The DSR Network

Original Air Date 3/13/25 We are currently on the verge of a government shutdown. It’s clear that Donald Trump and his cronies are trying to get away with something, and the cult in the Republican Party is all for it. Norm Ornstein and David Rothkopf are here to ask: What the hell is going on? Is there any way to avoid a government closure? Are the Democrats showing any signs of resistance? And is there anything at all to be optimistic about? Tune in to hear all this and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Original air date: October 6, 2025 Things are not okay in the White House. Numerous new national polls show President Trump and the GOP ⁠taking far more blame⁠ for the government shutdown than Democrats. One polling analyst ⁠flatly declared⁠ that the gap has reached double digits. Meanwhile, at a media briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt ⁠twice lost her temper⁠ ⁠under tough questioning⁠. Notably, what angered her was the spectacle of reporters punching holes in the leading White House arguments in the shutdown standoff. Why is this happening, given that many pundits predicted Democrats are in the weaker position? We talked to ⁠Salon’s Amanda Marcotte⁠, a sharp observer of MAGA follies. She explains why the Trump-GOP talking points are failing, why Democrats have fresh incentives to hold firm, and what all this reveals about the deepening fissures in the Trump coalition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Original Air Date: 7/3/25 Before we grab a hotdog and head out to the 4th of July fireworks, we have to reflect on the current state of our country and ask ourselves, "is this really what the Founding Fathers would have wanted?" David Rothkopf and Norm Ornstein discuss the significance of Independence Day, reflecting on the founding fathers and the current political landscape. They explore the challenges facing democracy today, including corruption, the impact of policies on everyday lives, the role of young voters in shaping the future and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Original air date: July 2, 2025 The Senate ⁠just passed its version⁠ of President Trump’s big budget bill, which will cut $1 trillion from Medicaid to fund huge tax cuts for the rich. In a series of ⁠angry⁠ ⁠tweets⁠, Vice President JD Vance downplayed the Medicaid cuts while saying what really matters is the bill’s massive funding for ICE and migrant detention. It was a revealing moment: Vance basically told MAGA voters not to think too much about their pending loss of health care via Medicaid cuts; instead they should focus on how many migrants the bill will end up jailing and deporting. That scam is integral to getting the Medicaid cuts passed in the first place. But what will voters think? We talked to Kristen Crowell, who is campaigning against the bill for the advocacy group Fair Share America. She explains how Trump voters and other constituencies are reacting to the bill in many communities with anger and fear; why the public is not receptive right now to typical GOP attacks on the safety net; and whether this can be converted into midterm gains for Democrats.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Original Air Date: 6/13/25 In case you missed it, things are still not great here in the United States. Thankfully, we have Ed Luce joining David Rothkopf to break down this administration’s current actions. What does the militarization of law enforcement mean for civil liberties? How are governors like Gavin Newsom stepping up? Find out right here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices