The DSR Network

Donald Trump just tore down the East Wing of the White House. Yup, that’s right - the President of the United States, in the middle of a government shutdown, decides that what America really needs is a new grand ballroom in Washington, DC. Where is the accountability? How is such corrupt politics being normalized? Join David Rothkopf and Norm Ornstein as they search through the rubble and try to find answers. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a shockingly brazen move, President Trump is demanding that the Justice Department pay him $230 million stemming from certain federal actions against him. Representative Jamie Raskin, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, sent a scalding letter to the White House demanding all internal communications on this shakedown. What struck us was the letter’s forceful indictment of Trump’s corruption and criminality: It denounced Trump’s “blatantly illegal and unconstitutional effort to steal $230 million from the American people” and his “outrageous and shocking” effort to “shake down” the Treasury, labeling this straight-up “theft.” There’s much more, and it made critical legal points as well. We talked to the University of Michigan’s Leah Litman, author of Lawless, a book on the Supreme Court. We discuss Raskin’s letter, the legal nitty-gritty of Trump’s heist, how it exemplifies the MAGA movement more broadly, and how the Supreme Court brought us to this dangerous moment.  Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The US government has taken a ‘light touch’ approach to regulating artificial intelligence under Trump and a Republican controlled Congress. Should our government be doing more? California Representative Ted Lieu joins David Rothkopf to explore the pitfalls of hands-off federal regulation, how AI has become a critical component of national security and the labor market, 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 DSR Daily for Thursday, we cover JD Vance’s harsh comments on Israel, the administration introducing new sanctions on Russia, Trump’s demolition of the East Wing, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After more than three years of expanded conflict, there might be some glimmers of hope for Ukraine. President Trump’s frustrations with Putin are growing, but Trump’s flip-flopping on the issue has continued to vex world leaders. So what can we expect from Trump? Has he really had a turn of heart? Ambassador Bill Taylor and Rosa Brooks join David Rothkopf to shed light on the latest news and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re seeing a confluence of events that suggest President Trump’s corruption has crossed over to an ugly new place. Trump is destroying a White House building to create a ballroom for him and his rich friends. He’s demanding that the Justice Department hand over $230 million in taxpayer funds to compensate him for “damages.” And Democrats from Senator Chris Murphy to Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries are going after all this in a newly aggressive way. Into this mess stepped White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who issued an extraordinary new defense of Trump’s ballroom fiasco. It was absolutely laden with comically cultish devotion to the Audience of One, but the hagiography also revealed something darker. We talked to New Republic staff writer Matt Ford, author of a great new piece about Trump’s self-dealing. He explains how all this corruption and all this worshipful propaganda reveals Trump’s profound contempt for the rule of law, for DOJ independence, for the idea of the public good, and even for the American people. 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 Wednesday, we break down Trump’s demands for a meeting with Democrats, Trump potentially seeking $230 million from the Justice Department, the White House pulling back on promises for a meeting with Putin, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not long after President Trump floated a $20 billion financial bailout for Argentina, he proposed importing beef from Argentina to bring prices down in the United States. This angered American beef producers and produced a backlash from farm-state Republicans. But the most interesting response came from Meriwether Farms, a beef producer in Wyoming that promises to “preserve the traditions of American ranching.” Meriwether posted a long lament on Twitter, professing “love” for Trump but urging him to change course. Meriwether warned that Trump was on the verge of an “absolute betrayal” of the “American cattle rancher” and of “the very people who put food on the table for us.” Does this mean Trump is screwing his own supporters so badly that they’re finally getting angry about it? We talked to Matt Hildreth of RuralOrganizing.org, whose own family has been in farming for generations. He explains the perfect storm of terrible policies hitting Trump’s rural supporters, discusses whether this will help Democrats rebound in those areas, and details how the party is changing its organizing approach in them.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A recent court ruling opens the door for National Guard deployment to Portland, stirring debate on presidential power. Meanwhile, Putin stands firm against a ceasefire in Ukraine, complicating diplomatic relations. Trump's nominee for the Office of Special Counsel faces intense backlash due to disturbing revelations about his past. The podcast also delves into America's gun culture, debating the implications of a Supreme Court case challenging firearm possession by drug users, and condemns the troubling rise of white supremacy in politics.

Ana Marie Cox, a writer and commentator for The New Republic, dives into the remarkable "No Kings" protests in Texas, challenging the narrative pushed by Trump and Republicans. She shares insights on the diverse demographics of the protesters, emphasizing their peaceful, patriotic display. The conversation highlights the disconnect between Trump’s rhetoric and the on-ground reality, as well as the existential threat many feel from Trumpism. Cox also discusses the movement's grassroots energy and the importance of sustaining momentum for future actions.