The DSR Network

On the DSR Daily for Tuesday, we discuss Mohammed bin Salman’s White House visit, the UN Security Council backing Trump’s Middle East peace plan, the resignation of acting FEMA admin David Richardson, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A civil war is unfolding inside the MAGA movement over Nick Fuentes, the neo-Nazi and white supremacist, and President Donald Trump just made it worse. In an interview, Trump defended Fuentes in a way that will boost his standing inside MAGA in a big way. As it turns out, however, this will create a surprising and unwelcome problem for JD Vance. The vice president has tried to avoid taking sides on Fuentes. But it’s now clear that Fuentes represents a constituency inside MAGA that’s too big to exile. That means Vance, who’s hoping to harness MAGA for his 2028 presidential run, will have to tread carefully, and Trump’s intervention has only made that harder for him. We talked to Vox’s Zack Beauchamp, who has a great new piece digging into all this. He explains Fuentes’s growing influence inside MAGA, why Vance will struggle to navigate all these complexities, and what all this says about today’s right more broadly.  Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the DSR Daily for Monday, we discuss Trump now supporting a House vote on the release of the Epstein files, the intensifying fight between Marjorie Taylor Greene and the President, hundreds of National Guard troops withdrawing from Chicago and Portland, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anxiety is rising among President Trump’s staunchest allies that he’s politically lost his way. The New York Times reports that his advisers fear he’s alienating key voters in his own coalition. And CNN reports that some Republicans are openly warning the White  House that the GOP is in trouble in the midterm elections. Meanwhile, Trump just erupted in a furious new tirade about the Jeffrey Epstein fiasco. In it, he ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate Epstein’s ties to Democrats. Bondi immediately did his bidding. That Trump has now formally turned the Justice Department loose in this way shows his anger over Epstein has hit new highs. Some Republicans say all these things are related: Trump is so consumed with Epstein that he’s letting everything else go to hell. So we talked to analyst Michael Cohen, who has a good new piece on Trump’s doldrums on his Truth and Consequences Substack. He explains why Epstein is undoing Trump, how the MAGA coalition is fracturing, how deeper structural factors are working against him, and how it will all impact the midterms. Listen to this episode here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Original air date: November 26, 2024 On today’s podcast, CIA veteran Ed Bogan joins Marc Polymeropoulos to ponder the US intelligence community in a Trump 2.0. How do we separate signal vs noise on the national security cabinet picks, and a potential bloodletting in the US IC?  Will GOP national security-minded Senators drill down on DNI nominee Tulsi Gabbard’s controversial past?  Will the Senate insist on FBI background checks?  Will the CIA have trouble if Gabbard is confirmed to run both unilateral and liaison operations against tough targets like Russia and Syria?  Does the IC need reform?  Lots of questions, no answers just yet, but a plea from Ed to keep calm and carry as we see how the chips fall.  A must-listen to episode with a true hero in the US intelligence community. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rosa Brooks, a legal scholar and former senior Pentagon official, joins David Sanger, a veteran national security correspondent for The New York Times, and EJ Dionne, a political commentator for The Washington Post, to dissect alarming cabinet picks in a post-election Trump administration. They explore how unqualified nominees threaten democratic institutions, the implications of prioritizing loyalty over competence, and the resulting breakdown of governance. They also discuss potential GOP resistance and the alarming impact of these choices on public health and the military.

Yassamin Ansari, a Democratic Representative from Arizona and a key voice on the Epstein files, dives into the political turmoil surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's disclosures. She reveals Trump's growing anxiety as GOP members face pressures to support the release of critical information. Ansari discusses the implications of potential Republican defections and highlights the significant impact this could have on party unity. With Democrats poised to keep the pressure on, she outlines their strategies for further disclosures and the midterm election consequences for vulnerable Republicans.

In this engaging discussion, Norm Ornstein, a seasoned political scholar, joins David Rothkopf to dissect the dire implications of Washington's dysfunction on everyday Americans. They delve into how elites evade accountability, spotlighting the Epstein case and its cascading effects. Ornstein critiques Republican healthcare strategies that exacerbate vulnerabilities, while emphasizing the intentional cruelty embedded in policy choices. Their insightful analysis challenges listeners to consider the real-world costs of political maneuvers and the urgent need for accountability.

The hosts dive into the impending House vote on the release of Jeffrey Epstein's files, highlighting its potential implications. They discuss the recent end to a 43-day government shutdown and its political consequences. The conversation shifts to alarming reports of settler violence in the West Bank, sparking a debate over accountability. Additionally, they touch on a Supreme Court case regarding the removal of a Fed Governor and call for urgent action to curb arms supplies to conflict-stricken Sudan.

Nicole Hemmer, a historian specializing in the American right, dives into the recent revelations from the Epstein files that are shaking Trump's political foundation. She unpacks the growing tensions within MAGA, outlining how some figures are eyeing a post-Trump landscape. The discussion also highlights the White House's pressure on Republicans to suppress Epstein-related inquiries, revealing deep cognitive dissonance among MAGA supporters. Hemmer warns of potential radicalization and explores the implications for the future trajectory of the American right.