Welcome to the Deep State Daily
Welcome to the Deep State Daily. Our intention with this newsletter is to highlight the top news stories that you need to be paying attention to. We pull stories from major news outlets, but we also try to call attention to niche websites, think-tanks and media outlets that we think you’ll enjoy whenever possible. If you enjoy our newsletter, please forward to a friend by clicking the forward link above. If you’re not already a Member or Insider, please consider supporting us by upgrading your membership.
From Deep State Radio
PODCAST: FASCIST, INCOMPETENT OR BOTH: ASSESSING TRUMPISM TODAY
While the Trump Administration may get much Trumpier with the personnel changes expected after Election Day, a Democratic victory on November 6th that brought them control of the House of Representatives is likely to create a check on Trump’s impulses of a sort he has never had to deal with. From Russia to the Middle East, the Democrats will be pushing for very different policies and countries that have cozied up to the president perhaps should expect a backlash…one that could get worse in 2020. Also: A discussion of the influence of foreign money in the Washington Policy community. Listen
FROM THE ARCHIVE: FASCIST, NEO-FASCIST, OR QUASI-FASCIST: WHAT’S THE POLITE WAY TO REFER TO AMERICA’S PRESIDENT?
Deep State Radio’s own Kori Schake wrote an important piece about the current threat to the international order posed by the Trump Administration. In this episode we discuss the article and just exactly how grievous the threat is and how we ought to characterize it. This takes us from John Locke to John Winthrop to Stephen Miller…(and we hope that’s the last time you ever see those three names in a sentence together.) Join Kori, Rosa Brooks, Evelyn Farkas and David Rothkopf for the discussion. But bring an adult beverage. It’s not an easy discussion to hear. Listen
Stories We’re Watching
Khashoggi Updates: Saudis Apparently Offshore Chop Chop Square (Trigger Warning)
Turkish authorities have released to Sabah, a pro-government Turkish newspaper, an audio clip said to offer clues regarding Khashoggi’s disappearance. The Turkish investigation indicates that on October 2, 15 men were waiting for Khashoggi as he entered the Saudi consulate. After entering, they dragged him to the Consul’s office, placed him on a desk, and then began dismembering him while still alive. Later that evening, the suspects ate dinner at the Saudi consul-general’s residence. Late yesterday, the Saudi consul-general left Turkey for Riyadh. Saudi authorities continue to deny any involvement. Seven of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s personal bodyguards are among the suspects.
• Just Security: Trump Administration Missed Crucial Opportunity This Summer to Rein In Saudi Arabia
• Middle East Eye: Jamal Khashoggi’s killing took seven minutes, Turkish source tells MEE
• The Times: Saudis fire Istanbul consul over Jamal Khashoggi disappearance
• The Wall Street Journal: Two Countries That Stand to Benefit From the Khashoggi Tragedy
• NPR: Pompeo Meets With Turkey’s Leaders Amid Diplomatic Crisis Over Missing Journalist
Trump’s AP Interview
In an interview with the Associated Press, President Trump discussed the upcoming US midterm elections, Khashoggi’s disappearance, US relations with the Saudi royal family, and his affinity for climate science. President Trump defended the Saudi royal family in regards to Khashoggi’s disappearance, and when pressed, compared questions over Saudi Arabia’s involvement to the accusations of sexual assault faced by Justice Kavanaugh in the recent confirmation hearings. President Trump also attempted to exonerate himself from a possible upset in the upcoming midterm elections stating that he bears no responsibility if Republicans lose seats.
• Real Clear Politics: Trump Says He Won’t Accept Blame If Republicans Lose House
• Associated Press: Full Transcript of President Trump’s AP Interview
• Vox: Trump only wants to take credit for Republicans’ midterm outcomes if they win
• Politico: Trump says he has ‘natural instinct for science’ when it comes to climate change
Brazil Election Developments: Fake News, WhatsApp, & Political Violence
After holding the first round of presidential elections, Brazil is set to hold general elections on October 28th. The first round was plagued with rampant proliferation of ‘fake news’ on the messaging app WhatsApp and other social media platforms. Since then, authorities have attempted to manage the spread and fallout of fake news and have launched an official fact checking website to expose problematic social media posts. In the lead up to Sunday’s runoff, leading candidates Jair Bolsonaro (Social Liberal Party) and Fernando Haddad (Workers’ Party) have stepped up campaign rallies. Earlier this week Bolsonaro compared the violence in Rio de Janeiro to the crisis in Venezuela and has proposed arming citizens.
• The Intercept: Political Violence Surges In Brazil As Far-right Strongman Jair Bolsonaro Inches Closer to the Presidency
• Science Mag: ‘We are headed for a very dark period.’ Brazil’s researchers fear election of far-right presidential candidate
• The Rio Times: Bolsonaro Compares Violence in Rio de Janeiro to Venezuela
• Bloomberg: Brazil Election Coverage
Armed Attack on Crimean College
Eighteen people were killed in a school shooting at a Crimean college in the Black Sea region earlier today. Many of the victims were teenage students. An assailant detonated a bomb in the school’s cafeteria and then began shooting at random. Authorities have identified the assailant as a male student of the college and are treating the incident as a terror attack. Four years ago, Russia annexed the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea from Ukraine, setting off rounds of Western sanctions.
• BBC: Crimea attack: College assault kills 17
• The Australian: Armed attack on Crimean college kills 18
• The Guardian: Crimea college hit by deadly bomb and shooting attack
• TASS: The Crimean college tragedy: What we know so far
Honduran Migrants March to Guatemalan Border
A caravan of more than 1,500 Hondurans is headed for the US border. Prompted by insecurity and economic conditions in Honduras, the caravan formed in San Pedro Sula over the weekend and reached Guatemala on Monday. President Trump tweeted yesterday: “The United States has strongly informed the President of Honduras that if the large Caravan of people heading to the U.S. is not stopped and brought back to Honduras, no more money or aid will be given to Honduras, effective immediately!” Since then, the caravan has grown and continues to move toward the US border.
• Mexico News Daily: Mexico Prepares for Arrival of Honduran Migrants
• The Atlantic: What Trump Doesn’t Understand About the Central American Caravan
• Reuters: Honduras urges citizens to not join migrant caravan heading to U.S.
• Al Jazeera: ‘No alternatives’: Thousands flee Honduras in US-bound caravan
