[unable to retrieve full-text content]Michael Hudson and Richard Wolff discuss Sahra Wagenknecht’s break from Die Linke and her struggle to push genuine left-wing economic policies in Germany. They highlight Germany’s economic challenges, including U.S. demands for increased military spending and tariffs on European exports. The speakers argue that Germany faces a choice: align with BRICS or deepen its reliance on the U.S. The broader discussion extends to global trade dynamics, U.S. economic control tactics, and the future of European independence. As economic pressures mount, Germany’s leaders must decide between sovereignty and continued subordination to Washington’s geopolitical and economic strategies.
The post Something Nutty Emerging Here first appeared on Michael Hudson.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Michael Hudson unpacks the realities of modern banking, economic rent, and financialization. He explains how banks create credit, why Western financial systems differ from China’s, and how economic rent distorts markets. Hudson critiques the multiplier effect, arguing that debt-driven economies are unsustainable. He also explores the evolution of capitalism, discussing Marx’s labor theory of value and the role of industrial capitalists in reshaping economies. From NATO expansion to misguided war spending, he highlights how financial priorities shape global politics. If you’re looking for insights on banking, economic rent, and how financial systems impact real-world economies, this deep dive into Hudson’s perspectives will challenge conventional

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Professors Michael Hudson & Richard Wolff dissect the state of US politics in the DOGE era, with the end of dollar hegemony nearing and a peace dividend urgently needed.
The post The Horizon Nears on America’s Free Financial Ride first appeared on Michael Hudson.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Nitzan Hudson discussion Feb 2025 Capital as Power in the 21st Century A Conversation MICHAEL HUDSON, JONATHAN NITZAN, TIM DI MUZIO, and BLAIR FIX February 2025 Abstract On December 3, 2024, Michael Hudson met with capital-as-power researchers Jonathan Nitzan, Tim Di Muzio, and Blair Fix to discuss the intersections between their two lines of research. Continue Reading
The post Capital as Power in the Polycrisis first appeared on Michael Hudson.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Gold demand has outstripped supply for years, yet prices remained stagnant until recently. Economist Michael Hudson explains that the gold market is not a typical commodity market—it is politically controlled to sustain confidence in the U.S. dollar. Since 1971, when the U.S. abandoned the gold standard, central banks have been forced to hold reserves in U.S. Treasury securities instead of gold. This system allows the U.S. to fund its deficits through global dollar dependence. However, de-dollarization efforts by BRICS nations and a shifting financial landscape suggest the long-standing dominance of the U.S. dollar may be facing unprecedented challenges.
The post Why Gold Prices Should Rise—But Don’t first appeared on Michael Hudson.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Donald Trump’s tariffs could destabilize the global economy, warns economist Michael Hudson. US protectionist policies could cause financial crises, as many currencies depreciate and countries can’t earn the dollars needed to pay their foreign debts. Hudson was interviewed by Geopolitical Economy Report editor Ben Norton. Video Podcast Transcript (Introduction) BEN NORTON: Donald Trump is threatening Continue Reading
The post American Imperialism in Plain Site first appeared on Michael Hudson.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Prof Michael Hudson on the balance of payments chaos unleashed by Trump. How will Mexico and Canada react? What can Europe do to position itself against the tide of rising prices?
The post The Road to Chaos – A Global Balance of Payments War first appeared on Michael Hudson.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Prof Michael Hudson provides insight on the waning US power structure as short termism bites. He explains how Labor internationally has become even more right wing than the conservatives. Another fascinating discussion.
The post US Economic Colonialism On Notice first appeared on Michael Hudson.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]  RADHIKA DESAI: Hello and welcome to the 36th Geopolitical Economy Hour, the show that examines the fast-changing political and geopolitical economy of our world. I’m your host, Radhika Desai. MICHAEL HUDSON: And I’m Michael Hudson. RADHIKA DESAI: And working behind the scenes to bring you our show every fortnight are our host Ben Norton, Continue Reading
The post The Secret of the Long March first appeared on Michael Hudson.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Trump has promoted a number of plans to make America strong – at other countries’ expense. Given his “we win; you lose” motto, some of his plans would produce the opposite effect of what he imagines. That would not be much of a change in U.S. policy. But I suggest that Hudson’s Law may be Continue Reading
The post Weaponizing the US Dollar first appeared on Michael Hudson.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]The current global economic and political landscape is increasingly unstable, driven by U.S. policies aimed at maintaining dominance through chaos. Key issues include energy crises, such as Europe’s dependence on Russian gas, and rising geopolitical tensions involving BRICS nations and NATO. The U.S. sanctions strategy strains global energy markets and destabilizes debtor nations, while nationalist movements gain traction in Europe. With challenges like fracking decline, rising energy costs, and policy conflicts, the world faces economic disarray and uncertain paths forward.
The post As Good As It Gets first appeared on Michael Hudson.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Hudson & Wolff on the geo-political pressures emanating through South Korea, Ukraine, Europe. Its through wide lense discussions like this that we recognise how inter-connected the world is!
The post The Irony of Calling the Opponents of Nazism Nazis first appeared on Michael Hudson.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]An analysis of geopolitical dynamics with Prof Michael Hudson & Dr Richard Wolff, particularly focusing on the U.S.’s strategic involvement in the Middle East, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and the broader implications for global power structures, including NATO, BRICS, and the decline of American global dominance.
The post The U.S. Strategy of Controlled Anarchy: Syria, Ukraine, and Beyond first appeared on Michael Hudson.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Prof Michael Hudson discusses with his Patreon supporters the issues of the day. We traverse through rentier commissions, Ponzi schemes, the isolation of Israel and America,
The post Contesting the Corontation of the Rentier first appeared on Michael Hudson.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Michael Hudson critiques the feasibility of Western economic strategies in war, emphasizing that without invasion and military occupation, victory is unattainable. He highlights the impracticality of modern democracies engaging in large-scale warfare due to public resistance to military drafts and social spending cuts. Western sanctions and resource mismanagement, he argues, strain domestic economies, while BRICS nations, particularly China, display resilience and strategic foresight. The rise of BRICS signals a global economic shift, challenging U.S. dominance established post-WWII. Hudson underscores the importance of understanding history over neoliberal economics to address contemporary challenges effectively, advocating for alternative frameworks

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Richard D. Wolff & Michael Hudson: ICC Arrest Warrants Issued for Netanyahu,Ukraine escalations, G20 Dialogue Works • 1:14:45 • NIMA ALKHORSHID: Hi, everybody. Today is Thursday, November 21st, and we have Michael Hudson and Richard Wolff with us here. Welcome back. RICHARD WOLFF: Thank you, Nima. Glad to be here. MICHAEL HUDSON: Yep! NIMA ALKHORSHID: Continue Reading
The post Petrodollar Deal or No Deal first appeared on Michael Hudson.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]This discussion highlights the structural challenges facing America’s economic and political system, emphasizing how vested interests manipulate markets, language, and policy to sustain inequality. The U.S. operates in a "stacked marketplace," favoring creditors and employers over wage earners, with little public debate or university-level economic critique. While populist narratives resonate, substantive solutions remain elusive.
Richard Wolff suggests reframing immigration as an economic growth tool, historically integral to U.S. prosperity. By crafting a bold, inclusive narrative—such as guaranteeing jobs for all citizens and immigrants—he argues for uniting communities rather than pitting them against each other. Michael Hudson supports a

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Michael Hudson discusses the evolving disconnect between modern economics and practical economic realities, using the example of American capitalism and its global influence. He critiques the shift towards finance capitalism and deregulation, comparing it to Thatcher-era England’s libertarian model, which minimized state intervention in the economy. This trajectory, according to Hudson, has led to a situation where government influence is overridden by corporate donors and financial interests, sidelining public welfare.
Hudson explains his approach to economics, likening it to taking apart and reassembling an engine; it’s not just surface-level phenomena but understanding fundamental structures like balance of payments and GDP. He emphasizes how

[unable to retrieve full-text content]In a recent economic roundtable, economists Richard Wolff and Prof Michael Hudson analyzed the surprising factors behind Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory. Wolff attributed Trump’s win to a deep, growing resentment among the American working class, disillusioned by four decades of neoliberal globalization. This shift hollowed out U.S. manufacturing, devastated cities like Detroit, and stripped jobs from communities, creating a longing for a past economic stability that Trump’s rhetoric promises but fails to deliver. Wolff emphasized that Trump’s appeal lies in his symbolic stance as the “protector” of working people, contrasting sharply with the Democrats’ limited policy proposals.
Hudson added a political lens, arguing that Democrats knowingly

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Explore Richard Wolff and Michael Hudson’s analysis on the state of U.S. politics, revealing the bipartisan silence on global power shifts, economic priorities, and the illusion of choice in upcoming elections. From U.S. foreign policy to the influence of corporate interests, they discuss the challenges America faces in an era of declining empire and rising global alliances.
The post US Election: The Illusion of Choice first appeared on Michael Hudson.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Both Richard D Wolff & Michael Hudson emphasized that this summit, while not conclusive, sets the stage for potential long-term transformation in international power dynamics, with BRICS working to shape an order that may increasingly diverge from Western influence.
The post BRICS Summit in Kazan: Setting the Stage for a New World Order first appeared on Michael Hudson.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]In this interview, economists Michael Hudson and Richard Wolff discuss the U.S.’s influence on Israel and the broader Middle East, arguing that America’s actions undermine the sovereignty of other nations. They assert that the U.S. uses Israel as a tool to maintain control over the region, particularly its oil resources, and prevent countries like Iraq and Libya from achieving true independence. They also highlight the selective use of "sovereignty" in global politics, pointing out that while Palestine is denied recognition, Israel operates with American military and financial backing. Hudson and Wolff further compare Israel’s settler-colonialism to historic land grabs, suggesting parallels with Nazi Germany’s Lebensraum and criticizing Western media

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Explore how U.S. influence shapes Israel’s role in the Middle East conflict, challenging notions of sovereignty in a broader global war involving NATO, Palestine, and BRICS nations like China and Russia.
The post Sovereignty in Crisis: Israel, Palestine, and America’s Global Agenda first appeared on Michael Hudson.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]"I don’t think there were any non-Jewish Americans that had that visceral hatred of Islam that the Zionists had, or also the visceral hatred of Russia, specifically for anti-Semitism of past centuries, most of which was in Ukraine and Kiev, by the way.
Well, that was 50 years ago, and these sanctions that Jackson introduced, the U.S. Trade, became the prototypes for today’s sanctions against all the countries that the neo-cons viewed as adversaries."
The post Zionists the USA’s Trouble Makers first appeared on Michael Hudson.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]This episode of the Global Economy Hour discusses that the U.S., under the guise of promoting "freedom," is enforcing policies that undermine European sovereignty, especially in relation to energy dependence and trade with Russia and China. The irony of Western sanctions and coercion, which have not only failed to weaken targeted countries but have also fostered stronger alliances between nations like Russia, China, and members of BRICS, has countered Western attempts at domination.
The post Why the War in Ukraine is Meant to Drag On: Strategic Goals, European Discontent, and NATO’s Role first appeared on Michael Hudson.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]The decline of U.S. global dominance is reshaping international alliances. As U.S. neoliberal policies and military actions continue to alienate nations, countries like China, Russia, and Iran are forming strategic coalitions. Driven by economic self-interest, these nations are pushing back against the U.S. hegemony, creating a new global order. The U.S. has underestimated this retaliation, failing to recognize the shifting power dynamics. This Dialogue Works interview explores how America’s economic and military aggression is leading to a surprising global backlash, with other nations working together to protect their interests and resist U.S. influence.
The post A World Pushed to Resist: U.S. Policies and the Rise of Global Alliances first appeared

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Michael Hudson and Richard Wolff critique the lack of substantive policy debate in the Trump-Harris exchange, noting that key issues like U.S.-China relations and the economic decline of the U.S. were largely ignored. Both highlight that the debate focused on personality over policy, avoiding critical topics such as de-industrialization, foreign policy in Ukraine, and the shifting global economic landscape. Hudson points out the bipartisan reluctance to confront the policies driving U.S. economic decline, while Wolff emphasizes the refusal to address systemic issues within capitalism. The conversation underscores the absence of meaningful discourse on how to navigate America’s waning global dominance.
The post U.S. Foreign Policy and Economic Shifts:

[unable to retrieve full-text content]In this discussion, Michael Hudson argues that the real financial threat to the U.S. isn’t government debt but rather private debt, especially the student debt crisis, which is exacerbated by policies that prevent bankruptcy relief. He explains that government debt, particularly U.S. Treasury securities, is actually a highly sought-after asset globally, held by foreign central banks and wealthy investors, and is unlikely ever to be fully repaid. Hudson emphasizes that the U.S. can print money to cover its debts, creating an illusion of financial risk that doesn’t truly exist.
The post Debunking U.S. Bankruptcy Myths first appeared on Michael Hudson.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Explore how the papacy’s war financing and the transformation of usury into interest reshaped Christianity and led to the rise of modern fiscal states and powerful banking families.
The post Reshaping Christianity and the Modern State: A Journey from Usury to Fiscal Power first appeared on Michael Hudson.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Brian: All right, Nate, we’ve done it. This is the System Failure Podcast number 50, and it’s an exciting one. Nathan: Yeah, number 50. Yeah, that’s impressive, Brian. That means we’ve been at this for more or less a year now, which is pretty exciting. And I love the idea that for episode number 50, Continue Reading
The post How Rome Reversed Christianity: from Compassion to Control first appeared on Michael Hudson.