Episodes

  • The True Cost of Modern Industrial Warfare
    May 22 2024

    Ryan and Zach talk about how the realities of expensive industrial warfare are still relevant. The Pentagon's fantasy of precision techno-war doesn't apply to wars with peer countries like Russia or China.

    Recommended Reading

    "In a war of attrition, you want an economist as defense minister" - The Bell: https://Mises.org/WES_21_A

    "The Economics of War" by Murray Rothbard: https://Mises.org/WES_21_B

    "The Economics of War" by Matthew McCaffrey: https://Mises.org/WES_21_C

    "Defense, Controls, and Inflation" edited by Aaron Director: https://Mises.org/WES_21_D

    "Guardians of the Warfare State" by T. Hunt Tooley: https://Mises.org/WES_21_E

    "Wartime: Understanding and Behaviour in the Second World War" by Paul Fussell: https://Mises.org/WES_21_F

    Be sure to follow War, Economy, and State at https://Mises.org/WES.

    Show more Show less
    Less than 1 minute
  • Why the GOP Betrayed Its Own Voters on Ukraine
    May 1 2024

    Washington Post conservative George Will trots out every tired slogan and bromide in the book to claim that Putin is Hitler and the Ukraine war is a fight for civilization.

    Recommended Reading

    "So, 112 ignoble, infantile Republicans voted to endanger civilization" by George Will: Mises.org/WES_20_A

    "Piers Morgan vs John Mearsheimer" Mises.org/WES_20_B

    Be sure to follow War, Economy, and State at Mises.org/WES.

    Show more Show less
    Less than 1 minute
  • The West Is Losing Interest in Ukrainian Victory
    Mar 27 2024

    Many signs are now emerging that NATO and the West are slowly withdrawing support from Ukraine in its war with Russia. How much longer can the war continue?

    Recommended Reading

    "Intercept of German generals planning Taurus strike on Crimean bridge": Mises.org/WES_19_A

    "Army aims to double 155mm shell production by October" by Sam Skove Mises.org/WES_19_B

    "The deception behind America’s support for Ukraine" by Malcom Kyeyune: Mises.org/WES_19_C

    "Draft-dodging plagues Ukraine as Kyiv faces acute soldier shortage" by Jamie Dettmer: Mises.org/WES_19_D

    Remarks by Jake Sullivan and Andriy Yermak in Press Conference: Mises.org/WES_19_E

    "Biden's adviser did not mention regaining territories when talking about conditions for Ukraine's victory": Mises.org/WES_19_F

    Be sure to follow War, Economy, and State at Mises.org/WES.

    Show more Show less
    Less than 1 minute
  • The Pentagon Wants More Socialism
    Feb 28 2024

    Ryan and Zach take a look at how the Pentagon is now lobbying for a "national defense industrial strategy." In a new report, the Pentagon calls for more central planning and socialism in the name of national defense.

    Recommended Reading

    The National Defense Industrial Strategy (PDF): Mises.org/WES_18_A

    Be sure to follow War, Economy, and State at Mises.org/WES.

    Show more Show less
    Less than 1 minute
  • What Does Classical-Liberal Foreign Policy Look Like?
    Jan 24 2024

    Ryan and Zach review a new book on the basics of the "classical liberal" theory of international relations. Drawing on the work of Mises and Hayek, Edwin van de Haar's new IR book provides a useful and insightful summary of how a pro-freedom foreign policy differs from the usual foreign policy in Washington.

    Additional Resources

    "Human Nature and World Affairs: An Introduction to Classical Liberalism and International Relations Theory" by Edwin van de Haar: Mises.org/WES_17_A

    "Mises on Nationalism, the Right of Self-Determination, and the Problem of Immigration" by Joseph Salerno: Mises.org/WES_17_B

    EdwinvandeHaar.com

    Be sure to follow War, Economy, and State at Mises.org/WES.

    Show more Show less
    Less than 1 minute
  • Year-End Foreign Policy Predictions
    Dec 20 2023

    Ryan and Zachary make some guesses about where things are headed in 2024 for both Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war. How long will the US try to keep the Ukraine war going, and what is Israel's plan for Gaza?

    Be sure to follow War, Economy, and State at Mises.org/WES.

    Show more Show less
    Less than 1 minute
  • What "Just War Theory" Really Means
    Nov 22 2023

    Ryan and Zachary discuss the basics of Just War Theory and whether a "moral war" is possible. They also discuss the theory's origins in natural law, and how the theory relates to pacifism, wealth, and war crimes.

    Be sure to follow War, Economy, and State at Mises.org/WES.

    Additional Resources

    "Get the US Out of the Middle East" by Ryan McMaken: Mises.org/WES_15_A

    "American History Is a Preview of the Israel-Palestine End Game" by Ryan McMaken: Mises.org/WES_15_B

    "Ethnic Interest Groups Fuel the American Warfare State" (War, Economy, and State): Mises.org/WES_15_C

    Douglas Murray on having a "proportionate response” in a conflict: Mises.org/WES_15_D

    Show more Show less
    Less than 1 minute
  • Ethnic Interest Groups Fuel the American Warfare State
    Oct 13 2023

    Ryan and Zachary look at how interest groups representing Ukrainians, Iraqis, Israelis, and others have often lobbied for US intervention in foreign wars that in no way benefit the American population overall.

    Be sure to follow War, Economy, and State at Mises.org/WES.

    Additional Resources

    "Get the US Out of the Middle East" by Ryan McMaken: Mises.org/WES_14_A

    "The Liberty Movement’s Pro-War Fifth Column" by Ted Galen Carpenter: Mises.org/WES_14_B

    George Washington's Farewell Address: Mises.org/WES_14_C

    "America Has No Duty to Rule the World" by Daniel Bessner: Mises.org/WES_14_D

    Tomorrow, the World: The Birth of U.S. Global Supremacy by Stephen Wertheim: Mises.org/WES_14_E

    "The Left Is Now Telling Us (Ukrainian) Nazis Aren't So Bad After All" by Ryan McMaken: Mises.org/WES_14_F

    "Armed Neutrality Is the Only Moral Foreign Policy" by Ryan McMaken: Mises.org/WES_14_G

    Show more Show less
    Less than 1 minute