “World on the Brink” and how the US can win a Cold War with China.

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Trump is guilty 34 times over. That’s a big deal. So, what happens now? Norm and Kavita break down the political ramifications of the ruling, how MAGA-world is coping with the news, and the political fallout that is already underway.

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On the DSR Daily for June 4, we cover the BJP’s election performance in India, the Biden administration’s expected new asylum restrictions, Dr. Fauci’s public hearing appearance, and more. 

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In the wake of Donald Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts, Republican anger at the verdict is getting darker, with GOP leaders talking about holding hearings and even defunding other prosecutions of Trump. But Democrats are not engaging this debate nearly as intensively, and appear divided over how to proceed. This is puzzling: The furious GOP defense of Trump is deranged and reckless, and would almost certainly be deeply unpopular—if voters are made to understand it. We talked to veteran Democratic strategist Celinda Lake, who suggested ways the party might find a stronger and more unified posture in this battle going forward. Listen to this episode here.

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Artificial intelligence has limitless potential and presents a multitude of risks. So how do we manage the positives without the negatives. White House Special Advisor on AI Ben Buchanan joins David Rothkopf to share what the White House has been doing to promote beneficial growth in AI and more.

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On the DSR daily for June 3, we discuss Mexico electing it’s first woman president, Georgia signing a contentious bill into law, a Chinese spacecraft landing on the far side of the moon, and more.

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The other day on CNN, prominent Never Trump lawyer George Conway did something you rarely see in Washington. He dressed down a GOP commentator for lying his ass off about Donald Trump—and then, right on the air, he asked why CNN was paying this Republican to spread lies on Trump’s behalf. We think this episode illustrates a deep problem with the media’s handling of pro-Trump propaganda. So we chatted with Conway about why he unloaded—and in the process, he revealed some interesting things about the network. Listen to this episode here.

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Following on the heels of a Manhattan jury convicting twice-impeached disgraced former president Donald Trump on 34 felony counts, we sit down with the Washington Post's Jen Rubin and Mike Tomasky of the New Republic and try to figure out what to make of these recent events. One conclusion: Apparently we would be better off if everyone actually read some news every day. We discuss that and much more in a must listen episode. Join us.

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This week, Heather and Jon talk to James Acton, the Jessica T. Mathews Chair and is co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. They delve into the escalating nuclear risks arising from recent events in Ukraine and their potential impact on global security. They also explore the intersection of American interests, European alliances, and the strategic risks associated with the Ukraine war. The discussion highlights the need for risk reduction and the challenges of managing nuclear risks without a cooperative partner. It also addresses the debate around the role of the US in supporting Ukraine and the potential consequences of aggressive actions on nuclear stability.

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The conversation covers the criminal conviction of former President Donald Trump, the implications of the conviction on the upcoming election, the decision to authorize Ukraine to use US-supplied weapons, the rare direct talks between the US and China, the controversy surrounding Supreme Court justices, and a humorous incident involving a Michigan man during a court hearing.

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On this special edition of Siliconsciousness, we have an in-depth conversation with Arati Prabhakar, the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. We discuss the current state of the administration-wide effort to adapt to the complex realities of age of Artificial Intelligence. Prabhakar also details evolving objectives and challenges for the effort. A must-listen on a wide range of vital topics. Join us.

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Award-winning journalist and author, Liza Mundy, discusses her latest book 'The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA' and delves into the experiences of women at the CIA, their challenges, and their contributions to the agency. The conversation also explores the complexities of the CIA as an institution and the unique experiences of women within it.

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Earlier this week, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito refused to recuse himself from hearing Jan. 6-related cases amid controversy over an upside-down U.S. flag outside Alito’s home that’s associated with Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” effort. Then, on Thursday, Chief Justice John Roberts denied Democrats’ demand for a meeting, adding to the imperiousness around the conservative justices and making the Alito scandal look worse. We talked to Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, about what he called the “omerta” code for right wing justices—and whether it’s time for hearings into the Alito mess. Listen to this episode here.

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The conversation covers a range of topics including the Trump trial, Supreme Court Justice Alito's refusal to recuse himself, the US-built pier in Gaza, Ukrainian drone strikes, and the South African elections.

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Donald Trump recently said he’s “looking at” imposing restrictions on contraception if he is elected president, and even promised a concrete policy. Then he quickly walked it back. But certain constituencies on the right have not given up—far from it. We chatted with Politico reporter Alice Miranda Ollstein, co-author of a great new piece detailing the blueprint that Trump’s MAGA allies are developing for him to restrict birth control through executive action, about how far this could get if he regains the White House. It isn’t pretty. Listen to this episode here.

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The war in Gaza is horrifying. It is also a war being conducted without a strategy and without a clear end goal in mind by an ally that opposes most core American objectives. Are these people we should be sending more weapons to? If so, on what conditions? What should we be doing differently. Israeli journalist Noga Tarnopolsky, former Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas, Georgetown Law Professor Rosa Brooks and Dr. Kori Schake of the American Enterprise Institute join David Rothkopf for a conversation in search of constructive answers. Don't miss it.

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Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph E. Stiglitz has just produced an important new book, "The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society" that explores not just the merits but the urgent need to embrace progressive economics as an alternative to the distortionary, inequality-driving and freedom-limiting consequences of neo-liberalism. Ed Luce of the Financial Times and host David Rothkopf engage in an important, wide-ranging discussion with Stiglitz about his book and its relevance to the current political and economic situation in the United States and worldwide. Don't miss it.

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On this edition of the DSR Daily Brief, we cover the Israeli airstrike in Rafah, South Africa's upcoming election, North Korea's balloon incident, the criminal trial of Donald Trump, and the controversy surrounding the upside-down American flag at Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's home. 

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On Tuesday, Judge Aileen Cannon temporarily denied special counsel Jack Smith’s latest request for a gag order on Donald Trump’s lie that the FBI was set to use lethal force on Trump at Mar-a-Lago. In keeping with a shady pattern of favoritism to Trump, Cannon said No, but she may feel pressure to grant the gag order later, lest Smith seek her removal. We talked to legal scholar Matthew Seligman, who has done great work road-mapping Trump’s legal travails, about why Cannon’s move may not help Trump in the long run—and why it’s premature to assume he won’t face a federal criminal trial before the election. Listen to this episode here.

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On this episode of the DSR Daily Brief, we cover the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the situation in Ukraine, Donald Trump's legal issues, and a natural disaster in Papua New Guinea.

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Donald Trump and his media propagandists have been preposterously suggesting the FBI under President Biden was set to use “lethal force” against Trump when it searched Mar-a-Lago. This fabrication was summoned into existence by Fox News and the right wing media. We talked with media reporter Brian Stelter, author of a great new piece on Trump in The New Republic’s “American Fascism” issue, who put all this in its larger context, explaining what the right wing media has become under Trump, and how he will bully non-compliant media outlets if reelected president. Listen to this episode here.

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Original Air Date: June 23, 2023

Norm and Kavita are back this week to discuss the 8-1 ruling in favor of the Biden administration’s immigration enforcement guidelines. From there, they turn their attention to Justice Alito, who earlier in the week wrote a preemptive opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal addressing the ProPublica investigative piece which disclosed his fishing trips with a Billionaire Hedge Fund manger that petitioned the Supreme Court to rule in his favor in his business dealings. Don’t miss it!

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Original Air Date: June 26, 2023

The dust is still settling from Yevgeny Prigozhin's march on Moscow that gripped the world and rocked the Kremlin. Many questions remain but one thing is certain. In the wake of Prigozhin's bold if seemingly ill-fated challenge to the authority of Russia's Ministry of Defense, Vladimir Putin is weaker today in the eyes of Russians, Ukrainians and the world. We discuss the consequences of that change with the Washington Post's Shane Harris, former CIA Moscow hand John Sipher, co-host former CIA operations officer Marc Polymeropoulos and co-host David Rothkopf. Join us.

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Two satellites snuggling doesn’t sound so bad, right? The new space race with China, Russia, and the US has led to some interesting new tech with scarier implications than you might expect. David Sanger and Victoria Samson join Jon and Heather to break down the far-reaching consequences of space defense.

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On the Friday edition of the DSR daily, we discuss China staging mock missile strikes on Taiwan, the US announcing new military aid for Ukraine, the dispute over President Biden on the ballot in Ohio, and more.

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On Thursday, Donald Trump tweeted that Vladimir Putin will release Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter detained in Russia, after the election—“for me,” meaning for Trump. In other words, elect Trump president, and Putin will release him. We think this saga gets at a larger story about Trump’s approach to politics and foreign policy. So we talked to Nicholas Grossman, a professor of international relations who writes about Trump’s Putinist inclinations. He explains how Trump may be sabotaging U.S foreign policy to help himself politically, while aligning himself with the world’s autocrats and dictators. Listen to this episode here.

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Original Air Date: June 1, 2023

Every day it seems new revelations suggest Donald Trump is in greater legal jeopardy. And, with each new revelation, comes a chorus of accusations and threats from the GOP led by Trump himself that it is time to shut down the Department of Justice and the FBI, time to fire those who are involved in investigating him, time to purge the government of everyone disloyal to the MAGA movement. It is a perilous moment. But where will it lead? We discuss with former FBI special agent Peter Strzok in a wide-ranging, insight-rich conversation you won't want to miss.

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Jess McHugh joins Marissa to share the compelling true life story of two people who fell in love--one Jewish and one German-- and made it their life’s work to bring Nazis to justice.

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On the Thursday edition of the DSR daily, we cover Nikki Haley’s statement that she will vote for Trump, Israel’s intention to reprimand Irish, Norwegian, and Spanish ambassadors, the Pentagon’s report of a Russian space weapon, and more. 

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Trump and MAGA Republicans are floating the crackpot idea that President Biden’s FBI was ready to target Trump with lethal force when it searched Mar-a-Lago. This is based on a wildly absurd reading of FBI policy, but beyond this, we think this saga says something larger about the fascistic politics of Trump and his MAGA allies. We talked to Federico Finchelstein, an expert on fascist movements and author of a new piece in The New Republic’s issue on “American Fascism,” who explains why Trump is best seen as a “wannabe fascist.” 

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Original Air Date: May 31, 2023

America did not choose to blow up the world economy. The lunatic caucus in Congress did not prevail. An experienced president helped strike a deal that preserved critical U.S. programs and priorities. The world can stop thinking we've lost our minds. Or can they? With 2024 looming we discuss whether the trends are encouraging or discouraging or downright frightening both at tome and in terms of U.S. foreign policy. Ed Luce of the Financial Times, Rosa Brooks of Georgetown Law Center and host David Rothkopf, do a deep dive...and end up being a little bit optimistic for a change. Join us.

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On the Wednesday edition of the DSR daily we cover Ireland, Norway, and Spain’s recognition of a Palestinian state, the US signaling towards ICC sanctions, Rudy Giuliani and Trump allies pleading not guilty, and more.

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To say it’s been a busy week in American politics would be an understatement. Thankfully, Kavita and Norm are here to discuss the unfolding dynamics of the primaries and Senate races, the state of the Supreme Court and upcoming decisions, and why voters’ economic perception isn’t matching the reality. 

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On the Tuesday edition of the DSR daily, we cover the updated situation in Haiti, the conclusion of the prosecutors’ case against Donald Trump, the German foreign minister’s visit to Kyiv, and more.

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On Monday, the prosecution rested its case in Donald Trump’s hush money trial in Manhattan. This comes after Trump’s defense team concluded their efforts to destroy former Trump fixer Michael Cohen’s credibility as one of the chief witnesses against Trump. So has the prosecution proven its case? We talked to New York Law School professor Rebecca Roiphe, who has prosecuted cases like these in New York, about why she thinks a conviction is now likely—even as it still remains very possible that Trump could beat the rap.

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Emerging from the shadows after a 24 year career at CIA, former senior case officer Ed Bogan joins Marc to share his insights on serving everywhere from South Asia to Ukraine, including the critical importance of people at CIA, the need to form enduring liaison partnerships and building a resilient workforce. A lively tour d’horizon of an amazing agency life, that includes Ed’s journey from skateboarder in New Jersey, law school in Philadelphia, and then the back alleys of Afghanistan. 

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On the Monday edition of the DSR daily, we cover the death of Iranian President Raisi in a helicopter crash, the ICC prosecutor requesting warrants for Hamas and Israeli leadership, Trump’s potential testimony on Monday, and more.

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The GOP’s embrace of Donald Trump’s authoritarianism is growing more blatant. Republicans have joined him in attacking his criminal trials as illegitimate. Those angling to be his running mate say they wouldn’t have certified his 2020 loss. And many Republicans are echoing his refusal to say he’ll respect the 2024 outcome. We talked to Tom Nichols, a leading Never Trump conservative and staff writer at The Atlantic about why he is now arguing that his former party’s support for Trump has driven it into the abyss. Listen to this episode here.

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Original Air Date: May 30, 2023

Michael’s guest this week is Jennifer Cafarella, the Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Jennifer and her team of analysts have been providing detailed reports and interactive maps each day since the war began on both Russian and Ukrainian positions. If you’re interested in what’s really happening in Ukraine, don’t miss this conversation.

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Original Air Date: April 13, 2023

It is bad enough the Supreme Court has been transformed from the central pillar of our justice system into a mood ring reflective the shifting views of the extreme right. But the damage that has been done to our legal system and our democracy at large now is visible at every level of the courts, state legislatures and in our Congress. We don't often connect the dots to see how serious the decay has been...but in this special one-on-one conversation with Dahlia Lithwick that's exactly what we do. It is a must-listen episode of Deep State Radio. Join us.

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We’re getting worried about the things that go boom in the night. Between talk about removing one of the legs of the US nuclear triad and Russia’s ever-present saber-rattling, there’s no shortage of things that give us insomnia. Heather and Jon are back to talk about the many foolhardy ideas being floated in the world of nuclear arms and defense both in the US and abroad.

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