Deep State Radio

Campus protesters have been vilified, accused of being terrorists, and attacked. But why has there been such a strong and polarized reaction to current demonstrations taking place at universities across the country? Emily Tamkin and Wajahat Ali join David Rothkopf to consider what makes this issue so divisive, and why campus protests have been a cornerstone of US politics for decades.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the Thursday edition of the DSR Daily, we cover US allegations that Russia is using chemical weapons in Ukraine, the Arizona Senate striking down the 1864 abortion law, giant pandas returning to the San Diego Zoo, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new consensus is settling in among political analysts: Donald Trump’s poll numbers look unexpectedly formidable in states like Arizona and Georgia, which means President Biden’s most likely path to victory requires winning Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. And yet Trump will almost certainly lose if he can’t win one of those three. That’s why Democrats can stop Trump if they beat him in Wisconsin. We talked to Ben Wikler, the chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, who explains how years of painstaking organizing is laying the groundwork to defeat Trump by thwarting his designs, first and foremost, in the Badger State. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the US in a new Cold War with Russia and China? The answer is more complicated than you may think, but David Sanger’s book “New Cold Wars” looks to provide an answer. Sanger joins David Rothkopf to explain how we got to this point in US relations with China and Russia and what makes these conflicts so new. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Siliconsciousness, a DSR Network podcast! Every week, Siliconsciousness will dive into the AI revolution, looking at key issues and politics. Executive Vice President and Director of Studies at CNAS Paul Scharre joins David Rothkopf for our inaugural episode and shares his insight into AI-powered weapons systems, frontier AI, 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

On the Wednesday edition of the DSR Daily, we discuss the House Democrat plan to protect Speaker Johnson from being ousted, protesters clashing on UCLA’s campus, the latest on Secretary Blinken’s ceasefire negotiations, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a new interview, Donald Trump gave away the game: If he wins the White House, he’d be fine with anti-choice crackdowns in red states going to horrific extremes. Trump vowed (unconvincingly) to leave abortion to the states, but when pressed, he suggested he’d be okay with prosecutions of women who get abortions and even with states monitoring their pregnancies. In addition to revealing what Roe v. Wade’s demise has wrought, that could give Democrats a boost in this fall’s state-level elections. We talked Arizona state senator Eva Burch about how the future of reproductive rights will raise the stakes in these contests—and about her own personal and emotional experiences with the issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s much to unpack with the ceasefire protests at universities across the country. From students occupying a building at Columbia to the abysmal response by USC’s administration, it is clear that there is no easy way to address the issue. Norm and Kavita break down the latest news on this contentious topic, and why it may be even more impactful than we realize.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the Tuesday edition of the DSR Daily, we discuss the latest from the Columbia University protests, the ongoing ceasefire efforts by the Biden administration, an election disinformation investigation into Meta, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recently Elon Musk triggered outrage by promoting a vicious speech by a Dutch activist that pushed virulent white nationalist ideologies. Musk added that Europe is threatened by “population collapse” that could lead to “dead civilizations.” What often gets lost amid such controversies is that Musk is pushing ideas that are part of a genuine political movement shaped around long term demographic anxieties. We chatted with reporter Gaby Del Valle, author of a great new Politico piece about the first ever “Natal Conference,” in Austin, Tx., and the far-right movement to get (some) people to have more babies, who helped place Musk’s talk about low birth rates in a global political context. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House Intelligence Committee recently released a report on the investigation into reports of sexual harassment at the CIA. The findings were not pretty. So what does the agency need to do to protect women at the agency, and why has this problem persisted for so long? Christina Hillsberg joins Marc Polymeropoulos to discuss this critical issue and why the intelligence community can and must do better.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the Monday edition of the DSR Daily, we discuss potential arrest warrants from the ICC for Israeli officials, the Spanish PM refusing to step down after a turbulent week, deadly flooding in Kenya, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the weekend, a CNN interview with former attorney general Bill Barr went viral after Barr performed a spectacular on-air capitulation to Donald Trump. The former president had posted an unhinged rant that mercilessly belittled Barr, yet Barr affirmed his endorsement of Trump and downplayed the threat he poses, including a bizarre aside about Trump talking about “executing” rivals. We chatted with Amanda Carpenter, the prominent Never Trumper and an editor at Protect Democracy, about what this whole saga says about today’s GOP and its broader capitulation to MAGA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Original Air Date: May 30, 2023 This week Zoe and Natalya are joined by CEO of Reality Defender Ben Colman, to discuss the power of synthetic media and the risks it poses to geopolitics and democracy. They discuss a recent deepfake of an attack at the Pentagon, as well as potential regulatory solutions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Original Air Date: May 3, 2023 In this rapid fire edition of America's most entertaining foreign policy and national security podcast, the Financial Times' Ed Luce and Georgetown University's Rosa Brooks join host David Rothkopf to discuss some of the week's stranger international stories--like whether Putin launched a drone attack against himself and why someone thought it would be a good idea to have all the UK pledge allegiance to their new king as they watched his coronation on television. They also, of course, examine more serious ones like recent and seeming looming developments in Ukraine, the US-China relationship and a landmark speech on international economics delivered recently by U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (which riffs in part on a column our own Ed wrote the week before.) Don't miss it. Join us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pulitzer-prize finalist and New York Times best selling Author Annie Jacobsen joins Jon and Heather to discuss her ground-breaking and compelling new book “Nuclear War: A Scenario” The volume looks at how dangerous our nuclear world has become, and how a nuclear war would actually be conducted, including its terrifyingly short time scale. Based on exhaustive research with the nuclear operators, leaders and scientists, it is an episode and a publication not to be missed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Investigative journalists Christo Grozev, Roman Dobrokhotov and Michael Weiss have been looking into the Havana Syndrome since 2020. They initially approached the topic skeptically, questioning the capability of any government to carry out such a mass global attack. However, they discovered a document linking a Russian military unit to the Havana weapon, which sparked their investigation. They have been gathering evidence of overlaps between the travel of members of this unit and incidents related to the Havana Syndrome. The journalists have presented a prosecution case, highlighting motive, means, and opportunity, and are calling for the U.S. government to act as a defense attorney for the accused criminals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Biden administration’s policy towards Israel has been controversial to say the least. As the conflict grinds on and the election approaches, it is clear that the conflict will loom large in the voting booth. Norm and Kavita break down the key issues that Biden faces, and why the administration desperately needs a new strategy.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the Friday edition of the DSR Daily, we cover Israel’s new concessions after a call with Biden, No Labels abandoning its efforts to field a presidential candidate, rescue efforts underway in Taiwan, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, The New York Times reported that Donald Trump recently spoke privately with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. Trump’s team won’t say word boo about what was discussed, and we can guess why: His private business dealings with the Saudis are going gangbusters even as he’s locking up the GOP presidential nomination, creating all kinds of opportunities for corruption. We talked to Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, who explained why the Trump-Saudi relationship is absolutely crying out for serious scrutiny. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump’s latest schemes are some of his shadiest yet, and that’s saying something. Between the rejection of his bond in the NY civil fraud case and the greatly inflated value of Truth Social, Trump is coming up with all sorts of schemes to pay his dues. Allison Gill joins David Rothkopf to give a run-down on his various cases, and what Jack Smith and others can do to ensure that Trump faces justice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the Thursday edition of the DSR Daily, we discuss the rejection of Trump’s request to delay his hush-money trial, aid groups halting their work in Gaza, Russia blaming Ukraine and the West for a deadly terrorist attack, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, special counsel Jack Smith made a surprise move in his prosecution of Donald Trump for stealing classified documents. He called on Judge Aileen Cannon to make a quick decision on a key matter, flaunting his frustration with her over numerous rulings putting the thumb on the scale for Trump. We chatted with Philip Rotner, a veteran lawyer who has written a series of pieces for The Bulwark arguing that Cannon is killing the case against Trump right in broad daylight. Rotner explains in unsettling terms why her interventions for Trump are likely to get uglier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Israel’s shocking strike on World Central Kitchen workers in Gaza has amplified calls for the Biden administration to step in. Yet a big question remains: What can President Biden actually do to stop the bloodshed? Noga Tarnopolsky, Rosa Brooks, and Ed Luce join David Rothkopf to analyze what the Biden administration has done so far and how it needs to respond at this critical point. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the Wednesday edition of the DSR Daily, we discuss the 7.2 magnitude quake in Taiwan, Biden and Xi holding their first talks since November, NATO considering a plan for long-term Ukraine aid, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of Donald Trump’s central campaign promises has been to pardon untold numbers of rioters who attacked the Capitol—people he’s described as martyrs, victims and “hostages.” Now, an important new analysis finds that many of the inmates Trump has referred to are ones who violently attacked law enforcement officers. We talked to Tom Joscelyn, lead author of that analysis and a former senior Jan. 6 committee staffer, who explains how his findings blow apart a lot of Trump-MAGA propaganda about that dark and terrible day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some elements of US intelligence and special operations are so secretive, we don’t even know their names. Adam Gamal lived that life and his new book “The Unit” pulls back the curtain on America’s most secret military unit. Adam joins Marc Polymeropoulos to discuss what is a true American Dream story from Alexandria, Egypt to the pinnacle of the special operations world, and why diversity is a necessary component in defense and intelligence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the Tuesday edition of the DSR Daily, we cover the Israeli strike that killed World Central Kitchen workers, Trump posting his $175 million bond, Ukrainian drone attacks deep in Russian territory, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GOP members of Congress facing tough races are suddenly worried that having Donald Trump at the top of the ticket might present them with a problem, according to new reports. They fear having to answer for Trump’s degeneracy and extremism, even as the GOP’s small donor base is not delivering at the very moment as Trump is siphoning off party money for legal fees. What explains this sudden GOP epiphany about Trump? How likely is it that these fears will materialize? We chatted with Tim Persico, a top Democratic operative involved in House races in 2022, who provided insights into how this Trump effect really works. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the Monday edition of the DSR Daily, we discuss the massive protests against the Netanyahu government in Israel, the stunning performance of Turkey’s main opposition party, massive political rallies in India, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump’s announcement that he is now peddling something called the “God Bless the USA Bible” drew outrage from some religious figures, but one group that’s been conspicuously quiet about it are evangelical leaders. Why? Perhaps because Trump is making subtle promises to give them what they want. We talked with Katherine Stewart, a journalist who covers the religious right, about all the ways Trump is signaling a second term shaped around ideals of Christian Nationalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Original Air Date: March 17, 2023 Silicon Valley Bank collapsed in spectacular fashion last week but the Biden administration stepped in to save its depositors. Was that the right thing to do and what can prevent things like this happening in the future? Norm and Kavita discuss during this thoughtful conversation. Members get a bonus conversation about Ron DeSantis and his views about the war in Ukraine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Original Air Date: March 27, 2023 On this special edition of DSR, former diplomat and advisor to Israeli leaders Alon Pinkas provides an insight from Israel into that country's current democracy crisis. He provides insights into the state of affairs at the moment and why the crisis that has brought hundreds of thousands of Israelis into the streets is far from over. He also discusses why this unprecedented Israeli drama is so directly relevant to the United States. Join Pinkas and host David Rothkopf for this in-depth and timely conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why travel the world when you can get all the existential dread you could want on WAGD Radio? Jon Wolfsthal and Heather Williams are here to give us a world tour of the biggest news in nuclear weapons this week and a breakdown of just what Putin and Kim Jong Un’s coalition of cronies is up to now.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the Friday edition of the DSR Daily, we cover the Ukrainian foreign minister’s visit to India, Sam Bankman-Fried’s 25 year sentence, the ICJ ordering Israel to allow aid into Gaza, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’ve probably heard someone say we’re in the midst of a “racial realignment.” The idea is that Donald Trump is surprisingly strong among nonwhite voters, helping explain why head-to-head polling looks rough for President Biden. But political analyst Ron Brownstein has written an important new piece that adds sorely needed nuance, finding that the flipside to Trump’s strength among nonwhites is Biden’s unexpected support among white voters. We chatted with Brownstein about why his thesis shows that Trump’s position is more precarious than it seems. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump isn’t the only threat that Joe Biden and the Democrats are fighting ahead of the election. Fox News continues to be a thorn in the side of our democracy, despite the networks stumbles in recent years. Journalist Nina Burleigh joins David Rothkopf to explain how Rupert Murdoch’s network still plagues the airwaves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the Thursday edition of the DSR Daily, we discuss Ireland’s intentions to intervene in Israel’s genocide case at the ICJ, the passing of Joseph Lieberman, Sam Bankman-Fried’s impending sentencing, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two days after a major bridge collapsed in Baltimore when a cargo ship rammed into it, we still know little about six bridge workers who are presumed dead after an intensive search. Little by little, we’re learning that police were just about to alert the workers about the crash but were a hair too late, and that they were immigrants who were supporting children and families. Who were these workers? Could they have been saved? We talked to Maximillian Alvarez, editor in chief of the Baltimore-based Real News Network, about what this horror tells us about immigrant life in America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Though US efforts to help Ukraine have been stymied by political infighting, thousands of individuals and organizations continue to provide much-needed aid. One such individual is Nate Mook, former CEO of World Central Kitchen and now active in several humanitarian initiatives in Ukraine since 2022. Nate joins David Rothkopf to share his work in Ukraine, the ways in which we can all lend a hand, and why Ukrainian resolve remains unbroken. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the Wednesday edition of the DSR Daily, we cover the new details from the Baltimore bridge collapse, Secretary Austin’s concerns over civilian casualties in Gaza, the Supreme Court’s seeming inclination to protect mifepristone, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All of a sudden Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene seems to be attacking House Speaker Mike Johnson almost daily over all kinds of things, especially his promise to find a way to pass military aid to Ukraine. Does that mean Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans will successfully thwart that effort? Why is the House GOP in such chaos, anyway? We chatted with GOP lobbyist Liam Donovan, a Twitter virtuoso and shrewd observer of Republican politics, who helped demystify all the crazy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court recently commenced hearings on a case that could restrict access to mifepristone, and the results were surprising. Only Justices Alito and Thomas appeared inclined towards supporting the ban on the drug, raising questions about the court's future direction. Norm and Kavita delve into the nuances of the hearing and the significant influence of women on the case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the Tuesday edition of the DSR Daily, we cover the NY appeals court reducing Trump’s bond, friction between Biden and Netanyahu after the US allowed a ceasefire vote, a major bridge collapsing in Baltimore, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NBC News is reeling over its decision to hire former Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel as a political analyst. McDaniel actively participated in Donald Trump’s effort to steal the 2020 election, pressuring state officials not to certify the outcome, and personalities like Joe Scarborough and Chuck Todd have been harshly critical. We chatted with New York University’s Jay Rosen, one of our most incisive media critics, about whether the uproar will prompt the media to grapple more deeply with its struggle to capture the true threat Trump and MAGA pose to our democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Believe it or not, international intelligence is a lot harder to predict than March Madness. From the attack in Moscow to the issue of emerging technologies, challenges both old and new will play a significant role in the coming years. Intelligence and security expert Amy Zegart joins Marc to break down the recently released Annual Threat Assessment and the challenges on the horizon for US intelligence.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the Monday edition of the DSR Daily, we cover the charging of four suspects in connection to the deadly attack in Moscow, the shelving of a key EU climate plan, Trump’s impending payment deadline, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In recent days, Donald Trump opened the door to cutting Social Security, and he’s also threatened to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which would throw millions off health insurance. All this comes as President Biden’s economy is doing quite well by many metrics. Yet Trump is favored on the economy, and his MAGA support remains solid, even though his policies would badly sell out his base. We talked to New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, author of a series of columns about the economies under Trump and Biden, who helps us make sense of all these disconnects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Original Air Date: August 21, 2023 Maintaining alliances isn’t easy; they must be nurtured on a regular basis, which takes skill and acumen. Yet even with challenges both domestically and internationally, the US’s allies are some of its greatest assets. Since World War 2, the true brilliance of US strategy is to build genuine and sturdy alliances, politically, militarily, and in intelligence, with partners across the globe. Marc is joined by former senior CIA operations officer Jerry O’Shea, a four time station chief, to discuss why alliances are so critically important. Don’t miss it. For more like this, follow the Above Average Intelligence feed: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/above-average-intelligence/id1731208065 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices