DSR's Words Matter

Norm Ornstein, a political scholar and congressional expert, shares his insights on the unprecedented government shutdown. He discusses how Trump weaponizes the shutdown against blue states and infrastructure, along with the legal and moral violations involved. Ornstein critiques GOP leadership's complicity and highlights disturbing tactics used by ICE and the FBI. He examines the erosion of democratic norms and the urgent need for public education on government roles. Norm argues that a solid Democratic stance could sway public opinion in their favor.

Make no mistake - we are headed towards a government shutdown and it is a strategic move from the Trump administration. So what are the Democrats doing to avert a disaster? What does this signify about the current political landscape in America and why aren’t news outlets calling out this clear constitutional crisis? Tune in as David Rothkopf and Norm Ornstein tackle all this 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

“This is a 10,000-meter race to a full-blown police state, and they’re picking up speed.” The Trump administration is using the Charlie Kirk assassination as a tool to attack free speech at an alarming rate. Under the guise of “hate speech,” Trump and his cronies are taking aim at everyone from ABC reporters to Democratic organizations and NGOs. What comes next for free speech in America? Tune in as Norm Ornstein and David Rothkopf discuss all this 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

Yesterday, on September 10th, 2025, Charlie Kirk was assassinated. Today, September 11th, marks the 24th anniversary of the largest terrorist attack in U.S. history. Laurie Garrett joins David Rothkopf and Norm Ornstein in a sincere conversation to memorialize 9/11, as well as discuss the tough challenges we’ve faced since, including the alarming upwards trend of political violence. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democratic leadership doesn’t seem to be up to the challenge of this new Trump era. Despite some strong Democratic figures fighting back, the party has been lethargic to say the least. So what do Democrats need to do to reenergize? Tara McGowan and Simon Rosenberg are back with David Rothkopf to diagnose the problem and prescribe solutions to cure this malaise.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump met with Vladimir Putin and listened to him warn against mail-in voting. Then, Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders visited the White House as a united front in an attempt to gauge their transatlantic ally and secure peace. Meanwhile, the National Guard continues to loiter around D.C.’s tourist areas, not to stop crime but to display a show of force and distract American voters. What is the root of Trump’s admiration for Putin? Why is D.C. at the center of national media coverage? And how is this administration attacking election integrity beneath the surface? Tune in as Norm Ornstein and David Rothkopf discuss all of this 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

As if Trump’s authoritarian transgressions weren’t already blatant, the President has now deployed National Guard troops to “protect” our nation’s capital - but we know these actions are politically motivated. Why haven’t media pundits treated this actions as existential threats to our democracy? Why is a Subway sandwich-wielding protestor treated more harshly than January 6th protestors? And what is going on with Laura Loomer and Arby’s? Tune in to this week’s edition of Words Matter as David Rothkopf and Norm Ornstein tackle all of this 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

“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

Due to unforeseen circumstances, we were unable to record a new episode of Words Matter this week. The following show is an episode of Deep State Radio recorded on July 30, 2025. 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. 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