The DSR Network Words Matter: A Prescription for Saving the Country
Jul 10, 2025
Norm Ornstein, a renowned political scientist and journalist, joins David Rothkopf to discuss the urgent need to restore democracy in the U.S. They dive into the erosion of democratic norms, highlighting Congress's failures and media complicity in accountability. Ornstein critiques the Republican Party's internal conflicts under controversial leadership and calls for radical reforms from Democrats to engage voters. The conversation emphasizes the necessity for bold actions to combat rising authoritarianism and reclaim democratic integrity.
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Congress Struggles with Spending Bills
- Congress faces difficulty in passing spending bills due to partisan divides and filibuster rules.
- Democrats often end up bailing out Republicans to avoid government shutdowns, maintaining status quo dysfunction.
Unchecked Executive Overreach
- Trump's frequent illegal actions go largely unchallenged by Congress and the press.
- The Supreme Court has mostly sided with him, reinforcing executive overreach and eroding legal accountability.
Media Complicity in Politics
- Mainstream media are co-opted and fail to hold Trump accountable for lies and policies.
- This erosion of media credibility undermines democratic accountability and public trust.