The DSR Network

Jeff Jarvis, journalism professor and media critic, and Dan Froomkin, reporter and press-freedom analyst, dig into how outlets mishandled the Epstein disclosures and sidestepped key reporting. They probe missing DOJ materials, unasked questions about associates, arrests of reporters and a broader First Amendment squeeze. They also unpack algorithms, ownership consolidation and how technology reshaped news.

Rick Hasen, election law scholar and author who runs the Election Law Blog, breaks down how talk of “nationalizing” voting could translate into real disruptions. He parses legal limits, the risks of voter intimidation and ballot seizures, and why comments from Trump and allies matter. He also outlines what legal and local preparations can help protect vote counting and custody.

Norm Ornstein, political scientist known for sharp analyses of Congress and democratic institutions, joins to dissect recent attacks on American norms. They discuss Trump's Kennedy Center plans and symbolic vandalism of Washington landmarks. Conversation covers the decline of mainstream journalism, right-wing media strategies, and threats to election integrity and voting access.

Coverage of Trump’s swelling $375M campaign war chest and what it could mean for the 2026 midterms. A federal judge limits ICE’s warrantless arrest tactics and the due-process questions that follow. Senators press for a Pentagon review over possible foreign investment in SpaceX. The Supreme Court unanimously upholds California’s congressional map.

Brian Beutler, political writer and Substack author of Off Message, offers sharp analysis of recent Trump remarks and immigration politics. He discusses why Trump’s “softer touch” comment reads as a sign of weakness. Conversation covers the surprising GOP backlash to planned migrant prison camps and how visuals and local opposition reshaped the debate.

Ed Luce, Financial Times columnist with an international take on U.S. elites, and Rosa Brooks, Georgetown law professor focused on justice and institutions, dig into the Epstein files as a mirror of elite shamelessness. They discuss two-tiered justice, interconnected elite networks, risks from unaccountable power, and whether anger can spur meaningful reform.

A.J. Goulding, president of London Economics International and electricity markets expert teaching at Columbia SIPA. He unpacks rising U.S. power prices and the drivers behind them. He explains how data centers influence load, infrastructure costs, and tariffs. He explores US-Canada grid links, cross-border vulnerabilities, and shifting investment in wind, nuclear, solar and storage.

A rapid rundown of 700 ICE officers being pulled from Minneapolis and the political questions that raises. A look at short-term DHS funding fights that force urgent negotiations. A discussion of tariff exemption controversies and accusations of favoritism. Coverage of recent Israeli strikes in Gaza and the resulting civilian toll.

Ryan Enos, a Harvard political scientist who studies political behavior and threats to democracy, breaks down Harvard’s clash with Trump. He explains how the standoff unfolded and why Trump’s threats look authoritarian. They discuss the importance of federal research contracts and the internal divide at Harvard. Enos argues that institutions resisting pressure can prevail in courts and public opinion.

A near-House vote to end the partial government shutdown and the partisan fights over DHS funding. A push to nationalize elections and the strategies behind that proposal. New rules and funding tied to federal agents wearing body cameras in Minneapolis. High-profile testimony and battles over documents related to the Epstein investigations.