The Libertarian Institute - All Podcasts

After a blissful month off we are back to our regular Democratic debate schedule (ugh)

One night, ten candidates, one exhausted libertarian

(I did manage to find a few bright spots but boy it wasn't easy)

Scott talks to Ryan McMaken about the true costs of America's "national security" state, both in dollars and in secondary effects on the daily lives of Americans. Even though the official number is quite a bit lower, McMaken has estimated the true cost of the U.S. military and intelligence apparatus at close to a trillion dollars per year, since we should be factoring in things like Department of Energy funding that goes to nuclear weapons, medical costs for the VA, and the budgets of Homeland Security organizations. This whole system has other, even more insidious effects, that most people don't notice, including a general slowing of the economy due to inflation and artificial interest rates, a more dangerous world where America makes enemies by picking fights where it doesn't have to, and the slow militarization of our entire society.

Discussed on the show:

"The Trillion-Dollar Military Still Isn't Enough for the War Party" (Mises Wire)

"Historic Asset Boom Passes by Half of Families" (WSJ)

Ryan McMaken is a senior editor at the Mises Institute. He has degrees in economics and political science from the University of Colorado, and was the economist for the Colorado Division of Housing from 2009 to 2014. He is the author of Commie Cowboys: The Bourgeoisie and the Nation-State in the Western Genre.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Washinton Babylon; Liberty Under Attack Publications; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

Scott and Dan McAdams rehash some of the heroic legacy of Ron Paul in light of Scott's new book of his interview transcripts with Dr. Paul. As Congressman, Paul had both an authentic charisma with his constituents, and a real passion for what he felt was his calling in Washington D.C. Both are rare in politics today. McAdams reminds us how much of Paul's job in congress could be loathsome to him, and yet he persisted out of a drive to do what he felt was right. Without more figures like him in Washington, it's difficult to find people who can be a voice of reason on foreign policy, particularly where it matters most, like in President Trump's National Security Council.

Discussed on the show:

"The Great Ron Paul: The Scott Horton Show Interviews 2004–2019" (The Libertarian Institute)

"We Lost the War in Afghanistan. Get Over It." (Foreign Policy)

"Trump Administration Reinstates Military Aid for Ukraine" (News From Antiwar.com)

"Bananas (1971)" (IMDb)

Daniel McAdams is the executive director of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity and the co-host of the Ron Paul Liberty Report. Follow him on Twitter @DanielLMcAdams and read all of his work over at Antiwar.com.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Washinton Babylon; Liberty Under Attack Publications; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

Daniel Davis is back, this time discussing his recent USA Today op-ed on John Bolton's ouster as President Trump's National Security Advisor. Bolton was a fierce war hawk who pushed Trump toward war on almost every front, explains Davis, often apparently contravening Trump's own good instincts. Davis is hopeful that Bolton's replacement will help get negotiations in Afghanistan back on track, but fears that Trump could appoint someone who's almost as bad.

Discussed on the show:

"Bolton pushed Trump into more risk, war and casualties, good riddance" (USA Today)

Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty

Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

Daniel Davis did multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan during his time in the army. He writes a weekly column for National Interest and is the author of the reports “Dereliction of Duty II: Senior Military Leaders’ Loss of Integrity Wounds Afghan War Effort” and “Go Big or Go Deep: An Analysis of Strategy Options on Afghanistan.” Find him on Twitter @DanielLDavis1.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Washinton Babylon; Liberty Under Attack Publications; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

Scott Horton returns to FPF to discuss his new book, The Great Ron Paul: The Scott Horton Show Interview 2004-2009. Scott explains why Ron Paul record of standing against the empire makes him the greatest American Hero. Scott's new book shows that Dr. Paul has been right on foreign policy for decades. However, Ron has been largely ignored or smeared by the establishment. Scott and Kyle describe what Congressman Ron Paul has meant to the liberty and antiwar movements.

Scott Horton is also the author of Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan. He is the Editorial Director at Antiwar.com, runs the Libertarian Insititute and is the host of the Scott Horton Show.

45 Minutes

Suitable for All Ages

Pete invited Sheldon Richman to come on the show and talk about his new book that will be published by The Libertarian Institute, "Coming to Palestine." Sheldon provides history that few talk about, or even know, when it comes to the "conflict," and answers questions from the point of view of a libertarian ideology.

Sheldon Richman is the Executive Editor of The Libertarian Institute. The former editor of The Freeman, published by the Foundation for Economic Education, and former Vice President at the Future of Freedom Foundation. He is the author of Separating School & State: How to Liberate America's Families, Your Money or Your Life: Why We Must Abolish the Income Tax, and Tethered Citizens: Time to Repeal the Welfare State.

Sheldon's Libertarian Institute Page

America's Counter-Revolution:The Constitution Revisited

Lions of Liberty Podcast

Indiegogo for The Monopoly on Violence

Pete's Patreon

Pete's Bitbacker

Pete's Books on Amazon

Pete's Books Available for Crypto

Pete on Facebook

Pete on Twitter

On FPF #396, I discuss Trump's firing of John Bolton. Bolton served as Trump's National Security Adviser for the past year and a half. Bolton used his position to push for more war and destroy nuclear agreements. This should not have come to as a surprise to anyone, Bolton's legacy is starting wars and killing agreements that encourage diplomacy. In the Trump administration, he was influential in ruining the Hanoi summit with North Korea, killing the INF Treaty, starting an economic war against Venezuela, and increasing the maximum pressure campaign against Iran.

41 Minutes

Some Strong Language

Pete had Matt Agorist, co-founder of "The Free Thought Project," on to talk about the escalating violence and death caused by law enforcement. They talk about current cases most have heard of and a few you haven't.

The Free Thought Project

Lions of Liberty Podcast

Indiegogo for The Monopoly on Violence

Pete's Patreon

Pete's Bitbacker

Pete's Books on Amazon

Pete's Books Available for Crypto

Pete on Facebook

Pete on Twitter

Nasser Arrabyee is back with an update from Yemen, where civilian casualties resulting from the Saudi-led war there have climbed past 100,000, by even conservative estimates. This number doesn't include any of the people who have died from malnutrition and easily preventable diseases, which surely includes tens if not hundreds of thousands more.

Nasser Arrabyee is a Yemeni journalist based in Sana’a, Yemen. He is the owner and director of yemen-now.com. You can follow him on Twitter @narrabyee.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Washinton Babylon; Liberty Under Attack Publications; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.

Dan Cohen comes on the show for an update on the protests in Hong Kong. Though positioned as a popular pro-democracy movement, some of the protest leaders have alarming ties to American think tanks like the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, which may be trying to influence the movement in a direction that will benefit U.S. interests in the end. Cohen says the protesters certainly have good grounds for their outrage, but that we should be careful fully supporting a cause whose motives and aims aren't exactly clear.

Discussed on the show:

"Behind a made-for-TV Hong Kong protest narrative, Washington is backing nativism and mob violence" (The Grayzone)

"Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower (2017)" (IMDb)

Colour revolution

"Watch the film the Israel lobby didn't want you to see" (Electronic Intifada)

Dan Cohen is a journalist and co-producer of the award-winning documentary, Killing Gaza. His website is dancohenmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @dancohen3000.

This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: NoDev NoOps NoIT, by Hussein Badakhchani; The War State, by Mike Swanson; WallStreetWindow.com; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom; ExpandDesigns.com/Scott; Washinton Babylon; Liberty Under Attack Publications; Listen and Think Audio; TheBumperSticker.com; and LibertyStickers.com.

Donate to the show through Patreon, PayPal, or Bitcoin: 1Ct2FmcGrAGX56RnDtN9HncYghXfvF2GAh.