The DSR Network

The relationship between China and the US is the most important in the world, and cutting through the cacophony of commentary to the heart of the matter is no easy task. Thankfully, Jon and Heather are joined by one of the leading experts on China and national security, Graham Allison. Graham shares his decades of experience to reveal why China and the US may be on a collision course — and why there are unprecedented opportunities for cooperation. 

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At the Supreme Court and college campuses, leaders aren’t leading. As the court weighs incredibly consequential decisions and colleges grapple with divisive protests, we need clear leadership more than ever. Norm and Kavita discuss this unique problem and where we go from here.

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On the Friday edition of the DSR Daily, we discuss Harvey Weinstein’s conviction being overturned in NY, the Supreme Court’s deliberations on Trump’s immunity claims, Secretary Blinken’s trip to Beijing, and more. 

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A new Politico report has exposed deep tensions between The New York Times and the White House. President Biden’s team believes The Times isn’t adequately capturing the threat Donald Trump poses to democracy, while The Times responds that Team Biden is out to micromanage the paper of record’s coverage. We think this debate is badly muddled and in need of some major clarifications. So we chatted with Substacker Brian Beutler, a frequent media critic, about today’s flawed conventions of political reporting, why they aren’t meeting the challenge of this moment, and what’s needed to change them.

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On the Thursday edition of the DSR daily, we cover the Arizona House repealing an 1864 abortion ban, Ukraine using longer-range US missiles for the first time, Rudy Giuliani and others being indicted for 2020 election interference, and more. 

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Now that the House has passed military aid to Ukraine, MAGA personalities like Donald Trump Jr. and Tucker Carlson have joined Marjorie Taylor Greene in attacking House Speaker Mike Johnson as a traitor to the cause. Yet this isn’t just typical right wing ranting. It reveals very specific expectations of what Donald Trump would do to our international alliances if he wins back the White House. We talked to A.B. Stoddard, columnist at The Bulwark and author of a new piece digging into these dynamics, about what this MAGA vision for the world really looks like—and why a second Trump term would be so dangerous.

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Speaker Johnson has finally done the right thing for Ukraine. In passing Ukraine aid, the self-destructive Republican Party has inflamed the war with itself. Ed Luce and David Rothkopf break down what the aid package really means for Ukraine and how the GOP’s circular firing squad will impact the party’s chances in November and beyond.

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The latest in our series of Bernard L. Schwartz PolicyForum events is here. In conjunction with the New Republic, we host Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg for an insightful conversation with DSR Network CEO David Rothkopf and The New Republic Editor Michael Tomasky. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation as Secretary Buttigieg gives his unique insight into some of the greatest challenges facing our country today. 

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New polls this week offered something of a surprise: They show Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential run pulling more support from Donald Trump than from President Biden. And even some Republicans are publicly insisting that they fear the same. One person who is deeply skeptical of this reading is veteran Democratic strategist and podcaster Joe Trippi. We chatted with Trippi about his grand theory of the election, why he thinks the only threat RFK poses is to Biden, and how Trump and Republicans are attempting to disguise all of it with a clever bait-and-switch.

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On the DSR Daily for Tuesday, we discuss Israeli troops amassing near the Gaza Strip, new accusations from prosecutors in Trump’s hush money trial, mass arrests in US campus protests, and more. 

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Now that Mike Johnson allowed Ukraine aid to pass the House on a broad bipartisan basis, an enraged Marjorie Taylor Greene is ramping up her threats to oust the Speaker. But a funny thing has happened: For many reasons, Greene’s efforts could end up accomplishing little for the MAGA right, even as they do more to endanger GOP control of the House. We chatted with Democratic Representative Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania, a shrewd observer of all these dynamics, about the possibilities of more coalition governing, the future of MAGA in the House, and the threat posed by the ticking time bomb otherwise known as MTG.

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With conflicts raging in Ukraine, Gaza, and beyond, the job of covering conflict and national security is more important than ever. But how do journalists provide accurate and reliable coverage? CNN national security correspondent Kylie Atwood joins Marc Polymeropoulos to discuss the unique challenges our current national security climate and more.

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On the Monday edition of the DSR Daily, we cover the House finally passing an aid bill for Ukraine, the head of the IDF’s intelligence department’s resignation, the Supreme Court reviewing anti-camping laws, and more.

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This week, arguments begin in Donald Trump’s hush money trial in Manhattan, and he’s raging over the unfairness of it all. Amazingly, some are rushing to insist the trial won’t pose a serious problem for his presidential chances. But progressive political strategist Anat Shenker-Osorio disagrees: She writes in a new piece for Slate that due to some hidden public opinion dynamics, the case is already damaging him. So we chatted with Shenker-Osorio about why the trial and Trump’s impulsive conduct at it is so alienating to voters outside the MAGA bubble—and why this dynamic will only get worse.

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Original Air Date: June 16, 2023

The lies and deflections from Republicans defending Trump have spun up the ire of "Words Matter" co-host Norm Ornstein. So in this episode he not only explains why but guest co-host David Rothkopf tries unsuccessfully to defuse his anger. Instead, both recount the facts surrounding the case for which Trump was arraigned this week and the likely cases to come and frankly, the outrage only grows. Join them to understand why it is fully justified.

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Original Air Date: March 15, 2023

There is never a dull period for the Middle East. David and Rosa are joined by Alon Pinkas of Haaretz to discuss Iran and Saudi Arabia resuming diplomatic ties and the ongoing crisis in Israel. Do we anticipate big changes in the Middle East following this announcement? What does this say about America's role in the region? Is Israel in an (unwritten) constitutional crisis? All of this and more during this thoughtful discussion. Members get a bonus segment where David and Kim Ghattas, author of Black Wave, continue the conversation about the Saudi-Iran relationship.

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In launching over 300 drones and missiles at Israel, Iran has revealed a lot about not only its own arsenal, but the effectiveness of missile defense. So what can the international and defense communities learn? Experts Ankit Panda and Tom Karako join Jon to share the key takeaways from the attack and what it means for the future of defense. 

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The House is its own special kind of crazy, but the Senate is no slouch either. Tom Cotton’s recent comments calling for Americans to “take matters into their own hands” in response to protests reminds us that Senators can seemingly call for acts of violence and get away with it. Norm and Kavita break down the fall of accountability in the Senate and why some Senators continue to embarrass the institution. 

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At a fundraiser with oil and gas industry executives last week, Donald Trump reportedly ranted angrily about, of all things, wind power. “I hate wind,” Trump told the executives. That may seem like a joke, but it gets at a deadly serious topic: If Trump wins this fall, he’d very likely try to repeal President Biden’s climate policies. We chatted with David Roberts, author of a great energy Substack called “Volts,” about Trump’s prospects for success at that project, about its potential consequences for the world, and about an intriguing concept known as “petro-masculinity.”

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From the tumult in Israel and Ukraine to widespread challenges across Africa, the world is at a turning point. Senator Chris Coons, a leading voice in the US Senate on international affairs, joins David Rothkopf on a special episode of DSR to share his perspective on the most critical foreign policy issues today. 

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Our Sources for Today's Episode:

1:02: AP News: House’s Ukraine, Israel aid package gains Biden’s support as Speaker Johnson fights to keep his job

President Joe Biden expressed strong support for House Speaker Mike Johnson's proposal to approve $95 billion in aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, highlighting a bipartisan push amid political tensions.

2:01: Washington Post: Red states threaten librarians with prison — as blue states work to protect them

Sam Lee, a leader of the Connecticut Library Association, finds herself conflicted as she heads to work amidst a nationwide increase in book challenges.

3:24: Al Jazeera: Hezbollah launches missiles and drones at northern Israel

Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for an attack on a new military reconnaissance command center in Arab al-Aramshe, Israel, which wounded at least 14 Israeli soldiers, in retaliation for Israeli strikes that killed Hezbollah members.

4:24: BBC: Ukraine warns of WW3 ahead of long-stalled Congress aid vote

Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, in an interview with the BBC in Washington DC, expressed cautious optimism about the U.S. Congress passing a crucial foreign aid bill that includes $61 billion earmarked for Ukraine.

5:20: Straits Times: Thousands evacuated as Indonesia volcano erupts, causes tsunami threat and airport closure

Indonesian rescuers urgently evacuated thousands of people on April 18 after Mount Ruang erupted five times in two days, prompting authorities to raise its alert level to the highest and shut down the nearest international airport in Manado city.

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Kari Lake, a diehard MAGA Republican who’s running for Senate in Arizona, told a rally this week that it’s time for supporters of her and Donald Trump to “put on the armor of God and maybe strap on a Glock just in case.” There you have it: God and Glock, side by side. We talked to Elizabeth Neumann, a Homeland Security counterterrorism official during Trump’s presidency and author of a new book about Christian extremism, about how MAGA rhetoric normalizes political violence.

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It’s been several days since Iran’s failed attack on Israel, and the world is still waiting to see how Israel will respond. Rosa Brooks, Kori Schake, and David Rothkopf take up the unenviable task of putting themselves in Netanyahu’s shoes to chart the best path forward — both for Israel, and the region.

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On the Wednesday edition of the DSR Daily, we discuss David Cameron’s visit to Jerusalem, US and China’s defense chiefs holding talks, Russia’s strategies to diminish Western influence, and more. 

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Here on the podcast we’ve repeatedly argued that Mike Johnson might ultimately allow a vote on military aid to Ukraine, even if it might get him ousted as speaker by MAGA forces in the House. Thankfully, this now looks real: The House GOP leadership is preparing to move forward with Ukraine aid as part of a broader set of bills—and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is furious. We talked to Democratic Representative Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, a former U.S. Navy Pilot and member of the Armed Services Committee, who helped us unravel why Johnson is doing this now, its prospects for success, and the true extent of Russian influence over MAGA.

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Reading a politician’s memoir can tell you a lot about them, but reading between the lines can teach you even more. Carlos Lozada joins David to discuss his recently released “The Washington Book,” and share how to analyze memoirs and speeches to gain a deeper understanding of our politics and history.

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On the Tuesday edition of the DSR Daily, we cover the rejection of dozens of jurors in Trump’s hush money trial, the killing of two Palestinians in the West Bank, Mike Johnson’s plan to split foreign aid into separate bills, and more.

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential run is inspiring new fears among Democrats that he will help Donald Trump win the White House again. Meanwhile, Kennedy’s campaign is now expressing confidence that he’ll appear on the ballot in all the key swing states and beyond. So it’s notable that the Kennedy clan is taking urgent new steps to mobilize in response—against their own family member’s candidacy. We chatted with Jill Lawrence, a veteran journalist and author of a new piece for The Bulwark on this dynamic, who explains the remarkable role the Kennedys are poised to play in stopping RFK Jr. from serving as pro-Trump spoiler.

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Nearly every news station is describing Iran’s attack on Israel ‘unprecedented’. But why? More importantly, what comes next? Former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Mick Mulroy joins Marc to give a run-down on the implications of Iran’s attack, why it represents a huge escalation in the region, and what might be coming next in the embattled region.

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On the DSR Daily for April 15, we cover the White House saying the US will not be involved in retaliatory strikes against Iran, the impending start of Trump’s criminal trial, the Colorado House passing a semi-auto weapons ban, and more.

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With jury selection in Donald Trump’s hush money trial beginning this week in New York, some have dismisses the case as weak. Yet Trump, who is accused of falsifying business records to conceal payoffs over his alleged affair with Stormy Daniels, is not acting as if he’s out of the woods. Dave Aronberg, a prosecutor in Florida who writes for Meidas Touch News, has argued that it’s not necessarily a weak case at all. We chatted with Aronberg about what to expect from the trial and how surprise evidence could emerge that badly complicates Trump’s defense.

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Original Air Date: 3/10/23

From the media and books to drag shows and voting, states is in the South have been trying to turn back the clock. Kavita and Norm talk about these updates, what they mean for the country as a whole, and what we can do about it. Members get a bonus conversation about Walgreens.

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Original Air Date: 4/26/23

The world faces the prospect that US foreign policy could once again change on a dime if, as could happen, Donald Trump is again elected president of the United States. How do our allies deal with this? Our enemies? Ukraine? Putin? China? We discuss this as well as President Xi's call with President Zelensky, South Korea's president's meeting with Joe Biden and really bad tv shows and movies about DC. Don't miss this great episode with Rosa Brooks, Kori Schake and Ed Luce.

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House Republicans are fighting or floundering, Mike Johnson is traveling to Mar-a-Lago to pray at the altar of Trump, and Arizona lawmakers grapple with an archaic abortion law. All in a week’s work for this Republican Party. Norm and Kavita discuss the farce that is the contemporary Republican agenda and more.

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On the Friday edition of the DSR Daily, we cover the US sending a top general to Israel, state officials in Ohio and Alabama warning that Biden could miss the ballot, reports that aid is still not reaching Gaza, and more.

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Donald Trump’s presidential campaign has been hit by a lot of bad news lately. His former vice president declined to endorse him. His legal travails are getting worse. And some states are lurching to new extremes on abortion, making it impossible for Trump to shrug off responsibility for the end of Roe v. Wade. Yet as Media Matters has documented, Fox News appears to be dramatically downplaying a lot of these stories. We talked to Media Matters news director John Whitehouse about Fox’s evolution into a pro-Trump propaganda network and what that says about today’s right wing.

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The polling is looking better and better for President Biden, but we’re not out of the woods yet. The Biden camp still needs to win over members of the 2020 coalition to cement Trump’s defeat. Tara McGowan and Simon Rosenberg join David Rothkopf to give us the lay of the land for where we are, and the work that needs to be done to ensure victory come November. 

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On the Thursday edition of the DSR Daily, we cover Arizona Republicans blocking an effort to repeal an 1864 abortion law, President Biden vowing support for Israel in the face of Iranian threats, a Canadian inquiry into Chinese election interference, and more.

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On Wednesday, Donald Trump declared that he won’t sign a national abortion ban if elected president, a clear sign he recognizes the issue poses a severe threat to his prospects. But this week, the Arizona State Supreme Court upheld an 1864 law banning almost all abortions, demonstrating that Trump will be forced to answer for every extremist lurch in the states from now until the election. We chatted with Elvia Diaz, the editorial page editor of The Arizona Republic, who explains how deeply personal this issue is for millions of women and why that’s a serious problem for Trump and the GOP in Arizona and beyond.

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Donald Trump presents an existential threat to the US. And Ukraine. And NATO. Should we go on? It’s time to get serious about defeating Trump in November, and there are a million reasons why. Ed Luce and Rosa Brooks join David Rothkopf to share a few of those reasons and the ways we can send MAGA packing come Election Day.

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On the Wednesday edition of the DSR Daily, we cover the early release of some January 6th defendants, the sentencing of a Michigan gunman’s parents, new claims from a Boeing whistleblower, and more.

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At a recent fundraiser, Donald Trump promised big tax cuts to some of the richest donors in the country. He also suggested he wants more immigrants from countries like Norway—hint, hint—while blasting Latin American migrants as criminals and worse. This corrupt bargain—offer huge giveaways to wealthy elites so they embrace far right governance—is an old story. In today’s episode, Harvard professor Daniel Ziblatt—who studies what happens when conservative elites ally with authoritarian movements—explains why it’s extraordinarily reckless for corporate leaders to calculate they can work with Trump despite his promise of a lawless second term.

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A year ago, our biggest fear was the next Trump. Now that our candidates are locked in for the 2024 election, our biggest fear is Trump himself. Miles Taylor joins David Rothkopf to discuss his book “Blowback: A Warning to Save Democracy from Trump’s Revenge” and why the threat Trump poses is even greater than ever — whether he wins or loses.

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Investigative journalism is difficult enough, but studying Russia and the intelligence community is on another level. Michael Weiss is one of the journalists up to the task. Michael joins Marc Polymeropoulos to break down his latest reporting on Havana Syndrome and takes us on a tour of his investigation and beyond.

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On the Tuesday edition of the DSR Daily, we discuss Netanyahu’s announcement that a date has been set for the invasion of Rafah, Haiti’s plan for a transitional government, a landmark climate ruling in Europe, and more.

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This week, Mike Johnson finally appears set to decide whether to hold a House vote on funding military aid to Ukraine. If so, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has threatened to try to oust him as Speaker. Yet something funny has happened: A lot of House Republicans want to vote on Ukraine aid. Is there any chance it might pass? How will Donald Trump react? We talked to Julia Ioffe, a journalist for Puck and a leading voice on Russia-U.S. relations, who shed light on the brutal road ahead for Ukraine and explained how the MAGA-Putin alliance really works.

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On the Monday edition of the DSR Daily, we cover the reduction of Israeli troops in Gaza, the pro-Russian president-elect in Slovakia, a Brazilian investigation into Elon Musk, and more.

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It’s a new trend: GOP legislatures are advancing bills that place onerous new kinds of restrictions on public and school libraries in states like Idaho, Alabama, Georgia and others. On the front lines of taking on this trend is Emily Drabinski, the president of the American Library Association, who also grew up in Idaho and is openly gay. So we invited Drabinski on to the show to shed light on what it takes to battle the book banners targeting LGBTQ materials in states like her own, and what sort of toll this is taking on communities across the country.

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Original Air Date: April 5, 2023

Note: this podcast was taped prior to the announced indictments of Donald Trump. The absence of real indictments against Donald Trump allows him to set the narrative. That's not a good thing. So maybe prosecutors should consider drinking a little more Red Bull, having a few more cups of coffee. This is getting ridiculous. We discuss with Dr. Kavita Patel, Norm Ornstein and David Rothkopf. We also discuss who will be the GOP candidate for president when Trump and DeSantis flame out. And we consider the imponderable: Why is George Santos still a member of Congress. Join us for answers to all the most pressing political questions.

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Original Air Date: March 21, 2023

America's politicians have become more hawkish on China but is that the only path forward? David Rothkopf debates this issue with Dmitri Alperovitch of the Silverado Policy Accelerator and Josh Rogin of the Washington Post. Is China willing to compete and cooperate? How does Taiwan play into all of this? Can America not tilt completely into a militaristic framing of the competition? Find out during this argumentative conversation.

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