The DSR Network

David Sanger of the New York Times brings us up to date on the latest from the Russian nuclear program--which means catastrophes near the arctic circle with ramifications that extend around the globe. Kori Schake of IISS and Evelyn Farkas of the German Marshall Fund join to discuss what all this means for US strategic policy, nuclear strategy and...well, yes, here we go again, Greenland. It always...

In an obvious attempt to infuriate Puerto Rican statehood advocates, Donald Trump wants to buy Greenland. And if a few thousand Republicans would move up there (as they no doubt would to mine and drill the hell out of its every beautiful nook and cranny) then he would no doubt welcome it as a state. Come to think of it, if we can designate which Republicans move there, maybe everyone can get behi...

The day after Donald Trump leaves office in January 2021 (as we'll assume for the sake of argument and/or sanity that he does), what happens to America's relations with the world? What snaps back to the way it was in the past? What does not? Where has irreparable damage been done? Where are quick fixes possible? And where might there be meaningful differences between different potential candidates...

General James Clapper was both the Director of National Intelligence and the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, one of the most distinguished intelligence leaders of the past several decades. We discuss with him where the Russia investigation is post-Mueller, the challenges for the intelligence community in the face of leadership upheaval and the risks associated with the upcoming electi...

On this episode of Deep State Radio Kori Schake of IISS and Ed Luce of the Financial Times join host David Rothkopf to discuss the state of global crises from North Korea to Hong Kong, Kashmir to the Persian Gulf, global warming to Brexit and well, it's a good thing it's summer and sunny outside or things could have gotten pretty depressing. Still, they focus on solutions and what an engaged U.S....

On this special edition of Deep State Radio live, we have an in-depth one-on-one conversation with Barbara McQuade, former U.S. Attorney and  frequent commentator on legal developments on MSNBC. As one of America's foremost legal experts on matters pertaining to combating violent extremism, Barbara offers vital insights into where our system comes up short in giving law enforcement the tools it ne...

America is reeling from two more mass shootings. White nationalism and our gun pathology have combined with the encouragement of the White House to create tragedy upon tragedy and deeper divisions within our society. But the cost of the White House's combination of malevolence and ignorance is every bit as great overseas and even as America was mourning the shootings the world grew materially more...

Now that a majority of Democrats in the House of Representatives support an impeachment inquiry and the House has argued in court that such an inquiry is already under way, the question becomes where does it lead? How do you frame impeachment articles that best hold the president accountable for his crimes and how do you ensure that with or without a vote on impeachment, the inquiry does the most...

On this edition of National Security Magazine we have an in-depth discussion with former Acting CIA Director John McLaughlin about the president's proposed leadership change at the top of the US intelligence community and the risks that may be associated with it. McLaughlin, one of the most respected career intelligence officers of the past several decades, discusses his concerns and also his grea...

Dan Coats was not a perfect Director of National Intelligence, but he was a good one, a truth-teller in an administration of slavering sycophants. He will be missed, especially since his replacement is another sycophant of the mouth-frothing variety and someone who will become a key part of a new Praetorian Guard surrounding Trump. Like Barr and McConnell he will place Trump and the GOP above nati...

Ambassador Bill Burns is one of the most distinguished US diplomats of the past 50 years. In a wide ranging conversation based upon his great memoir "The Back Channel" he discusses the evolution (or devolution) of US foreign policy from Reagan to Trump and some of the biggest issues we face today. It is essential listening for anyone interested in global affairs. Support this show http://supporter...

In this special discussion in the wake of Robert Mueller's testimony on Capitol Hill, Greg Sargent of the Washington Post, Ryan Goodman of Just Security and Rosa Brooks of NYU Law School discuss just where we are in terms of the national security threat underlying the Trump-Russia investigation. They discuss whether the momentum for impeachment has disappeared and what options may still exist to h...

According to Jonathan Greenblatt, National Director and CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, this is a particular fraught moment in the long history of the politics of race and history in America and around the world. We talk to Greenblatt in a special, thought-provoking, wide-ranging interview that touches upon the President's attacks on the members of "The Squad," the perversity of turning accusat...

As the great foreign policy scholar Dean Wormer of Faber College once said, "Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son." It's also no way to run a foreign policy. In fact, you don't even have to be fat or drunk for stupid to screw up a policy. This week has seen some really extraordinary cluelessness from the man who says his gut can steer US international affairs. And we discuss whe...

Remember the scene in "Mean Girls" where Cady breaks the prom queen tiara into piece for everyone? Well, that's what we do here as we celebrate 200 podcasts with a look at the world during the two year's since the launch of Deep State Radio and then consider where we might go over the next 200 episodes. It's an episode you should not miss (but bring your own box wine, you'll need it.). With Rosa B...

It's not our fault. The month before DSR started Comey got fired, Mueller got hired, and we were off to the races with the Greatest Witch Hunt in History. Many witches later...and 200 podcasts later...we look back to ask: What has changed the most in America since we launched? Join Rosa Brooks of Georgetown Law Center, Kori Schake of IISS, Christine Wormuth of the Rand Corporation and Ed Luce of t...

As part of our celebration of 200th episode, we had a special conversation with Lawrence O'Donnell, host of MSNBC's "The Last Word" and one of the keenest, most candid observers of Washington anywhere. We discuss with him how this moment is different from all others, the critical mistakes we may be making and why nonetheless, there may be reason for hope. Following that we then turn to former U.S....

When the special relationship starts coming apart at the seams because of an unfortunate outbreak of stating the obvious, who you gonna call? Ivanka! From the DMZ to world leader photo ops to Brexit, America's crown princess is at the helm. And if she's not available, her second in command, Jared, is always standing by. So, have a nice time at the beach folks. What could go wrong? Our friendly dee...

Yes, our Constitution is not exactly working as planned. Yes, checks and balances are not checking or balancing. Yes, the president and his family are behaving like royals on the world stage. Yes, this July 4th might be seen to celebrate not the revolution to break away from one mad king but the ascension of another. But surely there are things to celebrate about America today, right? Ed Luce of t...

President Trump became the first American president to enter North Korea. That's the good news. He also seems to be heading for a deal with North Korea that may freeze their nuclear arsenal at 20-60 warheads. That's not so good. It's not good because we will then reward Kim Jong Un for building that arsenal by lifting sanctions, we will get only nominal gains, like the shutdown of perhaps one agin...

So, there was this war with Iran, remember? Then there wasn't. Then there were cyberattacks. But what did they do? And were they legal? And why did we do them? And isn't all this making another war in the Middle East more likely--whether Trump wants it or not? We start our conversation on this issues with a first-rate panel featuring Sharon Weinberger of Yahoo News, Ed Luce of the FT, David Sanger...

From one perspective, this is not a particularly auspicious moment for women at the top ranks of the US government. There are fewer women in leadership roles in the Trump Administration and then, of course, there's the fact the president has been credibly accused of being a rapist. More than once. That said, there are also some very promising signs and one of the most exciting is a new initiative...

There's a lot we don't know about cyberwar. But that doesn't mean we can stop progress from happening while we figure it out. So, Russia attacks us, we attack back, escalation occurs and who knows, our officials may or may not tell the president because, you know, his fondness for Russia and his problems with polysyllabic words and so forth. That could be a problem, no? We discuss with Kori Schake...

It is conventional wisdom that Americans want nothing to do with the world save for cheap imports and K-Pop music. Even New York Times columnists say so. But, the reality is far different. In fact, polling suggests the opposite is true. America's welcome foreign engagement and support our allies and alliances. We discuss what's true and what this may mean in the 2020 elections with Ivo Daalder, Pr...

In 1780 John Adams wrote "For as in absolute governments the King is law, so in free countries the law ought to be king; and there ought to be no other." It was in the Massachusetts Constitution that he was trying to enshrine the idea that the new U.S. would be "a nation of laws not men." It was a nice idea while it lasted. This week, as we discuss with Ben Wittes of Lawfare, Ryan Goodman of Just...