The DSR Network

The dismissal of high-profile prosecutions against James Comey and Letitia James raises questions about political motives. Ukraine's acceptance of U.S.-brokered peace terms highlights ongoing tensions, as concerns about negotiating with Russia linger. The Pentagon's probe into Senator Mark Kelly sparks debate over the politicization of military matters. The U.S. also designates a Venezuelan-linked group as terrorists, which could point to future military actions. These topics reveal the complex interplay of law, politics, and international relations.

David Kurtz, a legal journalist and editor at Talking Points Memo, joins to unpack Trump’s chaotic legal woes. They discuss the recent ruling that invalidated Trump's corrupt prosecutions of Comey and Letitia James, revealing how his attempts to target enemies backfired spectacularly. Kurtz explores the implications of a Pentagon investigation into Senator Mark Kelly and connects Trump’s corruption to a broader need for systemic reform. Their conversation dives into the dangers of weaponizing institutions for personal vendettas and hints at a potential post-Watergate-style reform movement.

Robyn Scott, co-founder of Apolitical and entrepreneur focused on governance, shares insights on AI's transformative potential in the Global South. She highlights how countries like Nigeria and Ethiopia are using local AI solutions to enhance healthcare and streamline government processes. The discussion includes the trust gap in AI across cultures, local success stories from Ukraine and the UAE, and the importance of data sovereignty. Robyn emphasizes the need for public servants to gain confidence in AI leadership to harness its full potential.

A strange yet charming meeting unfolds as Trump connects with Mayor-elect Mamdani at the White House. Marjorie Taylor Greene's surprise resignation creates ripples in the House majority. Discussions heat up around the U.S. peace framework for Ukraine and the pushback from Europe. Meanwhile, the G20 highlights South Africa’s diplomatic success, emphasizing multilateralism. The focus on affordability emerges as a central political issue, with Mamdani encouraged to achieve early wins.

In this discussion, Amanda Marcotte, a progressive political writer from Salon known for her analyses of MAGA politics, explores the recently shifting media narrative on Donald Trump's unpopularity. She highlights how Republicans are starting to look beyond Trump, as evidenced by recent polling showing a dramatic decline in his approval ratings. Amanda dives into the internal MAGA divisions and the backlash against the culture wars, particularly in school board races, revealing how these dynamics could signal a diminishing grip for Trump and his supporters.

This week, hosts dive into the Trump administration's controversial decision to expand offshore oil and gas drilling, stirring significant backlash. They also discuss a surprising tariff reversal and a contentious policy regarding Coast Guard tattoos. In California, Eric Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign begins sparking excitement. The conversation takes a serious turn with scrutiny of US pressure on Ukraine regarding a peace framework and concerns about Israel’s actions in the West Bank. Amidst the chaos, the hosts seek hope and gratitude.

In this engaging discussion, Chrissy Houlahan, a U.S. Representative and Air Force veteran, dives into the fallout from Trump's incendiary tweets calling for extreme actions against Democrats. She emphasizes the vital need for military personnel to feel supported by lawmakers and highlights their concerns about illegal orders from the President. Houlahan also discusses the implications of Trump's statements for Congress and the military, advocating for oversight, public debate, and the importance of upholding lawful responsibilities in the face of threats.

If the current political climate wasn’t bleak enough, Donald Trump is now calling for his political enemies to be executed. The transgression of these military and CIA veterans? Calling on their military colleagues to uphold the Constitution. The president is calling for unprecedented levels of political violence and his administration cronies are supporting him. David Rothkopf and Norm Ornstein are back to discuss the terrifying implications for our democracy. 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 discuss tomorrow’s meeting between Mamdani and Trump, US military officials in Kyiv, Trump signing off on the release of the Epstein files, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump is cratering in two new polls. A Marist survey has his overall approval rating at 39 percent, and a Marquette poll has his approval plunging on the economy (36-64), tariffs (37-63), and inflation (28-72). Yet Trump and his advisers don’t have much of an answer to this problem. Trump just unleashed a long, rambling tirade angrily insisting that prices are really going down, not up. And he ranted bizarrely about Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, saying of the latter, “I’d love to fire his ass,” another sign of his anger over inflation. So what happens if the economy really dips? We talked to New Republic staff writer Timothy Noah, who has been writing well on this question. He explains what’s going on with the gathering economic storm clouds, why Trump is uniquely ill-suited to handle a worsening economic crisis, and what things might look like for Trump if the bottom falls out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices