Deep State Radio

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On Tuesday, we learned that inflation rose last month. The New York Times said inflation “accelerated,” ABC News noted it “surged,” and other reports observed that President Trump's tariffs are starting to produce long-predicted price hikes. Trump reacted angrily. He pretended the surge was nonexistent, and then deflected by unleashing a furious tweet at Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell that demanded: “Bring down the Fed rate NOW!!!” Trump then unleashed an angry rant to reporters further excoriating Powell. Trump might have also been ticked because his 2024 campaign polling firm just released a memo harshly warning that House Republicans are in trouble in the midterms, and Trump's cuts to the safety net help explain why. We talked to economist Kathryn Edwards, a skillful decoder of Trumponomics. She explains the inflation news, why Trump's perfect storm of policies are hurting working people, and how Democrats should respond by swinging big on the economy in ways they usually don't.  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 Tuesday, we discuss the incoming cuts to the Department of Education, the ongoing purge of the DOJ, accelerating inflation, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 over it: He faulted Trump's government for failing to take MAGA's questions about it seriously, and even criticized Trump himself, which for MAGA is pure heresy. Carlson's broadside, which is only his latest of many, has some Republicans quietly grappling with why Carlson is so successfully driving MAGA anger on this matter. We talked to historian Nicole Hemmer, author of several major books about the right and its media networks. She expertly decodes the far right pathologies animating the Epstein drama, digs into its deeper sources on the right, and explains why Trump has no easy out this time.  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 cover new threats of tariffs on Mexico, Trump pledging new Patriot missiles for Ukraine, massive turnover at the DOJ, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump's Justice Department is now criminally investigating James Comey and John Brennan, apparently in retaliation for their role in the Russia probe.  Trump vowed that they may “pay a price”—a direct threat to try to jail them on no basis whatsoever. Meanwhile, Trump is ramping up the paramilitary presence in Los Angeles. All this comes as Trump's approval is at a low point in polling averages and a striking new Gallup survey finds him plummeting fast on immigration, a remarkable indication of deep underlying weakness. We think all this is related: Trump's displays are meant to scam us into thinking he's fearsome and strong—making political resistance appear futile—yet all the authoritarianism is causing public backlash, weakening him in polls further. We talked to Talking Points Memo editor-at-large David Kurtz, who's been sharply dissecting Trump's threats. He explains how deep the abuses are running at DOJ, how Trump's authoritarianism is meant to mask political weakness, and why this toxic downward spiral portends worsening lawlessness to come. Listen to this episode here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the DSR Daily for a Friday, we break down the State Department preparing to fire over 1,300 workers, Trump's visit to Texas flood sites, new tariff announcements, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the US grapples with China to be the leader in artificial intelligence, internal debates rage about the right course of action. Are regulations stifling innovation? Do we have to sacrifice safety for the sake of a competitive edge? CAS Strategies CEO Camille Stewart Gloster joins David Rothkopf to explore why the best way to become the leader in AI might not be what you think.  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

Stephen Miller recently erupted in rage in a private meeting with ICE officials, demanding that they hit supercharged new arrest quotas, 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 non-criminal 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 making vile memes about shackling immigrants, and and what ordinary people can do to effectively resist the coming horrors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The United States is a country in need of saving. From the blatant illegality of numerous White House decisions to the fecklessness of Congress, wide-ranging changes are clearly needed. David Rothkopf and Norm Ornstein break down the erosion of democratic norms, the complicity of the main stream media, and the desperate need for Democrats to be a real opposition party again.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the DSR Daily for Thursday, we discuss the Supreme Court striking down an immigration crackdown in Florida, the US sanctioning a UN human rights abuses investigator, Trump's 50% tariff for Brazil, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Listen to this episode here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The only consistent theme of Trump's foreign policy has been inconsistency. As baffling choices continue without rhyme or reason, we have to ask—who benefits? Max Boot, Rosa Brooks, and Ed Luce join David Rothkopf to explore why China is the biggest winner in Trump's second term and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the DSR Daily for Wednesday, we discuss the Supreme Court decision allowing for mass federal layoffs, the IRS allowing churches to endorse political candidate, stalling ceasefire talks in Gaza, and more.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At least 109 people have died amid devastating flooding in Texas. Distressingly, 27 deaths occurred at a summer camp for girls, and the toll continues to rise.  This week, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt angrily lashed out at the news media and Democrats for asking whether Trump administration policies bear any blame for the disaster's impact. What struck us, though, is her demand that we all treat this as a “national” tragedy. She's right that we should do this. But that solicitude is precisely what Donald Trump and MAGA deny to non-MAGA America at other urgent moments. And that's the true MAGA ethic at its ugliest. We talked to New Republic staff writer Kate Aronoff, who has a new piece on all this fallout. We discuss why Leavitt is wrong to silence hard questions, why Democrats should talk about GOP priorities at times like these, and why MAGA's approach to solidarity is so deeply twisted.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the DSR Daily for Tuesday, we discuss Netanyahu's visit to the White House, the resumption of weapons shipments to Ukraine, the latest from the deadly Texas floods, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At a rally, President Trump declared that he now may suspending deportations for farmworkers and other migrant workers. Trump openly admitted this will anger the “radical right,” by which he likely meant Stephen Miller and others who want every last undocumented immigrant in this country removed—or else. Indeed, leading MAGA influencers sharply attacked the move: One declared that it will “break” the MAGA coalition. The other flatly demanded that Trump keep on deporting “grandmothers.” We think all this should be understood as a display of weakness: Trump badly wants the public to think he's considering relaxing his mass deportation regime precisely when Congress has given him tens of billions of additional dollars for it. We talked to journalist, historian, and podcaster Garrett Graff, who has a new piece on his Substack about what's coming. He explains why rapidly expansion of Trump's paramilitary force is so dangerous, how his effort to pseudo-moderate on deportations has exposed serious political vulnerabilities, and why he has no easy way out of them. Listen to this episode here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices