The unofficial end to summer is here. School is started for most. Football season is upon us and soon the leaves will be changing color.

At the DSR Network, we remain as busy as ever with a full slate of podcasts scheduled for the fall. In the coming weeks, we'll be launching two new shows with new hosts creating even more content for our members.

Members receive an ad-free listening experience, an evening newsletter, an invitation to join the DSR Slack community, bonus content and more.

Best of all, if you become a member in the month of September, you'll receive 20% off the normal membership price.

Visit the DSR Network dot com slash buy and enter code school at checkout. That's the DSR Network dot com slash buy and code school. Thank you for your support.

It's September 29th, 2023 and this is your DSR Daily Brief. I'm Chris Codnor.

And I'm Riley Fessler, our top stories from international outlets this morning. A devastating explosion in Pakistan's Balakistan province near a mosque celebrating the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.

Has resulted in over 50 deaths and 50 injuries, prompting a state of emergency in the region.

Another blast occurred near the Peshawar city in Khyberpactukwa province with the extent of casualties unknown due to a roof collapse.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. And while the Balakistan often faces threats from various armed groups like the TTP and the Islamic state.

The TTP denied involvement in this incident. This tragedy follows previous violent incidents in the area, including an explosion earlier in the month and a suicide bombing in July that claimed more than 40 lives.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Andrei Trochev, a former senior commander of the Wagner mercenary group, to discuss the use of volunteer units in the Ukraine war.

Highlighting the Kremlin's attempt to assert control over the group following a failed mutiny by its leader Yip Geni Pregozhin and his subsequent death.

During the meeting, Putin and Trochev discussed the deployment of these volunteer units in the conflict zone, emphasizing Trochev's experience in such units.

Putin also mentioned the need for social support for those involved in the fighting.

Trochev, who now works as a defense ministry, appears to be taking a leading role in overseeing what remains of Wagner, which had a gained notoriety for capturing the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.

Some former Wagner fighters have joined their official Russian army, while others have joined different private military companies.

British military intelligence suggests that former Wagner fighters may be redeploying the Ukraine in various units, including official Russian forces and other PMCs.

Trochev is a decorated veteran known for his service in Russia's wars in Afghanistan and Chechnya, and he has been awarded the hero of Russia medal for his actions in Syria.

With a government shutdown looming and deep divisions among House Republicans, Speaker Kevin McCarthy finds himself in a precarious position.

McCarthy is advocated for a short-term funding plan that includes a comprehensive Republican proposal for the southern border, but a faction of hard-line conservatives is determined to eliminate stopgap funding plans, even if it means triggering a shutdown.

McCarthy's dilemma is that he may face political fallout from a shutdown, unless he seeks bipartisan cooperation with Democrats, a move that could jeopardize his position as Speaker.

...