DSR's Words Matter

As Donald Trump deals with a gag order in his hush money trial, his various cronies have come out of the woodwork to do his dirty work. JD Vance, Tommy Tuberville, and more have come out to criticize the trial and jockey for a vice presidential nomination. Norm and Kavita break down this MAGA race to the bottom and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Each day of Trump’s election interference trial manages to be more salacious than the last. From the testimony of Stormy Daniels to Trump’s inability to stop smearing everyone involved, it’s clear that the trial will continue to be a roller coaster until the very end. Norm and Kavita take us through the latest from the trial, and what could be around the corner.  Learn more about your ad choices....

There’s much to unpack with the ceasefire protests at universities across the country. From students occupying a building at Columbia to the abysmal response by USC’s administration, it is clear that there is no easy way to address the issue. Norm and Kavita break down the latest news on this contentious topic, and why it may be even more impactful than we realize.  Learn more about your ad choice...

At the Supreme Court and college campuses, leaders aren’t leading. As the court weighs incredibly consequential decisions and colleges grapple with divisive protests, we need clear leadership more than ever. Norm and Kavita discuss this unique problem and where we go from here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House is its own special kind of crazy, but the Senate is no slouch either. Tom Cotton’s recent comments calling for Americans to “take matters into their own hands” in response to protests reminds us that Senators can seemingly call for acts of violence and get away with it. Norm and Kavita break down the fall of accountability in the Senate and why some Senators continue to embarrass the ins...

House Republicans are fighting or floundering, Mike Johnson is traveling to Mar-a-Lago to pray at the altar of Trump, and Arizona lawmakers grapple with an archaic abortion law. All in a week’s work for this Republican Party. Norm and Kavita discuss the farce that is the contemporary Republican agenda and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Biden administration’s policy towards Israel has been controversial to say the least. As the conflict grinds on and the election approaches, it is clear that the conflict will loom large in the voting booth. Norm and Kavita break down the key issues that Biden faces, and why the administration desperately needs a new strategy.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court recently commenced hearings on a case that could restrict access to mifepristone, and the results were surprising. Only Justices Alito and Thomas appeared inclined towards supporting the ban on the drug, raising questions about the court's future direction. Norm and Kavita delve into the nuances of the hearing and the significant influence of women on the case. Learn more about y...

It’s an open secret that Congress is broken. Between extremism from House Republicans to an inability to pass a budget, there is something deeply wrong on the Hill. Norm and Kavita discuss the ways in which we can fix our ailing system, and why some solutions even have the ever elusive support of Republicans.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On March 13, 2020, COVID was declared a national emergency. Four years on, Norm Ornstein and Kavita Patel reflect on fallout of the COVID pandemic, what we learned, and why we're more prepared than ever for the next pandemic. Members get exclusive access to a discussion on the chaos around Representative Ken Buck's surprise early departure from Congress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg...

Donald Trump is the healthiest, most successful, and most innocent man in America — according to Donald Trump. The grifts and lies show no signs of slowing even as the walls close in around the former president. Norm and Kavita go over the many machinations of the former president, including the New York criminal trial, his efforts to turn the RNC into his personal piggy bank, and more. Learn more...

The Republican crusade against families continues. The Alabama Supreme Court ruling equating embryos with babies makes clear the fact that they won’t stop any time soon. So what comes next? Norm and Kavita break down the ruling and the political fallout.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court is finally hearing Trump’s appeal of the Colorado ruling removing him from the ballot. The decision will be massive, but it is not the only legal challenge on Donald Trump’s plate. Norm and Kavita break down the case before the Court, and the state of Trump’s numerous legal battles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Abbott and the House Republicans are using the border as a political poker chip, with disastrous implications for immigrants. As Abbott continues to defy the Supreme Court and the House refuses to pass immigration reform, what does the Biden administration need to do? Norm and Kavita discuss the answers and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump is now the GOP's presumptive nominee. How should the Biden team be responding? What should they be doing differently.?David Rothkopf joins Norm and Kavita to analyze the good, the bad, and the ugly of the election so far and what comes next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Iowa caucus was a blowout. Trump trounced DeSantis and Haley, leaving us all wondering how much longer they will hold on. But how much can we actually learn from the caucus? Norm and Kavita are back to break down the lessons from Iowa and the trouble for Trump looming on the horizon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With 2023 in the rearview mirror, many of our greatest political challenges remain unresolved. Norm and Kavita are back for a new year with new political prognostications about what 2024 holds for Congress and what will undoubtedly be a dramatic campaign season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democrats have their work cut out for them moving into the new year. With monumental elections on the horizon, Norm has plenty of ways the Democrats can press the advantage. In this insightful episode, David Rothkopf fills in for Kavita to discuss the House, Senate, and presidential elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Norm and Kavita are back! Republicans at both the state and national level have continued to chip away at abortion rights, with a case in Texas drawing national attention and the ire of the state’s AG, Ken Paxton. In addition, Senate Republicans have blocked Ukraine funding, demanding border action. Join us as we break down all this and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...

Norm and Kavita are breaking the rules this week to talk about congressional fight club. With threats of violence by multiple GOP members, its clear that tensions are high as Republicans struggle to govern. With the government shutdown pushed to next year, join us as we break down the political field heading into 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recent polls on a Biden and Trump showdown in 2024 aren’t great for the incumbent president. But with just under a year to go before the election, how worried should we really be? David Rothkopf joins Norm to explain how Biden can bounce back and why the lunacy of the Republican Party will be its own undoing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the face of such overwhelming bad news, it’s all too easy to feel hopeless. Dr. Ben Miller joins Kavita and Norm to talk about the narrative of mental illness in mass shootings, and shares ways that we can maintain good mental health even when the news is bleak. Don’t miss this important episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two failed votes for Jim Jordan later, and the House is still no closer to electing a speaker. Norm and Kavita break down what could come next for a speaker pro tempore-led Congress and where the Republican caucus will go from here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Norm away this week, Kavita is joined by Laurie Garrett for a conversation on a potpourri of topics. From the situation in Israel, to the House speaker race, to updates on COVID, there is a little bit of everything in this week’s episode. Don’t miss it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another average week for the US Congress. With the shocking removal of Speaker McCarthy by a small cadre of his own party, the divisions within the Republican Party have reached new levels. Thankfully, Kavita is back with Norm to try and make sense of it all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices