Deep State Radio

The President and Democratic leaders announced that they are on the verge of transformative legislation that will help children, elders, the environment, our infrastructure, and our growth as a country. When will being on the verge became signed legislation? And will that be accompanied on a parallel track with finally beginning to see some accountability on the January 6 coup attempt? We discuss the first set of developments with Norm Ornstein of AEI and Dr. Kavita Patel of the Brookings Institution and the second set of issues with former US Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal and NYU Law Professor and co-editor of "Just Security" Ryan Goodman. Join us. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/deepstateradio. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Opportunity Zones sounded like a great idea, provide tax benefits for wealthy Americans to invest in 8,000 areas in the United States that don't receive enough investment and development and everyone wins. Unfortunately, as David Wessel describes in his new book "Only the Rich Can Play: How Washington Works in the New Gilded Age", the vast majority of the benefits of these zones went to the wealthy instead of the communities they were meant to help. This far ranging conversation hits on the roots of this policy failure as well as the latest plans from Democrats to tax billionaires and the global minimum tax on corporations championed by Janet Yellen. You won't want to miss it. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/deepstateradio. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As the Biden Administration shifts the focus of U.S. foreign policy to emerging issues and how America can lead in the century ahead, certain megapowers loom as complex threats. One is China. Another is Big Tech and how, if at all, its destabilizing and dangerous tendencies can be managed. Ed Luce of the Financial Times and Kori Schake of the American Enterprise Institute discuss. And then we move on to an evaluation of Biden Administration foreign policy so far, the impact of Secretary Blinken's efforts to return diplomacy to centrality in our international relations and what can be done in the next couple years to do better. Join us.   Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/deepstateradio. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Biden Administration, it seems, is on the verge of winning approval for its Build Back Better Package. If the deal is roughly as reported it will be between $1.5 and 2 trillion in fully paid for investments in America. Which means that in this year alone the Biden Administration will have overseen investments of $5 Trillion in the economy, the creation of 5 million jobs (more than the last three GOP administrations added up), distribution fo 200 million plus vaccines, significant economic growth, and much more. You wouldn't know it from reading the press or following social media, but understanding just how big and beneficial all this is may be key to Democratic victories in 2022 which will be essential to preserving democracy in the U.S. We discuss how we got here and how to frame these achievements going forward with California Representative Ro Khanna, the Washington Post's Greg Sargent and Dr. Kavita Patel, formerly of the Obama White House. Don't miss this crucial conversation. Support this show http

Mossad’s got a killer new boss and the US is buying China-made drones. Jeff Stein and Jeanne Meserve drill down on both. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/deepstateradio. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fiona Hill may have risen to public prominence during Donald Trump's first impeachment but there is much more to her story than just her time in the White House. In her new book "There is Nothing for You Here: Finding Opportunity in the Twenty-First Century", she describes her journey from a coal-mining town in Northern England to studying in Moscow and ultimately to serving three different Presidents. Hill argues that expanding opportunity rather than clinging to the past is the only way to save democracy in America and elsewhere and that Putin and Trump are more alike than you may think. We discuss this fascinating new book with Fiona in a can't miss conversation. Join us. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/deepstateradio. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

America's nuclear weapons submarine fleet has the capability to produce something like 40,000 Hiroshimas. But it is just one leg in our nuclear forces. What possible reason, asks our guest Joe Cirincione of the Quincy Institute, for possessing that kind of destructive force? For giving the president sole authority to launch a first strike? We discuss these and other nuclear modernization choices facing the Biden Administration with Joe as well regulars David Sanger of the New York Times, Kori Schake of the American Enterprise Institute and Rosa Brooks of Georgetown Law School. We also take time to reflect on the legacy of the late General Colin Powell. Join us. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/deepstateradio. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The first report from the commission looking at ways to change the Supreme Court is out and its conclusions are...well, they seem to be thoughtful but unlikely to produce change in the near future. For folks concerned about the politicization of the court, that's a problem. Where do we go from here? We discuss with the Media Editor of SCOTUSblog & host of the "Words Matter" podcast, attorney and journalist, Katie Barlow and our co-hosts Dr. Kavita Patel of the Brookings Institution and David Rothkopf. Join us for an important discussion about these and other recent developments in our not-terribly-well-functioning justice system. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/deepstateradio. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Washington Post intelligence reporter Shane Harris discusses odd happenings in the spook world with Jeff Stein, and former Secret Service Special Agent Jonathan Wackrow analyses a new report on tanking morale in the uniformed division with Jeanne Meserve. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/deepstateradio. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

President Biden is on the verge of a transformational victory... or is he. We discuss the state of the negotiations around his Build Back Better agenda and how Democrats can get this legislation on the President's desk with political commentator Karen Finney and Kavita Patel, former senior Obama White House official. This is a pivotal time and these negotiations will impact the lives of Americans for years to come. Don't miss this conversation. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/deepstateradio. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Legendary ‘Condor’ author James Grady discusses James Bond’s evolving cinematic villains with Jeff Stein, and Jeanne Meserve digs into the massive hack of a far-right server with extremist expert Heidi Beirich. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/deepstateradio. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tom Nichols has become an essential voice for audiences trying to make sense of current trends in American politics. His book "The Death of Expertise" was a landmark volume offering key insights into why our society was faltering. His latest, "Our Own Worst Enemy" continues the journey. For those hoping for a magical solution, a white knight, a top down solution for American political dysfunction, this book will be frustrating but eye-opening. Nichols believes, rightly in our view, that the answer starts with each of us, with a civic minded populace remaking our political culture from the ground up. We discuss this new book with Tom in a conversation you won't want to miss. Join us. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/deepstateradio. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Trump China policy architect Peter Navarro was described by one of his colleagues as a "fucking sociopath." Trump China policy included looking the other way from human rights abuses, seeking trademarks for Ivanka's businesses and extreme Tweets. Biden's is evolving as something very very different--mature, multilayered and reflecting the complexity of the evolving relationship between the world's two major powers. We discuss the latest developments with David Sanger of the New York Times, Rosa Brooks of Georgetown Law School and Ed Luce of the Financial Times. We also discuss whether Sioux Falls, South Dakota exists or not and why that matters. Don't miss the latest Deep State Radio, the official podcast of the Deep State. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/deepstateradio. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Washington debate over whether and how much to invest in our infrastructure and our people has reached a telling and pivotal moment. We discuss the moment and where it is likely to lead with EJ Dionne of the Washington Post, Norm Ornstein of AEI and Dr. Kavita Patel, former of the Obama White House. Much hangs in the balance here and the real story is not coming out in the media or, often, out of the mouths of political leaders. We try to shed some light on what is really happening. Don't miss it. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/deepstateradio. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

From Vietnam to Vienna, reported cases of Havana Syndrome are on the rise. Diplomats, intelligence officials and their families are experiencing debilitating symptoms including headaches, dizziness, nausea and memory loss. Dr. James Giordano, Professor of Neurology and Biochemistry at Georgetown University Medical Center, has been investigating Havana Syndrome since the first cases were reported and discusses what we know, and what we still need to learn, with Jeanne Meserve.  Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/deepstateradio. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Most Americans don't give much thought to German politics--and that's a good thing given that when we once did it was because those politics were a disaster. But with the departure of Germany's chancellor of the past 16 years, Angela Merkel, it is time we did. Germany is not only a vital ally but thanks in large part to Merkel's leadership, it is a global leader of significance. What comes next in our relationship--especially as the US continues to prioritize its pivot to Asia. We discuss with Ed Luce of the Financial Times, Kori Schake of AEI and Rosa Brooks of Georgetown Law Center. Join us. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/deepstateradio. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Time after time, COVID has delivered worst case scenarios. So why, now, would we rely on our hope that those scenarios--new variants, failures of leadership, new outbreaks--will not occur? Will the holidays bring people back together? Or will they see a worsening situation? What should our leaders be doing that they're not? What should we be doing to take care of ourselves? We talk with Pulitzer Prize-winning science journalist Laurie Garrett and former senior Obama WH official and practicing physician Dr. Kavita Patel. Join us for a must listen special edition of Deep State Radio. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/deepstateradio. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Chinese espionage expert Matthew Brazil and Jeff Stein break down the controversy about Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley’s backchannel contact with his Chinese counterpart, and Jeanne Meserve and transnational crime expert Tom Sanderson discuss the emergence of Talibani Afghanistan as a terrorist state.  Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/deepstateradio. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After 9/11, investigators concluded one of the factors that put America at risk was that only 57 percent of nominees for top national security positions had been confirmed by the Congress and were in place. Today, that number is just over 26 percent. Random holds on nominees for indefensibly political reasons are putting this country at risk. The two worst offenders? Senators Cruz and Hawley. We discuss this with expert Loren deJonge Schulman, VP for Research at the Partnership for Public Service as well as AEI's Kori Schake, the FT's Ed Luce and Georgetown Law's Rosa Brooks. We also discuss Kori's and Rosa's prominent opeds on the controversy surrounding General Mark Milley. Plus a little bit about French submarines. Don't miss it. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/deepstateradio. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

“Into the Forest” by Rebecca Frankel is more than just one of the best books of the year, it is a revealing journey into what makes us human…the good, the bad, the noble and the horrific. It reads like a great novel and contains much of the drama and resonance you would expect from such a work but also is infused with the detail that comes of great journalism.  We speak with the author, former Executive Editor of Foreign Policy, Rebecca Frankel, author of the New York Times best-seller “War Dogs” about her books and what it means in the context of our own times.  Join us. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/deepstateradio. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.