
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


Donald Trump recently announced a defence budget of more than one trillion dollars, much of which will be funnelled to private companies – and increasingly to tech firms such as Space X and Palantir. Laleh Khalili joins Thomas Jones to discuss the relationship between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon. She explains the limitations of the Rumsfeld Doctrine, the strengthening grip of private corporations on US defence agencies and why the trickle-down benefits of tech innovation can’t justify military spending.
This conversation was recorded on 12 June 2025.
Find further reading on the episode page: https://lrb.me/pentagonpod
From the LRB
Subscribe to the LRB: https://lrb.me/pod
Close Readings podcast: https://lrb.me/crlrbpod
LRB Audiobooks: https://lrb.me/audiobookslrbpod
Bags, binders and more at the LRB Store: https://lrb.me/storelrbpod
Get in touch: [email protected]
By The London Review of Books4.5
254254 ratings
Donald Trump recently announced a defence budget of more than one trillion dollars, much of which will be funnelled to private companies – and increasingly to tech firms such as Space X and Palantir. Laleh Khalili joins Thomas Jones to discuss the relationship between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon. She explains the limitations of the Rumsfeld Doctrine, the strengthening grip of private corporations on US defence agencies and why the trickle-down benefits of tech innovation can’t justify military spending.
This conversation was recorded on 12 June 2025.
Find further reading on the episode page: https://lrb.me/pentagonpod
From the LRB
Subscribe to the LRB: https://lrb.me/pod
Close Readings podcast: https://lrb.me/crlrbpod
LRB Audiobooks: https://lrb.me/audiobookslrbpod
Bags, binders and more at the LRB Store: https://lrb.me/storelrbpod
Get in touch: [email protected]

5,464 Listeners

303 Listeners

1,460 Listeners

583 Listeners

133 Listeners

170 Listeners

183 Listeners

1,583 Listeners

176 Listeners

279 Listeners

340 Listeners

81 Listeners

338 Listeners

125 Listeners

29 Listeners

71 Listeners

3 Listeners

2 Listeners

5 Listeners

3 Listeners

4 Listeners

6 Listeners

6 Listeners

2 Listeners

0 Listeners

0 Listeners

0 Listeners