The DSR Network

At her confirmation hearing Wednesday, Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, Pam Bondi, sought in some ways to project an apolitical aura. But Bondi also refused to answer direct questions about Trump’s threats to prosecute enemies, and dissembled about similar threats from Kash Patel, Trump’s pick to head the FBI. All this accidentally revealed something important. Bondi could not say straight out that she wouldn’t carry out Trump’s corrupt designs, because saying that could disqualify her in his eyes—which is itself the problem here. We talked to former prosecutor Mimi Rocah, who explains how Bondi exposed herself as an unreliable defender of the rule of law—and what that telegraphs about the coming hellscape of 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After more than a year of conflict, a ceasefire deal has been reached between Israel and Hamas. So what now? What does it mean? Is it a long-term solution, or a band-aid? Experts Noga Tarnopolsky and Alon Pinkas join David Rothkopf to break down these crucial questions and more. 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 discuss Pete Hegseth’s turbulent confirmation hearing, Trump advisers admitting a peace deal is months away, Trump’s plans to create an External Revenue Service, and more. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Jack Smith released his final report on Donald Trump’s insurrection, Trump erupted, gloating over the failure to prosecute him. Meanwhile, Trump’s pick for Defense Secretary, MAGA hero Pete Hegseth, had some alarming moments at his confirmation hearing, and the MAGA cheerleading for him hints at ugly times ahead. Take this all together and Trump and MAGA look invincible right now. So we talked to historian Julian Zelizer, author of a good piece in The New Republic that reminds us that George W. Bush looked formidable in 2004, only to see the tide turn dramatically two years later. Zelizer discusses his new book, In Defense of Partisanship, and explains why Trump-MAGA’s grip on power may prove fragile, especially if Democrats fight them effectively. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the DSR Daily for Tuesday, we cover the revelations from Jack Smith’s report, new progress on a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, the latest on efforts to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol in South Korea, and more. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump recently declared that the U.S. is a “disaster” and a “laughingstock all over the world.” In reality, by many metrics, the economy is quite good, and our recovery from covid has been an international success story. But Paul Krugman recently noticed something interesting: This could create problems for Trump. As Krugman asked on his excellent new Substack, how will he justify radical, across-the-board tariffs and mass deportations if things are going well? We talked to Krugman, who explains how Trump is likely to resort to gale-force levels of propaganda, how he’s threatening havoc with the economy, and how his voters are getting “brutally scammed” in the process.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the midst of an unsure America on the world stage, can and will Europe step up on Ukraine? Which countries and leaders should we hope to lead? Will there be European military forces on the ground in any peace deal? A wide ranging discussion on today’s Above Average Intelligence pod with former Portuguese Special Operations Forces NCO @Felix_Nuno. (Most importantly, he’s heavy metal and Slipknot fan, like Marc!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the DSR Daily for Monday, we discuss Biden’s discussions with Netanyahu on ceasefire progress, Jack Smith’s resignation from the Justice Department, the Trump team questioning NSC employees on loyalty, and more. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the weekend, Steve Bannon’s fury at Elon Musk truly went off the rails. Bannon, who has been feuding with Musk over immigration, vowed that he will run Musk out of the MAGA movement by Inauguration Day, suggesting this battle will continue once Donald Trump is in office. This battle exposes major divisions in the MAGA movement—yet Democrats aren’t really trying to exploit them. Why not? We talked to Mona Charen of The Bulwark, who has a good new piece arguing that Democrats need to find their footing as a loyal opposition. She explains what the feud says about Trump, the MAGA movement, and the rise of global authoritarianism and fascism—and how Democrats can rise to the moment.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fight for data justice has taken on new dimensions with the advent of AI. As technology advances faster than lawmakers can keep up, however do we ensure that progress reaches everyone and keep exploitation at bay? AI ethicist and criminologist Renée Cummings joins David Rothkopf to break down this pressing issue and why 2025 will be a pivotal year. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradioThis 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