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Trillion Dollar War Machine w/ Ben Freeman | MR Live

2025-12-08 News & Politics
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Deconstructing the Trillion Dollar War Machine and Pushing for Cuts

Learn how the expansion of the Military-Industrial Complex drives perpetual conflict and bankrupts the US, and discover the surprising first steps needed to dismantle this trillion-dollar system.

Short Summary

  • The US Military-Industrial Complex (MIC) has expanded far beyond Eisenhower’s original warning, now deeply embedding itself in media, Hollywood, and the entire tech sector via massive lobbying. [0:27:28]
  • Expensive legacy programs, exemplified by the F-35 jet, waste billions while declining in operational effectiveness, proving that increased spending does not equal increased security. [0:32:02, 0:46:55]
  • The Pentagon budget has surpassed one trillion dollars, yet it consistently fails mandatory financial audits, suggesting a criminal racket structure. [0:53:08]
  • This discussion identifies overseas military bases as the most politically palatable initial area for budget cuts, as domestic bases have too strong of a local constituency. [0:49:04]

This segment analyzes Ben Freeman and William Hartung's work on "The Trillion Dollar War Machine." The hosts review evidence showing how entrenched corporate interests leverage political connections and media influence to ensure runaway military spending continues, regardless of battlefield results or domestic economic pain. The conversation pivots toward actionable strategies for shifting the system from a "war machine" to a "peace machine."

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Description

FUN HALF: https://youtube.com/live/wxRK3H4yg00?feature=share Sam and Emma welcome Ben Freeman, director of democratizing foreign policy at the @QuincyInst, for a conversion about his book co-authored with William Hartung, Trillion Dollar War Machine: How Runaway Military Spending Drives America into Foreign Wars and Bankrupts Us at Home. 12/8/25 https://quincyinst.org/collection/the-trillion-dollar-war-machine/ The Congress switchboard number is (202) 224-3121. You can use this number to connect with either the US Senate or the House of Representatives. Watch/Listen to The Majority Report live Monday–Friday at 12pm EST on YouTube OR via daily podcast at http://www.Majority.fm Today's Sponsors: • JUST COFFEE: Go to https://JustCoffee.coop and use coupon code MAJORITY for 10% off your purchase! • Go to https://cozyearth.com/MAJORITYREPORT for up to 40% off • Go to https://Zocdoc.com/MAJORITY and download the Zocdoc app to sign-up for FREE and book a top-rated doctor • Get 15% off OneSkin with the code MAJORITY at https://www.oneskin.co/majority • SUNSET LAKE: Use coupon code “Left Is Best” (all one word) for 20% off of your entire order at https://SunsetLakeCBD.com IM the show and listen live with the free Majority Report App: http://majority.fm/app Subscribe to MR's daily AM Quickie newsletter: https://am-quickie.ghost.io Become a Majority Report member: https://fans.fm/majority/join Find all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ More from the MR crew: Bryan Vokey: https://www.instagram.com/mrbryanvokey Matt Binder DOOMED https://www.youtube.com/MattBinder Brandon Sutton DISCOURSE https://www.youtube.com/@Th3Discourse Emma Vigeland ESVN https://www.youtube.com/ESVNShow Matt Lech LEFT RECKONING https://www.youtube.com/LeftReckoning Our alt YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/majorityreportlive 0:00:00 Opening 0:07:02 Fox News' Bankruptcy Denial & Misleading Economic Metrics 0:25:34 Interview with Ben Freeman: The Trillion Dollar War Machine 0:31:07 The F-35 Program and the Self-Perpetuating Military Racket 0:38:39 Selling the War Machine: Media and Think Tank Influence 0:47:50 How to Begin Cutting Military Spending: Foreign Bases and Legacy Programs 0:55:59 The Israel-US Relationship as a Function of the War Machine 0:58:34 The Rise of Trans-Partisan Anti-Interventionism

Top Comments (10)

@michaeldowson6988 2025-12-08

Social democracy works far better than unfettered capitalism.

29 1 replies
@alin81-82 2025-12-08

The u.s. has high rates of poverty, homelessness, & food insecurity....but at least we got a kick ass trillion dollar military! 🤮

18
@JDRRobb 2025-12-08

1:05:29 polymarket style betting adapted by CNN news polls is part the "Enshittification" of everything. See Cory Doctorow's new book...

12
@JazzMaven 2025-12-09

Thanks for having Ben on! This message is SO important to get out to the voting public.

7
@virgiljschmidt 2025-12-08

In the the Fox Business clip, while this woman was stumbling over her explanation of things, I expected to hear "crime crime!"

6
@arti5m 2025-12-09

How do we get more people watching this??

5
@MichaelTorres-b2v 2025-12-08

Wow. That Fox “News” segment was painful. “Let me opine on something about which I know absolutely nothing.”

4
@VictorianDad 2025-12-09

Emma with the hard sell... 6:08

2
@dzefrijsgrinvalds3856 2025-12-09

Fewer vs. Less. Fewer people. Less water.

2
@erstkommtdasfressen 2025-12-09

Superb program! I loved listening to Ben Freeman. I'm putting his book on my list. Listened in only steps from the industrially ravaged Gowanus Canal.

2

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