Download Episode. Dan McKnight returns to the show to talk about the ongoing effort to pass the Defend the Guard Act in state legislatures. First, he explains what Defend the Guard would do if passed and dispels common criticisms and misunderstandings of the bill. He then updates Scott on the progress made recently, including the positive statements made by now Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and explains how you can help get this bill passed in your state. Discussed on the show: DefendTheGuard.us BringOurTroopsHome.us TenSevenClub.com Dan McKnight is the founder and Chairman of...
3/7/25 William van Wagenen: A Deep Dive on the Situation in Syria
 Download Episode. Scott brings William van Wagenen on to talk about what he observed on his recent trip to Syria. They dig into what’s happened since the Jihadists took control last December, often looking to parallels in the ISIS takeover of western Iraq about a decade ago. They also look at the broader geopolitical dynamic of the region and consider how all of this will play out in the next few years. Discussed on the show: Van Wagenen’s article at The Libertarian Institute Van Wagenen’s article at The Cradle William Van Wagenen has a BA in German literature From Brigham Young...
3/7/25 Kyle Anzalone on Ukraine, Nuclear Weapons, Gaza and the West Bank
 Download Episode. Scott brings Kyle Anzalone back on the show to discuss some of the biggest ongoing news stories related to American foreign policy. They start with Trump’s effort to end the war in Ukraine. They also discuss Trump’s recent comments about nuclear weapons and his Oval Office spat with Zelensky. They then move to Gaza where Anzalone says the ceasefire is holding by a thread. They finish by zooming out and looking at all Israel is up to in the region. Discussed on the show: “Trump: Everybody Should Get Rid of Their Nuclear Weapons” (Libertarian Institute) Kyle Anzalone is...
What I Told the Oregon Senate About Defend the Guard
The following is written testimony that Libertarian Institute Executive Director Scott Horton submitted to the Oregon Senate on February 27, 2025 in support of S.B. 667, the Defend the Guard Act. You can watch the bill's hearing here. Big changes are going on in the country today. As everyone knows, MAGA—make America great again—includes America First. And America First is not just a Donald Trump movement, but it’s really a reorientation of the entire American right towards patriotism and away from globalism and interventionism. America First does not mean selfishness and belligerence; it...
We’re Not One Of Them. We’re One Of You.
The life of a state-intellectual is charmed. They get a cushy job at a think tank funded by weapons manufacturers, the Pentagon, USAID, and foreign governments. They get invited on power faction media and platformed as essential thinkers. They get professorships at state-privileged universities. And all they have to do is lie, lie, lie to us all day long. America isn’t an evil empire, it’s a benevolent hegemon. Israel isn’t a genocidal monster, it’s our noble ally. China isn’t a civilization we can peacefully trade with, it’s a demonic threat to humanity. The war will happen over there. The...
1/31/25 Brad Pearce on Somalia, Romania, Georgia, USAID and more
 Download Episode. Scott is joined by Brad Pearce to discuss some of the recent developments around the world that he’s following and writing about. They start with what’s happening in Somalia and how the Trump administration will likely affect the dynamics in that region. They then move on to Yemen, where Trump’s first term was defined by continuing Obama’s support for the Saudi war on the Houthis, and his second term has—so far—been defined by a continuation of Biden’s policy of direct strikes on the Houthis. They also discuss Romania, the revelations about USAID and Washington’s meddling...
1/31/25 Daniel Davis on the State of the Ukraine War, Blinken’s Failures and Trump’s Nuclear Doctrine
 Download Episode. Scott brings Daniel Davis back on the show to discuss where things stand in Ukraine. Despite quieter news coverage here in the US, Ukraine is still taking serious losses. Davis details what’s happening and reflects with Scott about how unnecessary all of this death and destruction has been. They finish with a quick look at Trump’s budding nuclear doctrine. Discussed on the show: Watch Daniel Davis’ Show on YouTube Daniel Davis did multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan during his time in the army. He is a Senior Fellow at Defense Priorities and is the author of the...
1/31/25 Kyle Anzalone on Gaza, the West Bank and Syria
 Download Episode. Scott interviews Kyle Anzalone about what’s happening in Gaza, Jenin, southern Syria and Damascus. They start with Gaza, where eighty Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire came into effect. Anzalone then gives a rundown of what Israel appears set on doing with the West Bank and the territory in southern Syria that they now occupy. They finish with a look at what the new regime in Syria is up to. Discussed on the show: “Trump Insists Egypt and Jordan Will Take Palestinians From Gaza” (Antiwar.com) “Dear World: This Is What Palestinian Unity Looks Like”...