The DSR Network

On our Monday edition of the DSR Daily, we cover the US Senate’s deal on Ukraine aid and border control, President Zelensky confirming his intention to replace a top general, election news in El Salvador and Senegal, and more.

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It’s one of the strangest disconnects in our politics today: By many metrics, the economy is doing extremely well, yet President Biden’s approval numbers on the economy are in the toilet. With the latest jobs report showing an extraordinary 353,000 jobs created in January, we talked to New York Times columnist Paul Krugman about what the boom means, why Trump and MAGA Republicans are in denial about it, and how President Biden should respond.

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Original Air Date: January 13, 2023

On this week's episode, Norm and Kavita talk about the start of a divided and performative Congress. Members of The DSR Network get a bonus conversation about Biden's classified documents and the Republicans investigations efforts across the government.

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Original Air Date - March 29, 2023

Celebrating democracy seems like a good idea. Further, President Biden and his team have been actively supporting democracy worldwide since they took office. But that doesn't mean hosting a democracy summit is a great idea. Because a lot of difficult questions are raised. Like who thinks they're a democracy but really isn't? What do you do with wannabe authoritarians like Netanyahu, Modi & Lopez Obrador? And what long term results can come from these summits. We discuss with Kori Schake, Rosa Brooks and Ed Luce. Join us.

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Are tensions between Iran and the US the highest they’ve ever been? The conflict between Israel and Gaza is only the latest in a long line of events that have put both countries at odds. Foreign policy experts Robin Wright and Barbara Slavin join David Rothkopf and hosts Heather Williams and Jon Wolfsthal to untangle the complicated history of the US and Iran, and forecast future crises in the region.

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On the Friday edition of the DSR Daily, we cover a letter from over 800 western officials protesting Israel-Gaza policies, the US approving a plan to strike Iranian targets in Syria and Iraq, and Russia refusing to turn over the bodies of Ukrainian POWs.

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This week, we learned that Donald Trump’s fundraising committees channeled an extraordinary $50 million toward bankrolling his myriad legal defenses throughout 2023. Such sordid trickery has a long history on the right: For decades, shrewd fundraising gurus have raked in cash from conservative voters with hallucinatory alarmism about leftist villains and other apocalyptic threats. We talked to Geoff Kabaservice, the author of a “Rule and Ruin,” a history of the GOP, to situate Trump in this hallowed tradition of grifters. It turns out Trump may have outdone them all.

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In this election, the most important campaigners are coming from outside of the political establishment. Democratic strategists Tara McGowan and Simon Rosenberg join David Rothkopf to share why now is the time for everyone to use their platform to push for victory in 2024, and why the Taylor Swift factor may be even bigger than you think.

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On the Thursday edition of the DSR Daily, we cover the EU agreement on a 50 billion euro package for Ukraine, Zuckerberg apologizing to families in a Senate hearing, the escalating farmer protests in Europe, and more.

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A frightening new batch of polls this week showed President Biden trailing Donald Trump in all the key battleground states. And yet, as bleak as the polling has looked, Democrats racked up an impressive winning streak in special elections all throughout 2023. This disconnect is why political pros are closely watching an election for state House in the Philadelphia suburbs that’s set for Feb. 13th. We talked to Democratic candidate Jim Prokopiak to gauge what he’s seeing on the ground in swing territory, why Biden is struggling on the economy, and how Trump can still looks strong despite his descent into derangement and severe criminal jeopardy.

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The world’s largest democracy is in danger. Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist movement continues to erode the rights of Indian Muslims and the country’s democratic systems. Indian journalist Rana Ayyub joins Ed Luce and David Rothkopf to shine a light on the peril India faces as elections loom. 

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On the Wednesday edition of the DSR Daily, we cover reports that Zelensky will oust a top general, Iran’s threats to ‘decisively respond’ to any US strikes, an Argentinian court striking down Milei’s labor policies, and more.

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Far-right personalities are fantasizing about “civil war” again, amid a standoff between Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the feds over border enforcement. That may seem silly, but unbridgeable differences over immigration truly are driving many big stories of the moment, from that Texas battle to Senate negotiations over a border bill to the House GOP impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. If you want to understand what’s really going on with all these complex issues, few voices bring more clarity than Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council. We chatted with him about the deeper conflicts and tensions animating this crisis.

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Greg Abbott and the House Republicans are using the border as a political poker chip, with disastrous implications for immigrants. As Abbott continues to defy the Supreme Court and the House refuses to pass immigration reform, what does the Biden administration need to do? Norm and Kavita discuss the answers and more. 

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On the Tuesday edition of the DSR Daily, we cover statements from Secretary Blinken on the US response to attacks on service members, House Republicans moving to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas, and the latest from Israel.

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Three former Republican governors—Marc Racicot of Montana, Christine Todd Whitman of New Jersey, and Bill Weld of Massachusetts—have signed on to a legal brief to the Supreme Court arguing that Donald Trump is disqualified from running for president under Section 3 of the 14th amendment to the Constitution. Greg Sargent talks to Racicot about what he hopes this will achieve, whether the GOP is to blame for the rise of Trump and the MAGA movement, and why principled anti-Trump Republican elites are a disappearing species.

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Spy movies have been a staple of Hollywood for decades, but how many of them actually get it right? Spycraft Entertainment’s John Sipher joins Marc Polymeropoulos to talk about what makes for a good spy story, and why more accurate depictions of the intelligence community make for great entertainment. John and Marc also discuss the generational divide between the old guard and Gen Z at the CIA and more.

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On the Monday edition of the DSR daily, we cover the mounting pressure to retaliate over the deaths of US troops in Jordan, the upcoming meeting between US and Chinese officials to curb the production of Fentanyl, UN workers accused of aiding Hamas, and more.

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Original Air Date: May 16, 2023

Norm and Kavita are both traveling, but that doesn’t stop them from discussing the issues. This week, in this abbreviated version of Words Matter, Norm and Kavita discuss Ron DeSantis’s presidential bid announcement, the Surgeon General’s announcement on the impact of social media on adolescents and the Nebraska Abortion Case.

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Marissa’s guest is noted writer David Kamp, who (along with Marissa) is an alumnus of Spy Magazine, which famously coined the term “short-fingered vulgarian” to describe New York real estate celebrity Trump. David discusses his recent editorial for the New York Times where he argues the stakes for our democracy are too high and it’s time to stop laughing at Trump. Which isn’t to say Marissa and David don’t share a chuckle or two on the podcast. Chocolate chip and halvah cookies are baked.

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Original Air Date: January 25, 2021

All eyes remain on the border between Ukraine and Russia as the conventional wisdom is that Russia is more likely than not further invade Ukraine. President Biden is considering sending thousands of troops into the region while other NATO allies have already begun moving weapons and soldiers into Eastern Europe. What lessons has the Biden administration learned from Obama's experience with Crimea? Are there any off-ramps left for Putin to deescalate? Will this situation ultimately strengthen NATO and perceptions of American power abroad? Deep State Radio host David Rothkopf speaks with Kori Schake of the American Enterprise Institute, Ed Luce of the Financial Times, Rosa Brooks of Georgetown University, and Evelyn Farkas former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia about these and other issues facing the United States and our Allies. Join us.

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The Doomsday Clock remains at 90 seconds to midnight. But what actually goes into the decision to set the time, and how panicked should we really be? Bulletin of Atomic Scientists member Daniel Holz and former executive director Kennette Benedict join Jon Wolfsthal and Heather Williams to break down what the clock really means and more.

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On the Friday edition of the DSR Daily, we break down the World Court’s ruling on Israel’s war in Gaza, France enacting its controversial immigration law, Biden positioning new approvals for natural gas export terminals, and more.

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Donald Trump is now the GOP's presumptive nominee. How should the Biden team be responding? What should they be doing differently.?David Rothkopf joins Norm and Kavita to analyze the good, the bad, and the ugly of the election so far and what comes next.

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On the Thursday edition of the DSR Daily, we break down the general strike in Argentina, Ukraine’s calls for a probe into the Russian plane crash, Ohio lawmakers banning gender-affirming care for minors, and more.

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Whereas Benjamin Netanyahu is struggling with flagging domestic support , Joe Biden is the most popular politician in Israel. As the devastating war in Gaza drags on, how can Biden channel his popularity into substantive policy change? Jerusalem-based journalist Noga Tarnopolsky joins Kori Schake, Ed Luce, Rosa Brooks, and David Rothkopf to answer this question and more.

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On our Wednesday edition of the DSR Daily, we cover the results of the New Hampshire primary, US strikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq, fears of an impending famine in Ethiopia, and more.

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On our Tuesday edition of the DSR Daily, we cover the New Hampshire Primary today, 24 IDF soldiers being killed in Gaza, Elon Musk’s trip to Auschwitz, and more.

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Has the US response to attacks on our troops and ships, been adequate? Are the attacks against Houthis too little too late...or the start down a slippery slope to another military quagmire? What if our aid to Ukraine dries up? Is the Pentagon losing focus on the China threat? Marc Polymeropoulos and David Rothkopf discuss these issues and more with Politico's Lara Seligman.

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Last week, reports surfaced of a teacher in Estonia who was charged with spying for Russia. Host Michael Weiss discusses this as well as the state of the Russia/Ukraine war with former President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves and former CIA Intelligence Officer, Dan Hoffman. Don’t miss this vital discussion.

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On our Monday edition of the DSR Daily, we cover Ron DeSantis dropping out of the Republican primary, mounting protests in Israel demanding the release of hostages, Iran and Pakistan resuming diplomatic relations, and more.

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Original Air Date: February 17, 2023

On this week's episode, Kavita is still out of town. So Norm and producer Grant Haver talk Nikki Haley getting into the Presidential race, her potential candidacy, and what this means for the future of our democracy. Members of The DSR Network get access to a bonus segment about the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

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Original Air Date: November 29, 2021

Once upon a time, the Israeli government urged the US to get out of the Iran deal. The American president at the time, Donald Trump, obliged. Now, Israeli officials are calling the decision the worst in the past decade of Iran policy and their intel community is whispering to the US that Iran may be getting very close to the ability to produce nuclear weapons grade uranium. Meanwhile, negotiations with Iran are being resumed in Europe with very low expectations of success. What is the Biden Administration to do? We discuss their options with David Sanger of the New York Times, Rosa Brooks of Georgetown Law Center and Kori Schake of the American Enterprise Institute. Don't miss this timely episode.

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Are we in danger of the nuclear loop being automated? As nuclear powers grapple with the advent of AI, questions remain about how much of a role automated system should play in the nuclear chain of command and the control of advanced weapon systems. Experts Michael Depp and Paul Scharre join hosts Jon Wolfsthal and Heather Williams to share concerns about AI and nuclear stability and the ways that governments are rising to the challenge.

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The Iowa caucus was a blowout. Trump trounced DeSantis and Haley, leaving us all wondering how much longer they will hold on. But how much can we actually learn from the caucus? Norm and Kavita are back to break down the lessons from Iowa and the trouble for Trump looming on the horizon.

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On this Friday’s edition of the DSR Daily, we cover the stopgap spending bill to avoid a government shutdown, Netanyahu’s rejection of calls for a Palestinian state, protests in Russia, and more.

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Benjamin Netanyahu just can’t help but make trouble for the US. Netanyahu’s recent statements rejecting the idea of a two-state solution lead us all wonder what endgame Israel envisions for Gaza. Alon Pinkas, Kori Schake, Rosa Brooks, and David Rothkopf break down how the administration can deal with Bibi to avoid calamity in the region. 

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On today’s edition of the DSR Daily, we cover Pakistan’s strikes in Iran, the latest drama from Trump’s defamation trial, Brazil’s investigation into the 2023 riots, and more. 

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On today’s edition of the DSR Daily, we cover initial steps in congress to avert a government shutdown, a new deal reached between Israel and Hamas, Iran’s strikes in Pakistan, and more.

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One of the greatest security threats the US faces comes from within. As we enter 2024, the threat of right-wing terrorism and electoral violence is very real. Authors of the new book “God, Guns, and Sedition: Far Right Terrorism in America” Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware join Marc and David to shine a light on the dangers of the far-right and what can be done to combat right-wing violence.

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On today’s episode of the DSR Daily, we cover Trump’s decisive victory in Iowa, Guatemala’s new reform-minded president, US condemnation of Iran over a missile strike, and more.

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Original Air Date: May 15, 2023

On this, the inaugural episode of DSR's new weekly Spy Show podcast with Marc Polymeropoulos, Marc and co-host David Rothkopf are joined by one of the most respected officers in the CIA's recent history, Paul Kolbe. Together they discuss what to make of the recent criticisms of Vladimir Putin from within his own ranks, the likely consequences of potential instability in Belarus, and what is working for the US and our allies on the intel front in this complex and consequential war. Join us for perspectives and insights you won't find anywhere else.

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Original Air Date: November 3, 2022

With less one week before the midterms, David Rothkopf, Simon Rosenberg of NDN, and Tara McGowan of Good Information and Courier Newsroom speak with Cecile Richards, co-founder of Supermajority about the role of women and abortion as an issue in the midterms. How are Republicans changing the subject on abortion? Will women be the X-Factor to Democratic victory? Is the media getting bullied by Republicans? Find out the answers to these and other questions in this thoughtful conversation. Don't miss it.

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Recent reports from the DOD include surprising revelations about China’s nuclear arsenal. From components filled with water instead of fuel to silos that just don’t work, clearly something is very wrong Nuclear weapons experts Heather Williams and Hans Kristensen join Jon to break down what this all means for China, and how international organizations and the US should respond to avoid a dangerous fallout.

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On our Friday edition of the DSR daily, we cover the US and British strikes in Yemen, Argentina’s soaring inflation, fresh sanctions over Russia and North Korean missile transfers, and more. 

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Long gone are the days when a scream could end a presidential campaign. In the age of Donald Trump, no crime is outrageous enough to be disqualifying for the highest office in the land. Political journalists Michael Tomasky and David Corn join David Rothkopf to break down the dangerous trend in America where anything goes - so long as your name is Trump.

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On today’s episode of the DSR daily, we cover the latest news about the 2024 election, the case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, Taiwan’s election interference allegations against China, and more.

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Ukraine’s need for aid grows by the day as Biden’s aid package faces congressional blockage. Former US ambassador to NATO Doug Lute joins Kori Schake, Rosa Brooks, and David Rothkopf to formulate how the US can strengthen and improve its Ukraine policy to secure a Ukrainian victory.

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On today’s DSR Daily, we cover the wave of gang violence in Ecuador, the Houthi attack repelled by the US and UK navies, Zelensky’s tour of the Baltic countries, and more.

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The US media's and the public's attention has shifted mainly to great power competition in recent years. Yet the shocking attacks by Hamas on October 7th and ISIS on January 3rd serve as reminders that terrorists still pose a grave threat to international security. Counter-terrorism expert Colin Clarke joins Marc and David to illuminate this critical issue.

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