Deep State Radio

Follow Deep State Radio
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Twice a week, this podcast will take you on a smart, direct, sometimes scary, sometimes profane, sometimes hilarious tour of the inner workings of American power and of the impact of our leaders and their policies on our standing in the world. Hosted by noted author and commentator David Rothkopf and featuring regulars Rosa Brooks of Georgetown Law School, Kori Schake of Stanford University and David Sanger of the New York Times, the program will be the lively, smart dinner table conversation on the big issues of the day that you wish you were having...without the calories. Sometimes special guests will join the conversation and always the emphasis will be on providing the unvarnished perspectives others shy away from. Deep State Radio is the insider perspective on American national security and foreign policy that you can't find anywhere else. If you are enjoying this podcast, please consider becoming a member by visiting thedsrnetwork.com.

The DSR Network


    • Aug 14, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • daily NEW EPISODES
    • 33m AVG DURATION
    • 2,615 EPISODES

    4.6 from 1,465 ratings Listeners of Deep State Radio that love the show mention: kori, david rothkopf, luce, dsr, deep state, rosa brooks, david and the crew, fp, international politics, best foreign policy podcast, entropy, want a mug, global issues, disheartened, national security, davids, mugs, foreign affairs, regular guests, despair.


    Ivy Insights

    The Deep State Radio podcast is a highly informative and engaging show that tackles current affairs and global issues. With a focus on having relevant experts as guests, the podcast stands out from its rivals by providing in-depth discussions on topics such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the situation in Ukraine. While occasional slips may occur, it is understandable considering the fast-paced nature of current affairs. Overall, The Deep State Radio makes a commendable effort to provide accurate and insightful content.

    One of the best aspects of The Deep State Radio podcast is its commitment to featuring guests with relevant backgrounds in each episode. This approach ensures that listeners receive expert insights and analysis on various topics. By doing so, the podcast stands out among its competitors who may not prioritize guest selection as much. Additionally, the show's discussion on the proliferation of false information in the public square offers valuable insight into how to curtail misinformation.

    However, there are some areas where The Deep State Radio podcast falls short. One criticism is that there are instances where certain perspectives or voices are missing from panel discussions. For example, a review mentions a panel lacking a black person making unsupported generalizations about the police. This lack of diversity can hinder the overall quality and accuracy of discussions.

    In conclusion, The Deep State Radio podcast is an invaluable resource for staying informed on current events and global issues. Despite occasional slip-ups and potential lacks in diversity, the show's dedication to featuring knowledgeable experts sets it apart from other podcasts in this genre. With engaging discussions and insightful analysis, The Deep State Radio provides listeners with an opportunity to delve deep into complex topics impacting society today.



    Search for episodes from Deep State Radio with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Deep State Radio

    DSR Daily for August 14: Israel's Plan to ‘Bury' Idea of Palestinian State

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2025 17:47


    On the DSR Daily for Thursday, we break down Israel's new settlement plans, Trump's intentions to extend federal control over DC, a ruling allowing the administration to continue withholding foreign aid, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Best of the Daily Blast: Trump's Rage at Obama Explodes, Unnerving Experts: “We're in Trouble”

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2025 29:39


    Original air date: July 23, 2025 In the last few days, we seem to have crossed a threshold. President Trump is ratcheting up the authoritarianism and threatening to prosecute his enemies in a new kind of way. In a series of angry new rants, Trump accused Barack Obama and other members of Obama's administration of serious crimes. He's also calling for Senator Adam Schiff to be put in “prison.” Critically, all this has been accompanied by unabashedly corrupt manipulation of the bureaucracy that's designed to manufacture pretexts for the prosecutions of those enemies. Ryan Enos, a professor of government at Harvard, put it very starkly on Bluesky, saying that authoritarianism is “right here in front of us.” So we invited Enos on the show. He explains why “we're in real trouble in the short term,” how Trump compares to other authoritarians around the globe, and why our only choices now are to fight the takeover or “accept that this is our future.” Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Could Expert Expectations for the Alaska Summit be Any Lower?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2025 40:39


    President Trump and President Putin's Alaska summit is on the horizon and we couldn't be less excited. Without a spot for Ukraine at the table and a 1-on-1 meeting between the two presidents on the docket, there's not really much to be hopeful for. Amb. Ivo Daalder, Professor Rosa Brooks, and Professor Angela Stent join David Rothkopf to forecast the storm clouds ahead for the meeting and why we shouldn't count on a blockbuster peace deal any time soon.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    DSR Daily for August 13: Trump-Putin Summit Sidelines Ukraine

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2025 20:05


    On the DSR Daily for Wednesday, we cover the upcoming Trump-Putin summit, Israel's potential resettlement of Palestinians to South Sudan, the White House calls for a review of Smithsonian museums, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Best of the Daily Blast: Tucker Carlson's Harsh New Takedown of Trump Fuels Fresh MAGA Fury

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2025 25:29


    Original air date: July 15, 2025 The MAGA movement has been in full meltdown ever since President Trump's Department of Justice concluded they have no evidence that sex offender Jeffrey Epstein kept a client list or was murdered in jail. This contradicted a major MAGA conspiracy theory, and MAGA influencers are screaming cover-up. Tucker Carlson just ratcheted this all up by attacking Trump: He faulted Trump's government for failing to take questions about the matter seriously. In another heresy, Carlson even criticized Trump himself for brushing off MAGA's anger over it. Carlson's broadside has some Republicans quietly grappling with why he is so successfully capturing MAGA anger about the Epstein fiasco. We talked to historian Nicole Hemmer, author of several major books about the right and its media networks. She expertly decodes the MAGA pathologies animating the Epstein drama, digs into their deeper sources on the right, and explains what it all says about today's Trumpified political world. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    DSR Daily for August 12: Trump Tightens Grip on DC

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2025 20:31


    On the DSR Daily for Tuesday, we break down Trump's takeover of Washington, the US and China extending their tariff truce another 90 days, Trump's new conservative Bureau of Labor Statistics nominee, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Best of the Daily Blast: Stephen Miller Rages Wildly at Low Arrests—and Wrecks a Big Trump Scam

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2025 22:10


    Original air date: July 11, 2025 Stephen Miller recently berated ICE officials in a private meeting, demanding that they hit supercharged new arrest quotas and steamrolling anyone who balked, reports The Atlantic. Yet in a surprise twist, the report also details that Miller's demands for maximum arrests are driving morale at ICE into the crapper. Importantly, what's irking ICE agents is precisely that the mission of arresting as many low-level offenders as possible is pulling them away from pursuing serious criminals. This brutally unmasks one of Trump's biggest scams: It demonstrates clearly that his mass deportations are not at all about public safety and are only about getting as many peaceful and noncriminal immigrants out of the country as possible. We talked to one of our favorite observers on this issue, FWD.us president Todd Schulte. He explains how all this reveals the soft underbelly of Trump's political strength, why MAGA is now addicted vile memes about shackling immigrants, and what ordinary people can do to effectively resist the coming horrors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Best of the Daily Blast: Angry Trump Shocked to Discover Putin Has Humiliated Him: “Bullshit!”

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2025 27:20


    Original air date: July 10, 2025 It appears to be dawning on President Trump that he will not be ending the Russia-Ukraine war in one day as he promised during the campaign. Trump's frustration at Vladimir Putin is rising: This week he accused Putin of hitting him with “bullshit” and even admitted Putin's word to him is “meaningless.” This comes as it's now being reported that Putin is escalating the war against Ukraine and that he's brushing aside Trump's anger about it. Add it all up, and Trump is plainly humiliated, realizing that Putin is laughing off his demand for “peace.” We talked to Mona Charen, policy editor at The Bulwark, who writes well about the Trumpified GOP's embrace of Putin. She explains how Putin has long played Trump, why Putin feels free to humiliate him, and what the various scenarios ahead look like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    DSR Daily for August 11: Trump Threatens National Guard Deployment to DC

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2025 20:33


    On the DSR Daily for Monday, we discuss President Trump threatening to deploy the National Guard to DC, a strange deal between the government and NVIDIA and AMD, a deadly strike on journalists in Gaza, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    DSR Weekly Wrap-Up: Israel Plans to Take Gaza City

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2025 17:03


    On the DSR Weekly Wrap-Up for August 8, we discuss Israeli plans to take Gaza City, the Trump admin requiring universities submit data on students' race, a US plan to disarm Hezbollah, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Best of the Daily Blast: Paul Krugman Brutally Wrecks Trump's Europe Deal: “Scam on His Voters”

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2025 28:14


    Original air date: July 30, 2025 You've probably heard that President Trump and the European Union have reached a big trade deal. This is being widely portrayed as a “win” for Trump and a big humiliation for the EU. But it's not at all clear what we gain as a country from this deal. Surely the phrase “Trump won” has to mean more than “Trump gets to claim a personal victory and the media is required to play along,” right? We talked to economist Paul Krugman, who has a great new piece on his Substack casting a lot of much-needed skepticism on the deal. Krugman explains in extensive detail what a sham it is: He argues that Europe's concessions are fake; that the deal won't spur a lot more manufacturing in the United States; and that its burden will fall heavily on MAGA, making it a “scam on his voters.” Krugman also discusses why the media seems incapable of reporting clearly and accurately on the magnitude of Trump's incompetence and delusions.  Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Words Matter: Cartman is the New Walter Cronkite 

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2025 26:26


    “Thank God for South Park.” Words Matter is back for another weekly edition of political therapy with Dr. Norm Ornstein and David Rothkopf. Tune in as Norm and David discuss the current administration's attacks on education, their ever-increasing political abuses, and how South Park is doing a better job than the Democratic party at laying bare the horrors of this administration. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The DSR Daily for August 7: Trump Admin's Wild New Chips Tariff

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2025 21:55


    On the DSR Daily for Thursday, we discuss the new 100% tariff on imported computer chips, Tulsi Gabbard declassifying documents despite CIA objections, Trump's threats to send the National Guard to DC, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Best of the Daily Blast: Trump Arrest of Immigrant Triggers Shock and Regret in Small MAGA Town

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2025 25:50


    Original air date: June 2, 2025 Ming Li Hui, who goes by the name of “Carol,” has lived for 20 years in the town of Kennett, Missouri, after coming here from Hong Kong. She has been raising a family there and works as a waitress—and as The New York Times reports in a piece featuring quotes from Carol and many locals, she's well-liked in the community. But Carol was recently arrested and now faces potential deportation. This has shocked and dismayed many of the town's residents, even though the area went overwhelmingly for Trump. Carol talked to us on the podcast straight from jail, where she is awaiting her fate. At times the conversation was difficult: She broke down in tears about her ordeal, was emotionally overwhelmed at the support she's received from the Trump-backing town, and offers wrenching thoughts about Trump's effort to deport countless others just like her. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Has Trump Really Changed His Tone on Russia? Really?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2025 30:13


    Trump is turning up the heat on Russia — or is he? Trump has had some harsh words and severe threats for Vladimir Putin over the invasion of Ukraine, but we don't know what the President will really do when push comes to shove. Max Boot and Kori Schake join David Rothkopf to cut through the bluster to see what this new rhetoric really means for Ukraine.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The DSR Daily for August 6: Russia and US Hold Talks on Ukraine

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2025 16:05


    On the DSR Daily for Wednesday, we break down Steve Witkoff's meeting with Vladimir Putin, Gov. Abbott's attempt to expel the House Democratic leader in Texas, a Trump admin strategy meeting to discuss strategy around the Epstein files, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The DSR Daily for August 5: Netanyahu Vows to Occupy Gaza

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2025 20:13


    On the DSR Daily for Tuesday, we cover Netanyahu's plans to fully occupy Gaza, the State Department's program to require bonds for some visa applicants, the ongoing showdown in Texas, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The DSR Daily for August 4: Democrat and Republican Showdown in Texas

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2025 22:01


    On the DSR Daily for Monday we discuss the showdown over redistricting in Texas, the White House firing the BLS commissioner, Trump's India threats, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The DSR Weekly Wrap-Up: New Tariff Upheaval

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2025 13:33


    On the DSR Weekly Wrap-Up for August 1, we break down Trump's new slate of tariffs, turmoil in Gaza, the administration's waffling on Russia, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The Daily Blast: Trump Press Sec's Weird Fawning Rant Goes Awry as Poll Slide Worsens

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2025 24:33


    On Thursday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered one of her most obsequious, fawning tirades about President Trump yet. She credited him with single-handedly resolving a half dozen major geopolitical conflicts around the world, and angrily asserted that it's high time Trump is granted the Nobel Peace Prize. It's no accident that this came amid new polling evidence that Trump's coalition is falling apart in a freshly dangerous way for him, as documented in a great new piece by New Republic senior editor Alex Shephard. In today's episode, Shephard explains how the numbers show key constituencies getting away from him. We discuss all the ways Leavitt's North Korea-style propaganda actually works against Trump by reinforcing the emperor-has-no-clothes vibe around him, why the press is reluctant to tell the truth about his unpopularity, how Democrats need to stop treating him as if he's invincible, and what that should look like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The DSR Daily for July 31: Canada Latest to Recognize Palestinian State

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2025 21:55


    On the DSR Daily for Thursday, we discuss Canada joining the UK and France in a push to recognize a Palestinian state, a so-called trade deal with South Korea, Kamala Harris choosing not to run for governor of California, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The Daily Blast: Trump Hit by Harsh Blow from Fed Chair as Polls Reveal Fresh Weakness

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2025 19:31


    President Donald Trump has been raging at Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell for weeks, demanding that he cut interest rates. But on Wednesday, the Fed declined—and worse for Trump, Powell delivered a blunt assessment of his tariffs, claiming they are “pushing up prices,” and that “near-term measures of inflation expectations have moved up.” Given that this comes right when more of Trump's tariffs are set to take effect on August 1, and given that Powell is directly defying Trump's fury, that amounts to a harsh blow for the president. Indeed, Trump is also venting his fury at various GOP senators for not doing his bidding. On top of all that, two new polls show his approval rating down to an abysmal 40 percent, with one finding his approval on the economy even lower. We talked to MSNBC.com columnist James Downie, author of a new piece on Democrats and the midterm elections. We discuss why Trump is weaker politically than he looks, why various dynamics look poised to make that worse, and why it's high time for Democrats to start acting like it. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Hard Truths About the Hell of Gaza

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2025 27:33


    The conditions in Gaza are hellish, and they are about to get much worse. Thousands more Palestinians are at risk of dying from famine all while the Israeli government makes plans to annex more of the territory. Refugees International President Jeremy Konyndyk joins Rosa Brooks, Ed Luce, Kori Schake, and David Rothkopf to shine a light on the horrifying crisis underway in Gaza.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Need to Know: The Mission: A Vital Look at an Intel Community Adrift

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2025 41:29


    US Intelligence and the CIA have undergone radical changes in the 21st century. From the War on Terror to the turmoils of the Trump era, intelligence has shifted dramatically in both its structure and mission. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Tim Weiner joins David Rothkopf to discuss his new book, The Mission: The CIA in the 21st Century and why the intelligence community is adrift under the current administration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The DSR Daily for July 30: The UK Moves to Recognize Palestinian State

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2025 22:01


    On the DSR Daily for Wednesday, we discuss the UK's plan to recognize a Palestinian state, a massive earthquake hitting off Russia's Far East, the confirmation of Emil Bove, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The Daily Blast: Paul Krugman Brutally Wrecks Trump's Europe Deal: “Scam on His Voters”

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2025 27:42


    You've probably heard that President Trump and the European Union have reached a big trade deal. This is being widely portrayed as a “win” for Trump and a big humiliation for the EU. But it's not at all clear what we gain as a country from this deal. Surely the phrase “Trump won” has to mean more than, “Trump gets to claim a personal victory and the media is required to play along,” right? We talked to economist Paul Krugman, who has a great new piece on his Substack casting a lot of much-needed skepticism on the deal. Krugman explains in extensive detail what a sham it is: He argues that Europe's concessions are fake, that the deal won't spur a lot more manufacturing in the U.S., and that its burden will fall heavily on MAGA, making it a “scam on his voters.” Krugman also discusses why the media seems incapable of reporting clearly and accurately on the magnitude of Trump's incompetence and delusions.  Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Siliconsciousness: An In-Depth Look at the Administration's AI Action Plan and Its Implications

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2025 44:41


    The Trump administration has released its AI Action Plan, and it is a mixed bag to say the least. Even with the plan, there are still core concerns about the role of governance in AI. Georgetown's Michelle De Mooy joins David Rothkopf to discuss the implications of deregulation, the tug of war between federal and state regulations, the challenges of IP in the age of 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

    The DSR Daily for July 29: Disastrous Famine Imminent in Gaza

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2025 23:39


    On the DSR Daily for Tuesday, we cover warnings of an impending famine in Gaza, the US and China resuming trade talks, Harvard contemplating capitulation to the Trump administration, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The Daily Blast: Trump Accidentally Wrecks His Own Epstein Lie as Musk Goes for Jugular

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2025 23:39


    President Trump just offered some bizarre new ramblings about the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. But he undermined himself: He claimed to know about elite Democrats and liberals who had visited Epstein. But that just raises the question that won't go away: If this is what the Epstein files would reveal, then why isn't Trump ordering their release? Every time Trump says such things, he wrecks his own Big Lie: That the Epstein scandal is a Democratic hoax that actually implicates Democrats even as he won't release the files. Meanwhile, Elon Musk just endorsed the idea that Trump might try to pardon Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell in exchange for exoneration. Musk knows Trump's machinations here are a major point of weakness. We talked to Jennifer Rubin, editor-in-chief of The Contrarian, who has a good new piece laying out why Trump should be panicking over this scandal. We discuss the absurdity of Trump's biggest Epstein deceptions, why they're unsustainable for Trump, and why it all underscores the urgency of a Democratic victory in 2026. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The DSR Daily for July 28: US/EU Trade Deal Reached

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2025 16:37


    On the DSR Daily for Monday, we break down the EU/US trade deal, the ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, Democrats' plan to combat Texas redistricting, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The Daily Blast: “Sham”: Trump Just Made Epstein Fiasco Even More Humiliating for MAGA

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2025 23:19


    President Trump is now suggesting he may pardon Ghislaine Maxwell, the accomplice to Jeffrey Epstein who's serving time for sex trafficking. Trump told reporters: “I'm allowed to do it.” He dispatched Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to solicit testimony from Maxwell, ostensibly to gain new insight into Epstein's activities. But in today's episode, lawyer Philip Rotner, author of a new piece for The Bulwark on the Maxwell angle, suggests that the move by Blanche—previously Trump's personal lawyer—is itself extremely dodgy and appears motivated by a desire to protect Trump. Rotner explains why it's plausible Blanche hopes to get Maxwell to exonerate Trump, which Trump could then reward with a pardon.  It's hard to overstate how humiliating all this is for MAGA: After demanding the “Epstein files” for years, they got their people in at the Justice Department—and now they're taking new steps to cover it all up. While some in MAGA are telling themselves that Maxwell will finally reveal the whole truth, that only makes them look even more absurd. Rotner unpacks the latest developments and explains why it's all a “sham.”  Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The DSR Weekly Wrap-Up: France to Recognize Palestinian State

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2025 23:27


    On the DSR Weekly Wrap-Up for July 25, we discuss President Macron's plan to recognize a Palestinian state, Tulsi Gabbard's public accusations against Obama-era officials, conflict in Thailand and Cambodia, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The Daily Blast: Trump Hit by Harsh Takedown on “The View,” Igniting White House Fury

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2025 25:02


    A new Gallup poll finds that President Trump's approval has dropped to 37 percent. But the White House has figured out how to get those numbers back up: By picking a huge fight with “The View.” This week, Joy Behar unleashed a striking takedown of Trump, mocking him mercilessly for being jealous of Barack Obama. This enraged the White House, which responded with name calling—and a veiled threat. Which got us thinking: Doesn't the logic of the situation dictate that Trump's authoritarian threats will of necessity escalate? We talked about all this with Salon's Amanda Marcotte, a skilled decoder of MAGA's cultural hatreds. We discuss why Behar's broadside was so perfectly aimed at Trump's soft underbelly, why Trump's only way forward may be more arrests, and how this whole saga shows that Trump thought the culture was moving his way—but it's not, driving him into a fury.  Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Words Matter: What Do the Kids from South Park Know About America Today That the Rest of Us Need to Learn?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2025 37:51


    South Park is back, and they don't care about pissing off Donald Trump… unlike Columbia University. While Trump fumes about his disastrous PR and anybody who dares to even joke about him, the sinister undercurrents of his regime continue to flow. Norm Ornstein and David Rothkopf are back to discuss the challenges facing universities, the complete erosion of legal norms under Trump, and the latest episode of South Park. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The DSR Daily for July 24: Protests Breakout Across Ukraine

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2025 17:27


    On the DSR Daily for Thursday, we cover protests over a controversial new law in Ukraine, calls for Pam Bondi to testify, another court blocking Trump's birthright citizenship order, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The Daily Blast: “Furious” Trump Vents at Epstein Mess as Allies Admit He's Vulnerable

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2025 26:15


    President Donald Trump is “furious” about his inability to make the Jeffrey Epstein scandal go away, Politico reports. He's frustrated with his staff's failure to tamp down the uproar, which continues to consume his base, and his allies are admitting this has become major problem, with one telling Politico that Trump understands that “this is a vulnerability.” This comes amid new reports that Attorney General Pam Bondi and her deputy privately informed Trump earlier this year that his name appears numerous times in the Epstein files, suggesting this story will get worse. We talked to media strategist Tara McGowan, the publisher of the pro-democracy Courier Newsroom. We discuss why this scandal is dispelling the myth of Trump's superhuman control over media narratives, how Democrats must seize this moment, and why they should treat this scandal as a genuinely important story that really matters to many Americans.  Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Our Ship of State is a Ship of Fools...and That's Not a Good Thing

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2025 29:17


    Let's be honest, Donald Trump is the captain of a ship of fools. Nowhere is this more clear than in the realms of foreign policy and defense, where folks like Pete Hegseth and Tulsi Gabbard run rampant. What does this descent into madness mean for our country? Ed Luce, Rosa Brooks, and Kori Schake join David Rothkopf to answer this critical question and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The DSR Daily for July 23: US and Japan Reach Trade Deal

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2025 24:37


    On the DSR Daily for Wednesday, we break down the new trade deal between the US and Japan, Pam Bondi firing a New Jersey prosecutor, a landmark new UN ICJ ruling on climate change, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The Daily Blast: Trump's Rage at Obama Explodes, Unnerving Experts: “We're in Trouble”

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2025 32:08


    In the last few days, we seem to have crossed a threshold. President Trump is ratcheting up the authoritarianism and threatening to prosecute his enemies in a new kind of way. In a series of angry new rants, Trump accused Barack Obama and other members of Obama's administration of serious crimes. He's also calling for Senator Adam Schiff to be put in “prison.” Critically, all this has been accompanied by unabashedly corrupt manipulation of the bureaucracy that's designed to manufacture pretexts for the prosecutions of those enemies. Ryan Enos, a professor of government at Harvard, put it very starkly on Bluesky, saying that authoritarianism is “right here in front of us.” So we invited Enos on the show. He explains how we know the moment has arrived, how Trump compares to other authoritarians around the globe, and why our only choices now are to fight it or accept that this is America's future.  Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Siliconsciousness: How AI Has Become a Central Element of Geopolitics Today

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2025 37:19


    Artificial intelligence isn't just a hot-button issue for the tech industry—it's a key part of global geopolitics. But how has AI become such a focus for political leaders around the world, and what are governments doing to harness the benefits of AI and mitigate the negative consequences? Assistant Foreign Minister for Advanced Science and Technology for the UAE Omran Sharaf joins David Rothkopf to provide perspective on these key questions and what the UAE has been doing in the field of artificial intelligence.   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

    The DSR Daily for July 22: White House/WSJ Feud Intensifies

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2025 18:49


    On the DSR Daily for Tuesday, we discuss the intensifying feud between The Wall Street Journal and the White House, the sentencing for an officer convicted in the death of Breonna Taylor, the administration releasing files related to the MLK assassination, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The Daily Blast: Trump Press Sec Throws FBI Under Bus amid Brutal New Epstein Poll Drop

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2025 21:47


    President Trump's propagandists are getting more frantic in their efforts to spin away the scandal around the Jeffrey Epstein files. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, unsurprisingly, has been the most creative of all: Speaking to reporters, Leavitt fobbed the whole fiasco off on to the FBI not once but twice, as videos posted by Acyn Torabi show. Leavitt said the same thing twice: You should ask the FBI. That's plainly an effort to shift this mess to FBI director Kash Patel. All this comes as Trump's approval ratings have just hit a new low. And those things are related: The Epstein scandal is perfectly suited to damaging Trump in all kinds of hidden ways. We talked to data analyst G. Elliott Morris, author of a new piece on the Epstein mess for his Strength in Numbers Subtack He explains why Trump is at a low point in the polling averages, how the Epstein fiasco is being perceived by voters, and why it's uniquely suited to striking at the heart of Trump's political strength. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The DSR Daily for July 21: Harvard and Trump Court Showdown

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2025 20:17


    On the DSR Daily for Monday, we discuss the Harvard challenge to restore $2.5 billion in funding, a key EPA research office shutting down, Japan's surprising election results, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The Daily Blast: Trump's Ugly New Attack on Stephen Colbert Reveals Dark Side of Firing

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2025 22:21


    As you've heard, CBS has ended “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” Troublingly, this comes just after Paramount, which owns CBS, settled President Trump's frivolous lawsuit against it by paying out $16 million dollars. Only days before the firing, Colbert called the deal a “big fat bribe.” Now Trump has just praised the firing in a vile new attack on Colbert. Trump laughably insisted that Colbert has no talent and can't measure up to Fox News hosts (who praise Trump relentlessly). We think Trump deliberately wants us to think CBS fired Colbert precisely because CBS hoped it would curry favor with Trump, enhancing impressions of his authoritarian power. We talked about all this with Michael Sozan of the Center for American Progress, author of a good piece excoriating Paramount's settlement with Trump. We discussed why Trump makes his corrupt bullying of the media explicit, how this represents a broader textbook imitation of autocratic regimes abroad, and what we should all do in response. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The DSR Weekly Wrap-Up: The MAGA Epstein Rift Deepens

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2025 17:03


    On the DSR Weekly Wrap-Up for July 18th, we discuss Democrats resisting Trump judicial nominees, Trump potentially releasing the grand jury testimony in the Epstein case, the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Need to Know: How Would the Founders View This Latest Turning Point in US History?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2025 37:13


    It's often said that we're living in historic times. Historic threats to democracy and historic turning points for our nation. Yale professor Joanne Freeman joins David Rothkopf to take a look back and the early days of the United States to titanic figures like Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton to explore just how novel our current moment is and how we can draw inspiration from the past to fight for the future.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The Daily Blast: Trump Press Sec Snaps at Media as Queries about His Mental State Grow

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2025 23:05


    President Trump is in more trouble than usual. The Jeffrey Epstein files are killing him with the base. New polls show him cratering on many issues. And questions are mounting about his mental state due to a bizarre story he invented about his uncle and the Unibomber. At her latest briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt grew angry at reporters for questioning Trump's unhinged responses to the Epstein mess. She also belittled a journalist who probed Trump's mental state by asking about the Unabomber weirdness. We talked to Mark Jacob, author of the Stop the Presses Subtack, who frequently dissects Leavitt's gaslighting. He explains how the sycophancy of Leavitt and other Trump propagandists worsens at the most difficult moments, what the media gets wrong about Trump's unfitness, and why Trump-MAGA pathologies are increasingly threatening our futures. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Words Matter: Never Mind Being Blind, Right Now Justice in the US is Near Death

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2025 23:17


    Make no mistake - the Justice Department is actively fostering Trump's authoritarian regime and increasingly rewarding loyalty over legality. Between the blatant partisanship, abuse of the shadow docket, the cuts to the Department of Education and Emil Bove's nomination - where has our justice gone? Dahlia Lithwick joins David Rothkopf and Norm Ornstein to discuss the erosion of our democracy and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The DSR Daily for July 17: Senate Hands Trump Another Win

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2025 16:01


    On the DSR Daily for Thursday, we discuss the Senate voting to to rescind funding for public broadcasting, massive backlash over the administration's handling of the Epstein files, the Syrian government and Druze leaders reaching a ceasefire, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The Daily Blast: Inside Trump's Angry, Desperate Push to Silence MAGA on Epstein Fiasco

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2025 23:45


    President Trump is in a rage over his inability to get MAGA to stop talking about the Jeffrey Epstein files. He unleashed a furious Truth Social tirade on it, and then rambled bizarrely about it to reporters for a minute straight. Meanwhile, striking new polls from Quinnipiac and from CNN show wide public dissatisfaction with the whole fiasco—and both show large chunks of Republicans are also unhappy about it, suggesting his shutdown efforts aren't working. Rolling Stone writer Asawin Suebsaeng has a new piece entitled: “Inside Trump's Frantic, Failing Mission to Crush the Epstein ‘MAGA Rebellion.'” It details how efforts by Trump and his lieutenants to get this under control involve all kinds of fraught and complicated intrigues inside the Court of MAGA. So we talked to Suebsaeng about what's really going on here, why it's failing, what's coming next, and how the whole thing reveals Trump's level of contempt for his own voters with uncommon clarity.  Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The DSR Daily for July 16: Israel Strikes Syria

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2025 15:15


    On the DSR Daily for Wednesday, we break down Israel's strikes on Damascus, MAGA discord over the release of the Epstein files, a Tariff deal reached with Indonesia, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Claim Deep State Radio

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel