THE DAILY BLAST with Greg Sargent

In this discussion with Matt McManus, a political theorist and former Catholic, the backlash from MAGA supporters to the new Pope, Robert Francis Prevost, is examined. McManus highlights the Pope's critical stance on right-wing figures and social justice issues. He critiques how some in the MAGA movement misinterpret Catholic teachings, emphasizing that true compassion contradicts the current embrace of nationalism. The conversation also delves into ethical responsibilities and the moral imperative of global empathy in modern politics.

Kristy Parker, a former federal prosecutor and counsel at Protect Democracy, joins the discussion on the turmoil surrounding Trump's nomination of Ed Martin for U.S. Attorney. She emphasizes the critical nature of this role and why Martin's insurrectionist ties make him unfit for it. As GOP Senator Thom Tillis opposes the nomination, tensions within the party rise, triggering backlash from MAGA supporters. Parker shares her cautious optimism about defending the rule of law against Trump’s influence, stressing the importance of civic engagement to uphold democracy.

In this discussion, Matt Hildreth, Executive Director of RuralOrganizing.org, sheds light on the severe impact of Trump's trade war on rural America. He points out how farmers are already suffering and highlights the potential fallout from GOP cuts to Medicaid and food stamps for rural communities. Hildreth shares insights on the shifting political landscape, with rural voters increasingly disenchanted with Trump, revealing a key opportunity for Democrats to connect local issues with effective messaging.

Lakshya Jain, co-founder of the Split Ticket election site, dives into the political fallout for Trump over recent commentary from strategist Karl Rove about his plummeting approval ratings. Jain explains how Trump is surprisingly losing grip on immigration, a supposed strong suit, and explores the shifting public sentiment regarding his controversial proposals. The discussion includes insights on how Democrats can leverage these trends, highlighting the delicate balance between border security and humane immigration policies.

In this engaging discussion, Matt Gertz from Media Matters sheds light on President Trump's explosive dissatisfaction with Fox News due to recent polling that reveals his disapproval ratings skyrocketing. He reveals how Fox News is grappling with this backlash, even as their own viewers begin to see the impact of Trump's policies. Gertz offers insights into the network's tactics to navigate the mounting pressure, indicating that the situation is set to deteriorate further for both Trump and the media giant.

Leah Litman, a legal commentator and author of "Lawless," shares her insights on a crucial federal ruling that deems Trump's actions under the Alien Enemies Act illegal. She discusses how this decision signals the courts may not grant Trump the deference he desires. Additionally, the fiery rant from Stephen Miller highlights the dangers of labeling migrants as terrorists. Litman emphasizes the implications of this ruling for due process, the ongoing legal challenges Trump faces, and the potential for judicial checks on executive power.

Alex Shephard, Senior Editor at The New Republic, dives into Trump's furious response to disappointing GDP data. They discuss the uncanny sycophancy of Trump's aides, comparing it to authoritarian regimes, and debate how this adulation backfires. Shephard also addresses the structural challenges contributing to Trump's declining popularity, highlighting ineffective economic policies and rising public dissatisfaction. The conversation sheds light on the tension between loyalty and accountability among Trump's supporters, revealing a troubling trend for the future.

After the news broke that Amazon might publicly clarify the costs that President Trump’s tariffs are imposing on its products, Trump instructed his White House press secretary to publicly threaten the company. Trump also called Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to express his displeasure, and one adviser told CNN that “he was pissed.” Amazon immediately shelved the plan, and Trump openly gloated about Bezos bending the knee, an unnerving signal of more autocratic bullying ahead. Meanwhile, a new PRRI poll sheds fascinating light on public opinion about Trump’s authoritarianism, with a majority now seeing him as a “dangerous dictator.” We talked to Melissa Deckman, the CEO of PRRI, who explains what the new data really tells us about the public’s revulsion at Trump’s abuses of power—and why episodes like this one are only exacerbating it. Listen to this episode here. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump is growing angrier over polls that keep showing him tanking. On Monday, he raged that polls sponsored by media outlets are “COMPROMISED AND CORRUPT.” He even quoted one of his own pollsters saying that surveys from The New York Times and The Washington Post are “FAKE POLLS,” something his pollster clearly hatched to calm his anger. So to what degree are the people around Trump simply lying to him about his disastrous reign? They’re deceiving him about the state of public opinion, and Stephen Miller is plainly seducing Trump into believing the Supreme Court sided with him on the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case, when it didn’t. We talked to journalist Michael Cohen, author of a new piece for his Truth and Consequences Substack about this problem. He explains how we know Trump’s aides are keeping him in a state of delusion, and why that’s heading to an alarming place.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Newman, a lawyer for the Abrego Garcia family and advocate for immigrant rights, joins the discussion on Trump’s reaction to the wrongful deportation case. He highlights Trump's alarming threats to due process, paralleling authoritarian tactics seen in other countries. Newman emphasizes the importance of fair legal treatment and shares insights from his advocacy experiences. The conversation also delves into the increasing public discontent with Trump's immigration policies and the constitutional implications of his actions.