The DSR Network

The Trump administration’s laissez-faire approach to big tech might just be a mirage. The strange marriage of the White House to some of the biggest names in AI has meant a huge influence over the exploding industry. But who is really influencing who? Former Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy Alondra Nelson joins David Rothkopf to explore the administration’s unique relationsh...

On the DSR Daily for Tuesday, we cover the Category 5 hurricane approaching Jamaica, the expanding fight over redistricting, a Texas lawsuit against the makers of Tylenol, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inflatable critters becoming a symbol of protest in 2025 was not on our bingo card. But while millions mobilizing to protest for democracy should be celebrated, Republican machinations ahead of 2026 midterms are cause for alarm. Tara McGowan and Simon Rosenberg join David Rothkopf to share their hopes and fears in this political climate and how each of us can do more to protect our democracy.  Lea...

On Air Force One, President Donald Trump unleashed a bizarre, angry, rambling rant about the cognitive test he supposedly aced this weekend. Worse, he compared himself cognitively to two Democrats who both happen to be nonwhite women. This rant backfired on itself: It revealed his worsening mental unfitness, his naked racism, his effort to normalize his belittling of nonwhite members of Congress a...

On the DSR Daily for Monday, we discuss Trump’s statements about potentially running again in 2028, the GOP’s anxiety about ACA subsidies, the US military closing in on Venezuela, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In recent days, President Trump has approved federal disaster aid for the red states of Nebraska, North Dakota, Missouri and Alaska while denying it to the blue states of Maryland, Vermont, and Illinois. The White House has not offered meaningful explanations for the discrepancies, which just happen to punish states that didn’t support him in 2024. But we noticed something interesting about this w...

On the DSR Weekly Wrap-Up for October 24, we break down Trump’s cancellation of trade negotiations with Canada, arrests in a massive illegal gambling ring, an upcoming meeting between US and Chinese negotiators, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump just tore down the East Wing of the White House. Yup, that’s right - the President of the United States, in the middle of a government shutdown, decides that what America really needs is a new grand ballroom in Washington, DC. Where is the accountability? How is such corrupt politics being normalized? Join David Rothkopf and Norm Ornstein as they search through the rubble and try to f...

In a shockingly brazen move, President Trump is demanding that the Justice Department pay him $230 million stemming from certain federal actions against him. Representative Jamie Raskin, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, sent a scalding letter to the White House demanding all internal communications on this shakedown. What struck us was the letter’s forceful indictment of Trum...

The US government has taken a ‘light touch’ approach to regulating artificial intelligence under Trump and a Republican controlled Congress. Should our government be doing more? California Representative Ted Lieu joins David Rothkopf to explore the pitfalls of hands-off federal regulation, how AI has become a critical component of national security and the labor market, and more.  This material is...

On the DSR Daily for Thursday, we cover JD Vance’s harsh comments on Israel, the administration introducing new sanctions on Russia, Trump’s demolition of the East Wing, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After more than three years of expanded conflict, there might be some glimmers of hope for Ukraine. President Trump’s frustrations with Putin are growing, but Trump’s flip-flopping on the issue has continued to vex world leaders. So what can we expect from Trump? Has he really had a turn of heart? Ambassador Bill Taylor and Rosa Brooks join David Rothkopf to shed light on the latest news and more....

We’re seeing a confluence of events that suggest President Trump’s corruption has crossed over to an ugly new place. Trump is destroying a White House building to create a ballroom for him and his rich friends. He’s demanding that the Justice Department hand over $230 million in taxpayer funds to compensate him for “damages.” And Democrats from Senator Chris Murphy to Democratic House leader Hakee...

On the DSR Daily for Wednesday, we break down Trump’s demands for a meeting with Democrats, Trump potentially seeking $230 million from the Justice Department, the White House pulling back on promises for a meeting with Putin, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not long after President Trump floated a $20 billion financial bailout for Argentina, he proposed importing beef from Argentina to bring prices down in the United States. This angered American beef producers and produced a backlash from farm-state Republicans. But the most interesting response came from Meriwether Farms, a beef producer in Wyoming that promises to “preserve the traditions of Ameri...

On the DSR Daily for Tuesday, we discuss a court ruling that National Guard can be deployed to Portland, Putin’s hardline stance on a Ukraine ceasefire, major backlash over Trump’s nominee for Office of Special Counsel, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the leadup to the “No Kings” protests, Trump and Republicans widely derided the protesters as extremists, criminals, and terrorists. Then the protests actually happened. They were a wild success: Peaceful, enormous, and representative of a very wide swath of American society. So what did Republicans do in response? They just kept on calling the protesters criminals and terrorists. That MAGA sme...

President Trump’s fury at Democrats over the government shutdown is escalating. First he angrily announced that he’s “terminated” the big tunnel project connecting New York and New Jersey, basically saying he’d done this to punish Chuck Schumer, an extraordinarily deranged act of direct retribution. Then he unleashed a rambling tirade filled with lies about “mentally damaged” Democrats’ shutdown s...

On the DSR Weekly Wrap-Up for October 17th, we break down the indictment of John Bolton, the fiery first NYC mayoral debate, Venezuela mobilizing troops in response to US provocations, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Words matter to the Trump administration, and their willingness to accept and embrace the most vile language and discourse is despicable. At the same time, popular media is normalizing the administration's antidemocratic agenda while we slide further into authoritarianism. Why can’t anybody call out the Trump administration for the authoritarian regime it is? Tune in as David Rothkopf and Norm Orn...

The other day, President Trump announced that he has bombed yet another boat allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean sea. He has now struck six boats, with 27 people dead, and the bombings have been widely denounced as illegal. Now, in a strange turn of events, The New York Times reports that the head of the military’s southern command, Alvin Holsey, is stepping down amid unclear circumstances. ...

As the government shutdown drags on, millions of Americans are being impacted. So what are the real consequences of the shutdown? How can Democrats lead in these tumultuous times? Senator Elissa Slotkin joins David Rothkopf to share an inside look at the shutdown, how Michiganders are feeling the effects of the shutdown and tariffs, how Democrats can step up, and more.  Learn more about your ad ch...

The national security landscape has radically transformed in the last ten months. To help make sense of the unprecedented policies of this administration, we welcome former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Sullivan joins David Rothkopf and Ed Luce to explore Trump’s unpredictable approach to alliances, the Middle East, the US-China relationship, and more. Don't miss this critical discussio...

On the DSR Daily for Thursday, we discuss journalists turning in their press badges over new Pentagon guidelines, the Supreme Court leaning towards weakening the Voting Rights Act, a judge blocking further federal layoffs, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former special counsel Jack Smith just confirmed that he’d amassed extensive evidence that Donald Trump willfully and knowingly broke the law in stealing classified documents at the end of his first term. Smith’s report on this may never be released. But House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan helpfully exposed a big Trump ruse here. Jordan is demanding that Smith testify to “prove” the Just...