Quincy Institute for Responsible StatecraftIn this episode of Always at War, hosts Courtney Rawlings and Alex Jordan are joined by Greg Grandin — Professor of History at Yale University and author of America, América: A New History of the New World — to discuss the USA's relationship with the other America: Latin America.
Together, they explore the missed opportunities for true fraternity between the two Americas, the long history of Washington using Latin America as a testing ground for its foreign policy adventurism, and how the myths and attitudes that informed various disastrous U.S. interventions in the region last century still persist today.
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Why is America seemingly always at war? Join the Quincy Institute’s Courtney Rawlings and Alex Jordan as they expose the monied interests, outdated ideologies, and entrenched powers that have driven the U.S. to wage nearly 400 wars and interventions.
Each episode, they’ll be joined by journalists, advocates, and experts to uncover who profits from America’s endless conflicts, and to imagine how we can build a better, more peaceful U.S. foreign policy.
America, América: Neighbors or Rivals?Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-09-23 | In this episode of Always at War, hosts Courtney Rawlings and Alex Jordan are joined by Greg Grandin — Professor of History at Yale University and author of America, América: A New History of the New World — to discuss the USA's relationship with the other America: Latin America.
Together, they explore the missed opportunities for true fraternity between the two Americas, the long history of Washington using Latin America as a testing ground for its foreign policy adventurism, and how the myths and attitudes that informed various disastrous U.S. interventions in the region last century still persist today.
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Why is America seemingly always at war? Join the Quincy Institute’s Courtney Rawlings and Alex Jordan as they expose the monied interests, outdated ideologies, and entrenched powers that have driven the U.S. to wage nearly 400 wars and interventions.
Each episode, they’ll be joined by journalists, advocates, and experts to uncover who profits from America’s endless conflicts, and to imagine how we can build a better, more peaceful U.S. foreign policy.
Quincy Institute is an independent, nonprofit think tank. Help fund our research: quincyinst.org/donations Read our reporting: https://ResponsibleStatecraft.org Twitter: https://x.com/QuincyInst TikTok: tiktok.com/quincyinst Facebook: facebook.com/quincyinst Instagram: instagram.com//quincyinst Website: quincyinst.orgUkraine Peace Talks and the Pitfalls of Maximalism in a Multipolar WorldQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-10-17 | As the United States and European nations weigh potential “security guarantees” for Ukraine, discussions have veered toward how to coax Russia into accepting terms for war termination in Ukraine that are more acceptable to the West.
In a shifting international order, how can a compromise peace in Ukraine be beneficial for both U.S. grand strategy and the broader world? Going forward, in what ways will maximalist approaches to term-setting need to give way to compromise — and to more dynamic and flexible relations with a variety of actors? And how should the United States and its allies adjust course in the current negotiations?
To discuss these questions and more, QI held a conversation featuring George Beebe, director of Grand Strategy at the Quincy Institute, Sarang Shidore, director of the Global South program at the Quincy Institute, and Emma Ashford, senior fellow in the Reimagining U.S. Grand Strategy program at the Stimson Center. Zach Paikin, deputy director of QI’s Better Order project, moderated.
*Download the full webinar transcript here*: quincyinst.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17131149/Ukraine-Peace-Talks-and-the-Pitfalls-of-Maximalism-in-a-Multipolar-World.docx.pdfWHY ZELENSKY WANTS TO MEET WITH TRUMPQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-10-16 | Zelensky’s push to meet Trump is a desperate gamble—Ukraine’s defenses are depleted, and he’s betting on U.S. involvement or advanced weapons like Tomahawks to shift the war’s course. But that risks direct U.S.–Russia confrontation and could shut the door on any path to peace or reconstruction. #ukrainerussiawar #usrussia #ukraine #zelenskyIS TRUMP USING HIS LEVERAGE TO END GAZA WAR?Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-10-11 | After Israel’s attack on Doha backfired, Trump used U.S. leverage to rein Israel in. Facing backlash among regional allies and sinking support among his domestic political base, he needed to distance himself and reset the course. #gaza #usisraelrelations #qatar #israelgazaSeth Harp: Fort Bragg CartelQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-10-10 | A network of drug trafficking, violence, and cover-up at one of the largest U.S. military bases In his shocking new book, The Fort Bragg Cartel, investigative journalist Seth Harp uncovers stunning revelations about the special operations forces at Fort Bragg.
He details how America’s increasing reliance on largely unaccountable elite forces during our decades-long Global War on Terror has given rise to a web of narcotics smuggling, unsolved murders, and corruption.
Harp’s investigation has received mass media attention from across the political spectrum with media appearances ranging from Democracy Now! to The Tucker Carlson Show. An HBO adaptation of the book is in the works.
The Quincy Institute was delighted to host Harp in-person, diving deep into the book’s shocking allegations and their implications for U.S. military and foreign policy. Kelley Beaucar Vlahos, senior advisor at the Quincy Institute and editorial director of Responsible Statecraft, spoke with the author.WILL TRUMPS PLAN END THE GAZA WAR?Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-10-10 | Trump’s ceasefire plan could bring hope—or just repeat January’s failed truce. Without ending Israel’s occupation permanently, any deal that ends up just being a pause risks reigniting the cycle of violence. #gaza #ceasefire #israelgaza #usisraelrelationsFragile Peace? Israel and Hamas Agree to End FightingQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-10-09 | Israel and Hamas have agreed to end fighting in a deal that includes the release of hostages and prisoners — a major but fragile breakthrough. Whether it leads to lasting peace depends on resolving who will govern Gaza and who will be held accountable for the war’s devastation.AMERICAS TAX DOLLARS FOR CONSTANT WAR?Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-10-09 | The U.S. has spent over $30 billion supporting Israel’s assault on Gaza, supplying the very weapons used to level the strip and kill thousands. That's $43 million every single day.HOW DO WE REBOOT U.S.-CHINA TIES? (W/ SCIENCE AND TECH)Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-10-08 | How do we break the cycle of mistrust between Washington and Beijing? Start with small, practical science and technology projects. By building quick wins in non-sensitive areas like health and clean energy, the U.S. and China could rebuild confidence and avoid deeper conflict.WHATS THE PLAN TO END THE GAZA WAR?Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-10-08 | Is Trump’s 20-point plan a genuine push for a lasting ceasefire or diplomatic theater? Annelle Sheline explains. #israelgaza #mideast #trump #gaza #gazawarWho are the influencers Israel is paying $7k per post?Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-10-07 | Israel is paying U.S. influencers $7,000 per post to push pro-Israel propaganda without disclosing foreign ties. Now a $6M social media blitz led by Trump’s ex-campaign manager aims to flood Gen Z feeds with pro-Israel content.The ONE THING that Democrats and Republicans can agree onQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-10-07 | Courtney and Alex discuss why the leaders of both of America’s major political parties still support America’s disastrous pursuit of global military primacy, and take a look at some of the individuals and interests that help uphold our crappy foreign policy consensus.
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Why is America seemingly always at war? Join the Quincy Institute’s Courtney Rawlings and Alex Jordan as they expose the monied interests, outdated ideologies, and entrenched powers that have driven the U.S. to wage nearly 400 wars and interventions.
Each episode, they’ll be joined by journalists, advocates, and experts to uncover who profits from America’s endless conflicts, and to imagine how we can build a better, more peaceful U.S. foreign policy.
Quincy Institute is an independent, nonprofit think tank. Help fund our research: quincyinst.org/donations Read our reporting: https://ResponsibleStatecraft.org Twitter: https://x.com/QuincyInst TikTok: tiktok.com/quincyinst Facebook: facebook.com/quincyinst Instagram: instagram.com//quincyinst Website: quincyinst.orgWHY US-CHINA TECH DENIAL WONT WORKQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-10-06 | A zero-sum mindset toward US-China science and tech competition won’t stop Beijing’s rise. Instead, it calls for investing at home while staying engaged with China in order to A] avoid strategic surprise and 2] create real innovation advantages for America itself. #uschina #uschinarelations #uschinatensions #futuretechWHAT’S THE HISTORY OF US RELATIONS W LATIN AMERICA ?Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-10-02 | Greg Grandin — Professor of History at Yale University and author of America, América: A New History of the New World — explains the USA's relationship with the other America: Latin America.
What’s taught as a defense of the Americas also carried a bold call for U.S. expansion. #latam #monroedoctrine #venezuela #aumf
Check out the latest episode of Always at War here: youtube.com/watch?v=M8k0AA0YBT8Trump Backs Africa Trade Pact: Short-Term Boost, Long-Term QuestionsQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-10-02 | The Trump administration is moving to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for one year after it quietly lapsed on September 30.
Qi's Dan Ford explains why this short-term fix keeps duty-free U.S. market access alive for African exporters while Congress debates the program’s long-term future. #africa #trades #economics #trump #africaeconomyIsrael wants to train ChatGPT to be more pro-Israel?Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-10-01 | Israel has hired Trump’s ex-campaign chief Brad Parscale in a $6 million push to sway TikTok, Instagram, YouTube — and even train AI like ChatGPT to push its narrative. #israelgaza #chatgpt
Read Nick Cleveland Stout's article in Responsible Statecraft. responsiblestatecraft.org/israel-chatgptWHAT IF WE UNPLUG OURSELVES FROM GLOBAL INNOVATION?Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-10-01 | Innovation today comes from cross-border, transnational teams — not scientific nationalism. Cutting ties risks leaving the U.S. out of the world’s next big breakthroughs. #uschina #uschinarelations #science #futuretech #TechPolicyBook Talk | Peacemaker: U Thant and the Forgotten Quest for a Just WorldQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-10-01 | The UN’s first non-Western secretary-general, a soft-spoken Buddhist from rural Burma, once stood between the superpowers and nuclear annihilation, yet his story is largely untold.
In Peacemaker: U Thant and the Forgotten Quest for a Just World, historian Thant Myint‑U mines newly declassified archives to show how his grandfather U Thant steered the world through the Cuban Missile Crisis, mediated conflicts from the Congo to Kashmir, challenged Washington over Vietnam, and championed decolonization and environmental stewardship decades ahead of his time. Drawing vivid portraits of Cold War flashpoints, Myint‑U recasts U Thant’s legacy as a roadmap for principled multilateralism in an era of renewed great‑power rivalry.
In conversation with Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute, Myint-U explored U Thant’s battles against white supremacy in southern Africa, the rise of newly independent Asian and African voices at the UN, and what U Thant’s diplomacy can teach today’s gridlocked Security Council.HOW TAIWAN BECAME A RED LINEQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-09-30 | How did Taiwan became the central fault line in U.S.-China relations—and why does it still threaten to unravel decades of diplomatic understanding. Want to understand the real obstacles in US-Sino tensions? Start here.
#Taiwan #USChina #WW3 #ForeignPolicy #StrategicClarity #NationalInterest#taiwan #chinataiwanBook Talk – The National Interest: Politics After GlobalizationQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-09-30 | In the past thirty years, skepticism of globalization has spread across the globe, a trend driven by the belief amongst various populaces that bureaucrats and elites have lost touch with a given country’s national interest. President Trump’s “America First” mantra has encapsulated this movement, an attempt to restore U.S. trade and foreign policy to national interest above all else.
In his new book, The National Interest: Politics After Globalization, Philip Cunliffe explains the recent ascendance of ‘the national interest,’ positing it in opposition to both liberal globalism and populist demagoguery, and makes a case for forging nations anew as the key to democratic renewal in diverse societies. In making his case for a new statecraft based on the loadstar of the national interest, Cunliffe argues that the neoliberal era has eroded state authority but not necessarily the role of the state, and that liberal efforts to discredit nationalism have not succeeded in excising chauvinism from elite mainstream opinion. Zachary Paikin, research fellow in the Grand Strategy program at the Quincy Institute, spoke with the author.US EMBASSY AIDE HIJACKS US ISRAEL POLICYQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-09-29 | Inside U.S. embassy Jerusalem, pro-Israel aide David Milstein blocked warnings about Gaza famine and rewrote reports to praise a controversial aid group. Current and former officials say he's stoked a culture of fear at the State Department. #statedepartment #israelgaza #humanrightsWhat Does China Want?Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-09-26 | US foreign policy keeps asking: “What Does China Want?” — but often reveals America’s own anxieties more than China’s real aims.
A new study by David C. Kang, Jackie S. H. Wong & Zenobia T. Chan takes a calmer, evidence-driven look — sparking praise, criticism, and debate.
In conversation with Jake Werner of the Quincy Institute, the authors unpack their findings, tackle critics, and explore what it all means for US policy toward China.
#foreignpolicy #chinausa #china #geopoliticsWHY IS THE PENTAGON LIMITING REPORTER ACCESS?Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-09-24 | The Pentagon is tightening its grip on information, even unclassified material, forcing reporters under government supervision. Without a free press, this type of secrecy can lead to endless wars, wasted trillions, and a crippled democracy. #pentagon #press #firstamendment #media #journalismCan the UN end the Gaza genocide?Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-09-23 | The UN turns 80 this year. More and more countries are recognizing Palestinian statehood, but will this help bring an end to Israel’s genocide in Gaza? #foreignpolicy #unitednations #israelgazaAmericans Eventually Rejected the GWOT. Will Israelis Reject Their War on Gaza?Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-09-23 | September 11th broke American society in ways that have never been repaired, spurring rampant Islamophobia, violations of civil liberties, and massive military build-up, all of which remain present today. In addition, the United States has yet to answer for the toll on American military families, as well as the destruction it rained down upon Afghanistan, Iraq, and other countries in the Middle East after 9/11. It took years before criticism of the Global War on Terror became acceptable, but now a majority of Americans view these wars as costly and futile mistakes.
October 7th similarly broke Israeli society, and the government continues to draw upon a thirst for revenge to justify genocidal actions in Gaza. As we reflect on the almost quarter century that has elapsed since the 9/11 attacks, we hope that Americans’ eventual rejection of endless wars might offer lessons for how to shift the views of Israelis, and how to do so before all prospects for peace are destroyed.
The Quincy Institute held a timely discussion with Israeli historian Ori Goldberg, Yale University law professor and Quincy Institute non-resident fellow Aslı Bâli, and Jewish Currents editor-at-large Peter Beinart, moderated by Quincy Institute research fellow Annelle Sheline.
*Download the full webinar transcript here*:
quincyinst.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/23133818/Americans-Eventually-Rejected-the-GWOT.-Will-Israelis-Reject-Their-War-on-Gaza_.docx.pdfINSIDE ISGAP: AN ISRAELI-FUNDED CAMPAIGN AGAINST QATAR IN WASHINGTONQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-09-22 | An Israeli-funded think tank is pushing shaky claims of a “300% rise” in antisemitism tied to Qatari funding at major U.S. universities. But ISGAP’s statistics don’t hold up under scrutiny. So why is Congress is taking them seriously? #israelpalestineconflict #israelqatar #israelpalestine #israelvsqatarWHY DOES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE NEED GUARDRAILS?Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-09-19 | AI is advancing fast—faster than most people realize—and without global guardrails it could spiral out of control. Qi Non-Resident Fellow Denis Simon breaks down why the world needs cross-border governance to stop AI from sparking the next world war. #artificialintelligence #aiwar #aigovernance #TechPolicyBook Talk: Faith and FearQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-09-18 | Quincy Institute board member Greg Daddis’s new book “Faith and Fear” offers a sweeping and ambitious reflection on America’s relationship with warfare since WW2. As a 26 year veteran of the U.S. military, the former chair of American History at West Point, and a current Professor of History at Texas A&M Col. Daddis has a unique perspective on this history. The book examines not just the factual story of America’s wars, but at a deeper level the nation’s emotional connection to war, both the hope that war could be a transformative and potentially positive force, and the fear of the potential and actual devastation that war can bring. From the beginning of the Cold War with the Soviet Union to current and potential conflicts in the Middle East and with China, the book offers a perspective informed by both personal experience and deep study.
Marcus Stanley, director of studies at the Quincy Institute, spoke with Col. Daddis about his book.ISRAEL IS INVADING GAZA CITY. NOW WHAT?Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-09-17 | The UN says there’s a genocide. Israel is invading Gaza City anyway. Now what? #foreignpolicy #usforeignpolicy #middleeast #gazaIS THE U.S. REALLY FALLING BEHIND IN THE DRONE PRODUCTION WARS?Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-09-16 | Is the US really falling behind in drone production? Are we facing a strategic reality or is it a marketing ploy for the defense tech industry? #dronewars #pentagon #dronewarfare #militarydronesWHY DOES THE U.S. SHRUG WHEN ISRAEL BOMBS QATAR?Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-09-15 | How can Israel bomb Qatar and the US just shrugs? Nick Cleveland-Stout has two charts that may help explain why. #foreignpolicy #aipac #israel #qatar #followthemoneyIS TAIWAN A VITAL U.S. INTEREST?Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-09-12 | A U.S.-China war over Taiwan could kill thousands in weeks, cost $10 trillion, and wreck the global economy. Yet Taiwan isn’t even a treaty ally.
So ask yourself: Is it really a vital U.S. interest— or just a talking point? War with China? Nukes? Trillions lost? Thousands dead? Taiwan better be worth it. Michael Swaine explains the problem.
#Taiwan #USChina #WW3 #ForeignPolicy #StrategicClarity #NationalInterest#taiwan #chinataiwanBook Talk – The Non-Aligned World: Striking Out in an Era of Great Power CompetitionQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-09-12 | As the rivalry between the United States, China, and Russia continues, a large number of states in Latin America, Asia, and Africa seek to work with all great powers. They do so in order to gain the most benefits from the global order and also form coalitions to solve regional and global challenges. In a co-authored new book titled, The Non-Aligned World: Striking Out in an Era of Great Power Competition, former Chilean diplomat and Quincy Institute non-resident fellow Jorge Heine explains the concept, its relevance in today’s world, and its implications for Latin America and other regions. Ambassador Heine will be in conversation with Sarang Shidore, director of the Global South Program at the Quincy Institute.
The discussion will take place on Thursday, September 11th from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Eastern Time.NeoCon Bret Stephens Latest Logic BreakdownQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-09-11 | Bret Stephens’ latest NYT column on Palestinians is a masterclass in bad logic — contradictions and false equivalences dressed up as “serious” argument. Strip away the rhetoric, and it’s just professional outrage masquerading as analysis. #nytimes #mediacritique #neocons #logicfail #armsembargo #gazaAn Empire of Military Bases | Always at War #9Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-09-09 | Does having 750 military base sites all around the world make America safer—or does it just make war more convenient?
In this episode of Always at War, hosts Courtney Rawlings and Alex Jordan reveal the costs and consequences of America's massive worldwide military footprint and examine how it enables Washington's disastrous quest to maintain global military primacy, no matter the costs.
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Why is America seemingly always at war? Join the Quincy Institute’s Courtney Rawlings and Alex Jordan as they expose the monied interests, outdated ideologies, and entrenched powers that have driven the U.S. to wage nearly 400 wars and interventions.
Each episode, they’ll be joined by journalists, advocates, and experts to uncover who profits from America’s endless conflicts, and to imagine how we can build a better, more peaceful U.S. foreign policy.
Quincy Institute is an independent, nonprofit think tank. Help fund our research: quincyinst.org/donations Read our reporting: https://ResponsibleStatecraft.org Twitter: https://x.com/QuincyInst TikTok: tiktok.com/quincyinst Facebook: facebook.com/quincyinst Instagram: instagram.com//quincyinst Website: quincyinst.orgIsrael wants to bury the evidence of their war crimes under luxury malls and hotels #israel #gazaQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-09-05 | ...Bribes, Kickbacks, and Diversion: Aid in Conflict Zones and Authoritarian RegimesQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-09-05 | Before the Trump administration cut most aid to Afghanistan in 2025, the United States was the country’s largest donor, providing more than $3 billion in humanitarian and development assistance after the Taliban takeover in August 2021. A new report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) finds that much of this aid was diverted by the Taliban through favoritism, restrictions on NGOs, staff extortion, and alleged collusion with senior UN officials demanding kickbacks. The report concludes that the global aid system for countries under hostile regimes is fundamentally broken, costly, opaque, and riddled with layers of agencies and subcontractors that inflate expenses, obscure accountability, and invite corruption.
What lessons can be drawn from Afghanistan and from aid delivery in other conflict zones such as South Sudan, Syria, and beyond? Join us for a panel discussion examining how aid systems do or do not manage diversion and conflict-sensitivity risks, the factors shaping these approaches, and potential strategies for improving them at both the donor and implementer levels.
The conversation featured Joseph Windrem, director of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction’s (SIGAR) Lessons Learned Program, Jordan Kane, senior analyst in SIGAR’s Lessons Learned Program, and Audrey Bottjen, international aid and conflict sensitivity consultant. Adam Weinstein, deputy director of the Middle East program at the Quincy Institute, moderated.
#corruption #afghanistan #syria #southsudanThe Trump admin is sending warships to Venezuela, can we trust the media to tell us why? #venezuelaQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-08-29 | ...The Druze Uprising and Syria’s FutureQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-08-29 | Suwayda has become one of Syria’s most volatile flashpoints. Long seen as a Druze stronghold that remained on the margins of the civil war, the governorate has recently seen fierce clashes involving competing Druze militias, security forces of the new government in Damascus, and Bedouin tribesmen. The turmoil has also drawn in Israel, which, while pursuing its own interests, has cast itself as a defender of the Druze and bombed Syria’s defense ministry in Damascus in mid-July.
How does the new Syrian leadership and its armed cadres view the country’s minorities? What do the clashes in Suwayda reveal about the relationship between Bedouin tribes and Damascus? How significant is Israel’s role? And what might Suwayda’s unrest, along with earlier violence along the Alawite coast, portend for a potential deal between the Kurdish northeast and the central government, or for the larger struggle between centralization and federalism?
The Quincy Institute held a panel with Los Angeles Times journalist Nabih Bulos, who reported from Suwayda at the height of the violence, and QI senior research fellow Steven Simon, who served on the National Security Council in the Clinton and Obama administrations, to explore the roots of the unrest, the politics of Syria’s minorities, and what these events reveal about the country’s uncertain future. Adam Weinstein, deputy director of QI's Middle East program, moderated.
The announcement of a $50 million bounty for the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro is the latest twist in the tangled relationship between the United States and Venezuela. A spiraling political and economic crisis in the South American country driven by ever -deepening polarization between its two dueling political forces has led to both sides pushing scorched-earth economic policies. U.S. sanctions only added fuel to the fire. All this led to a GDP crash of more than 70%. While Venezuela is an extreme case, there are broader lessons here for Latin America and the Caribbean about the risks of long-term reliance on commodity exports, dangers of winner-take-all systems, and how a neighboring great power should not behave.The Trillion Dollar Pentagon Budget: Boondoggle or Beneficial?Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-08-26 | In early July when the reconciliation bill was signed into law, the Pentagon’s budget exceeded $1 trillion dollars for the first time. In other words, the Pentagon now has a larger budget than it did at the height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Reagan military buildup, the Vietnam War, or at any time during the Cold War.
To understand if this enormous level of spending will be beneficial or just another Pentagon boondoggle, the Quincy Institute held a panel of leading Pentagon budget experts, including Julia Gledhill, a research analyst for the National Security Reform Program at the Stimson Center; Veronique de Rugy, the George Gibbs Chair in Political Economy and senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University; and William D. Hartung, senior research fellow at the Quincy Institute. Hartung is also co-author of the forthcoming Trillion Dollar War Machine: How Runaway Military Spending Drives America into Foreign Wars and Bankrupts Us at Home. Ben Freeman, fellow book author and director of the Democratizing Foreign Policy program at the Quincy Institute, moderated the panel.
The conversation took place on Monday, August 25th from 12:00 - 1:00 PM Eastern Time.
*Download the full webinar transcript here*: quincyinst.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/25155533/The-Trillion-Dollar-Pentagon-Budget_-Boondoggle-or-Beneficial_.docx-1.pdfWHAT IS THE GHF DOING IN GAZA?Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-08-26 | U.S.-funded contractors are accused of firing on civilians seeking food in Gaza—dozens have died near GHF food hubs, with hundreds more killed in the broader aid distribution system. What are the legal obligations of U.S. contractors in conflict zones and who can hold them accountable? U.S. law now makes every bullet and dollar traceable back to Washington—so the missing piece isn’t the law, it’s the political will for prosecution. #gazawar2025 #gazahumanitariancrisis #israelgazaattack #israelgazaWHEN ARE U.S. TROOPS COMING HOME FROM THE MIDDLE EAST AGAIN?Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-08-25 | Israel’s 12-day war with Iran wasn’t the end—it was the warning. A bigger war is very likely coming, but as Qi's Trita Parsi explains, its U.S. troops who could pay the biggest price.
#israeliranwar #israeliranconflict #iranusrelations #iran #israel #trumpiran #trumpHow Think Tanks Sell War | Always at War #8Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-08-25 | In this episode of Always at War, hosts Courtney Rawlings and Alex Jordan are joined by the Quincy Institute's Ben Freeman & Nick Cleveland-Stout to discuss how America's top think tanks profoundly shape our country's approach to the world — and the golden opportunity these institutions represent for arms companies and foreign governments trying to buy influence over Washington's foreign policy.
### Why is America seemingly always at war? Join the Quincy Institute’s Courtney Rawlings and Alex Jordan as they expose the monied interests, outdated ideologies, and entrenched powers that have driven the U.S. to wage nearly 400 wars and interventions.
Each episode, they’ll be joined by journalists, advocates, and experts to uncover who profits from America’s endless conflicts, and to imagine how we can build a better, more peaceful U.S. foreign policy.
#news #media #journalism #fyp #warMore media headlines are out of touch with Gazas realityQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-08-20 | AAW'S Courtney Rawlings and Alex Jordan discuss how news headlines frame Gaza’s crises as random problems, not consequences of Israel’s actions. By casting Israel as merely “failing to address” events, they erase the causal link to shootings and suffering. Why?
#gazawar #gaza #gazaisrael
Watch the full Always At War episode here: *youtube.com/watch?v=XIy-BJa73tQ&t=39s*THE NEXT ISRAEL-IRAN WAR IS COMINGQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-08-19 | Israel’s 12-day war on Iran shocked the world in June, with U.S. strikes hitting 3 nuclear sites. But Quincy Institute’s Trita Parsi warns: this wasn’t a one-off. A bigger Israel-Iran war may be coming — and America will be pulled in once again.'
#israeliranwar #israeliranconflict #iranusrelations #iran #israel #trumpiran #trumpTHE NEXT ISRAEL-IRAN WAR IS COMINGQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-08-18 | Israel’s first strike on Iran failed to crush its defenses — now a bigger regional war looms.
If fighting resumes, U.S. troops will be dragged in, facing heavy casualties.
Only real diplomacy can stop America from being pulled into another Middle East disaster.
#israeliranwar #israeliranconflict #iranusrelations #iran #israel #trumpiran #trumpTAIWAN IS NOT A US VITAL INTERESTQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-08-15 | A U.S.-China war over Taiwan could kill thousands in weeks, cost $10 trillion, and wreck the global economy. Yet Taiwan isn’t even a treaty ally.
So ask yourself: Is it really a vital U.S. interest— or just a talking point? War with China? Nukes? Trillions lost? Thousands dead? Taiwan better be worth it.
#Taiwan #USChina #WW3 #ForeignPolicy #StrategicClarity #NationalInterestIs Taiwan worth going to war over? #USChinaRelations #Taiwan #chinataiwan #geopoliticsQuincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft2025-08-13 | A U.S.-China war over Taiwan could kill thousands in weeks, cost $10 trillion, and wreck the global economy. Yet Taiwan isn’t even a treaty ally. So ask yourself: Is it really a vital U.S. interest— or just a talking point?