Podcast / American Prestige / Feb 18, 2026

Inside the American War Machine—With Ben Freeman and William Hartung

Derek and Danny are joined by Bill Hartung and Ben Freeman to discuss the system that drives permanent war for the United States.

The Nation Podcasts
The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

Inside the American War Machine w/ Ben Freeman and William Hartung | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Derek and Danny are joined by Bill Hartung and Ben Freeman to discuss the system that drives permanent war for the United States. They talk about the growth of the Pentagon budget and the bipartisan politics of defense spending; the U.S. dominating the global arms trade and the prevalence of U.S. weapons around the world; the rise of defense tech companies and the relationship between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon; the structure of defense lobbying, foreign government lobbying for arms sales, and how contractors benefit; think tank funding, Pentagon involvement in Hollywood and gaming; and public opinion, the national debt, and whether structural change is possible.

Read their book The Trillion Dollar War Machine.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Derek and Danny are joined by Bill Hartung and Ben Freeman to discuss the system that drives permanent war for the United States.

They talk about the growth of the Pentagon budget and the bipartisan politics of defense spending; the US’s dominating the global arms trade and the prevalence of US weapons around the world; the rise of defense tech companies and the relationship between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon; the structure of defense lobbying, foreign government lobbying for arms sales, and how contractors benefit; think tank funding; Pentagon involvement in Hollywood and gaming; and public opinion, the national debt, and whether structural change is possible.

Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe.

The Nation Podcasts
The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

Inside the American War Machine w/ Ben Freeman and William Hartung | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Derek and Danny are joined by Bill Hartung and Ben Freeman to discuss the system that drives permanent war for the United States. They talk about the growth of the Pentagon budget and the bipartisan politics of defense spending; the U.S. dominating the global arms trade and the prevalence of U.S. weapons around the world; the rise of defense tech companies and the relationship between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon; the structure of defense lobbying, foreign government lobbying for arms sales, and how contractors benefit; think tank funding, Pentagon involvement in Hollywood and gaming; and public opinion, the national debt, and whether structural change is possible.

Read their book The Trillion Dollar War Machine.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Subscribe to The Nation to Support all of our podcasts

Daniel Bessner

Daniel Bessner is an historian of US foreign relations, and cohost of American Prestige, a podcast on international affairs.

Derek Davison

Derek Davison is a writer and analyst specializing in international affairs and US foreign policy. He is the publisher of the Foreign Exchanges newsletter, cohost of the American Prestige podcast, and former editor of LobeLog.

More from The Nation

President Donald Trump gestures to members of the media after exiting Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport on February 13, 2026

Election Protection in the Midterms—Plus Slaves Escaping by Sea Election Protection in the Midterms—Plus Slaves Escaping by Sea

Harold Meyerson explains Democrats’ preparations for Trump’s threats to voting, and Marcus Rediker talks about Black America in the 1850s.

Jon Wiener

Chairman of LA28 Casey Wasserman speaks during the IOC Session at the Main Media Centre MPC at Allianz MiCo on February 3, 2026, in Milan, Italy.

The Sports Owners in Epstein’s Inbox and the NBA at the All-Star Break The Sports Owners in Epstein’s Inbox and the NBA at the All-Star Break

On Edge of Sports: We discuss Epstein and sports, and Arya Shirazi talks the NBA.

Dave Zirin

Paul Robeson smiles at London Airport, July 11th 1958.

The Collision Between Paul Robeson and Jackie Robinson The Collision Between Paul Robeson and Jackie Robinson

Howard Bryant joins Edge of Sports to talk about his new book, Kings and Pawns

Dave Zirin

People attend a public memorial service for Renee Good in Powderhorn Park on February 7, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Battle for Minneapolis, and the Fight for Texas The Battle for Minneapolis, and the Fight for Texas

 John Nichols reports on the resistance in Minnesota, and Steve Phillips analyzes Jasmine Crockett’s strategy in the Texas Senate Democratic primary.

Podcast / Start Making Sense

Trump Is Using Terrorist Charges to Wage Political War

Trump Is Using Terrorist Charges to Wage Political War Trump Is Using Terrorist Charges to Wage Political War

Josh Kovensky on a dangerous politicization of the law.

Jeet Heer

Netflix Buying Warner Would  be a Disaster w/ AS Hamrah

Netflix Buying Warner Would be a Disaster w/ AS Hamrah Netflix Buying Warner Would be a Disaster w/ AS Hamrah

Paris Marx is joined by AS Hamrah to discuss the proposed Netflix-Warner Bros Discovery merger and what it might mean for the state of decline already facing modern cinema.

Paris Marx

x