
The DSR Network
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 AEI, and Ed Luce of the Financial 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.
Latest episodes

Mar 7, 2025 • 24min
The Daily Blast: Trump Attack on Social Security Takes Ugly Turn with Musk Leak Stunner
As President Trump’s administration gears up to cut Social Security, The Washington Post reports that a top official at the Social Security Administration privately admitted that Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency is in charge of the cutting. The official also allowed that DOGE will “make mistakes.” Cuts to Social Security historically face major political blowback. So do Trump’s political team and the GOP really believe turning over Social Security to Musk’s marauders is a good idea? Do they think their disinformation powers are so formidable that they can overcome this, too? We talked to Tracey Gronniger, a managing director with the advocacy group Justice in Aging, who explains why these cuts could be so damaging—and how bad the political backlash is likely to get.Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 6, 2025 • 41min
How Do Dems Fight Back Effectively?
After years of attacking Democrats for America’s economic woes - and promises that he would turn everything around once in office - Trump is already confronting the possibility of a 2025 depression. At the same time, rather than attack Trump for the current economic downturn or raising awareness amongst the public, Democratic politicians have settled for little more than exclaiming their distaste for the president while wearing pink suits in protest. Why can’t the Democratic Party coordinate an effective counterattack to the Trump administration? What does the party need to do to fight back effectively? David Rothkopf and Norm Ornstein are back to address all these questions 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

Mar 6, 2025 • 38min
AI, Energy and Climate: Julio Friedmann on AI, Climate Change and Carbon Capture
Julio Friedmann -- the "Carbon Wrangler" -- is Chief Scientist at Carbon Direct and one of the world's leading experts on carbon capture and decarbonization more broadly. Host David Sandalow talks with Friedmann about ways AI can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and carbon capture's role in the fight against climate change. AI, Energy and Climate is a special series from the DSR Network sponsored by NEDO and hosted by David Sandalow, Inaugural Fellow at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy.AI for Climate Change Mitigation Roadmap -- https://www.icef.go.jp/roadmap and transitiondigital.org/ai-climate-roadmap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 6, 2025 • 30min
The DSR Daily March 6: More Federal Hiring and Firing Follies
On the DSR Daily for Thursday, we cover the Trump-mandated hirings and firings, President Macron’s call to defend Ukraine, Trump balking on auto tariffs, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 6, 2025 • 21min
The Daily Blast: Trump Press Sec Blurts Out Ugly, Revealing Truth about His Tariff Scam
In his speech to Congress, President Trump kept lying about his tariffs, falsely claiming that Canada is letting huge amounts of fentanyl into our country and suggesting the trade wars will only get worse. Then press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters directly that if Canada wants to avoid tariffs in the future, it should become the 51st U.S. state. She said it: Trump’s tariffs are really about getting Canada to submit to his will. Newsflash: It’s not okay for the American president to lie relentlessly about our allies and threaten them with economic Armageddon to bend them to his deranged, passing whims. We talked to Rolling Stone senior political reporter Asawin Suebsaeng, who’s been forcefully making that argument. He explains why Trump’s vile bullying of our allies deserves to be taken much more seriously, as a clear sign of Trump’s very real imperialist intentions. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 5, 2025 • 34min
What're We Getting in Return for All of Trump's Gifts to Russia?
Trump is in a very generous mood, at least if you’re Vladimir Putin. Between the public dragging of President Zelensky culminating in Tuesday night’s address to congress, it’s clear that Trump favors his man in Moscow. Mission Implausible host John Sipher joins Rosa Brooks and David Rothkopf to break down why the US is getting a raw deal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 5, 2025 • 32min
The DSR Daily for March 5: Trump’s Very, Very Long Speech
On the DSR Daily for Wednesday, we break down Trump’s speech to Congress, the Supreme Court denying the administration’s request to cancel foreign aid, the US and Israel rejecting the Arab League Gaza plan, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 5, 2025 • 26min
The Daily Blast: Trudeau’s Blistering Takedown of Trump’s Tariffs Puts GOP to Shame
After President Donald Trump’s tariffs went into effect, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau offered an extraordinary, heartfelt plea to the American people. He said: “Your government has chosen to do this, to you.” This comes as anxiety is rising among Republicans about the tariffs. Yet even as they’re expressing trepidation, they’re also feeling forced to keep defending the tariffs, because criticizing Trump is a death sentence. We talked to columnist EJ Dionne, author of a new piece illustrating the unpopularity of Trump’s tariffs. He discusses the position Trump has placed Republicans in, how badly the tariffs will hurt their own voters, and why they will never, ever say what Trudeau just did. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 4, 2025 • 38min
Siliconsciousness: Introducing a Bold New Idea: AI Realism
It’s time to get real about AI. The conversations around artificial intelligence and AGI is rife with both hype and negativity — so where does the truth lie? Award-winning journalist Karen Hao joins David Rothkopf to discuss the real implications of artificial intelligence and why we need to take a hard look at the players driving innovation. 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

Mar 4, 2025 • 20min
The DSR Daily for March 4: Trump Tariffs Take Effect
On the DSR Daily for Tuesday, we cover Trump pausing military aid to Ukraine, the administration’s tariffs taking effect, stalling negotiations in Congress to avoid a government shutdown, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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