The hottest Military Spending Substack posts right now

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New York Times Wants The US Military Built Up For War With China

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1862 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics Military Spending
  1. The New York Times editorial argues the U.S. must rebuild and expand its military to prepare to fight China (and possibly Russia), calling for more spending and for allies to shoulder more of the burden.
  2. The Times is accused of uncritically repeating unverified government claims—like an alleged order to seize Taiwan by 2027 and warnings about undersea cable sabotage—and of using alarmist imagery to push urgency.
  3. The piece frames U.S. global dominance as having harmed the global south through imperial extraction and warns that normalizing a huge military buildup risks pouring resources into preparations for catastrophic great‑power wars.

Chartbook 389: Europe's zombie armies. Or how to spend $3.1 trillion and have precious little to show for it.

Chartbook • 2246 implied HN points • 08 Jun 25
🌍 World Politics Military Spending
  1. European countries have spent $3.1 trillion on defense over a decade, but they seem to have little effectiveness to show for it. This raises questions on how well the money has been utilized.
  2. Despite having many soldiers, the European military forces are fragmented and not effectively organized, which dilutes their combat power and efficiency.
  3. The focus on salaries and personnel has led to underinvestment in essential military equipment and capabilities, leaving Europe unprepared for modern defense challenges.

The Trillion Dollar War Machine (w/ William D. Hartung) | The Chris Hedges Report

The Chris Hedges Report • 163 implied HN points • 01 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military Spending
  1. The military-industrial complex now channels massive public money to private defense firms and uses lobbying and secret deals to keep itself growing.
  2. Big Tech has merged with the defense sector, promoting automated warfare, widespread surveillance, and the blurring of public and corporate roles for profit and control.
  3. Recent political shifts have empowered this trillion-dollar war machine to keep expanding, which risks democracy, public welfare, and national safety as profit motives trump oversight.
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The day the world should have changed

The Raven • 176 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
🌍 World Politics Military Spending
  1. Humanity missed the opportunity to shift away from power-based relations on the day of the Trinity test in 1945.
  2. Efforts for international nuclear control failed post-Trinity test, leading to modern nuclear threats and arms races.
  3. Creating a peaceful world requires moving beyond power dynamics to empathy and compassion in all aspects of society.

DoD Had Its Most Spendy Month Since the Bush Era

OpenTheBooks Substack • 217 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military Spending
  1. In September 2024, the Department of Defense spent over $79 billion, marking its highest spending since 2008. This was a huge jump in expenses compared to past months.
  2. A lot of the money went to familiar things like ammunition and aircraft, but there were some surprising purchases too, like millions spent on lobster, steaks, and even musical instruments.
  3. Despite spending most of the budget within the U.S., the Pentagon also gave nearly $2 billion to foreign companies, showing a global aspect to military spending.

War Cycles

America in Crisis • 39 implied HN points • 27 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Military Spending
  1. Historian Quincy Wright proposed the existence of fifty-year cycles in great power wars, showing periodic fluctuations in war deaths.
  2. Psychological factors and social mood alternations may contribute to cycles of war fever and peace phases.
  3. American foreign policy moods, economic cycles, and social contagion theory may help explain war phases, as seen in the Vietnam War and beyond.

The Last Supper

The Weekly Gazette • 15 implied HN points • 17 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military Spending
  1. In 1993, a major dinner at the Pentagon for defense contractors led to big changes in the U.S. defense industry. Many companies merged or went out of business, leaving only five major contractors in the field.
  2. This consolidation allowed a few companies to hold significant power over military spending, making lobbying crucial for their survival. They shifted focus to securing government contracts after many defense budgets were cut.
  3. The relationship between defense contractors and U.S. foreign policy became tighter, especially as conflicts like the Iraq War arose. This has raised concerns about how much influence these companies have over decisions affecting national and global security.

The Wealth Transfer Nobody Talks About

Ijtihad • 57 implied HN points • 10 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military Spending
  1. The U.S. military spending largely benefits the wealthy, as tax money is used to fund arms sales to other countries.
  2. Around $113 billion has been spent on military assistance to Ukraine and Israel over the past decade, taking funds from public resources.
  3. Mainstream media often ignore this issue, which affects many Americans, likely due to their ties to rich donors.

Responding to criticisms, and the Senate "national security" bill

Michael Tracey • 71 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military Spending
  1. The war in Ukraine has resulted in a significant disaster with high casualties and impacts on Russia and US relations.
  2. The Senate passed a large 'national security' bill for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific, highlighting the prioritization of war expenditures.
  3. There seems to be a lack of realistic and articulate strategies in resolving the war, with many stakeholders barreling forward with attritional warfare.

The Chicoms are Coming! Quick, Close the "AI" Gap!

The Corbett Report • 16 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military Spending
  1. There is a growing concern about the 'AI gap' between the US and China, which is becoming a new focus for national security. People are worried that if the US doesn't catch up, it could lose its edge in technology.
  2. The idea of an 'AI gap' is likened to the old 'missile gap' scare from the Cold War. Both were used to create fear and justify increased spending on military and technology.
  3. Even though the 'AI gap' talk may feel exaggerated, the real dangers of AI technology, like autonomous weapons, shouldn't be overlooked. It's important to be aware of the genuine risks while questioning the motives behind the narratives.

Nyhetsbrev steigan.no 04.03.2025

steigan.no • 6 implied HN points • 04 Mar 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military Spending
  1. Rødt's decision to join a military agreement means increased funding for the military, which some argue takes money away from social services like education and healthcare.
  2. The military strategies being developed may not be designed to protect Norway but rather to serve NATO and U.S. interests, moving towards potential aggressions rather than defenses.
  3. There's a growing disconnect between political leaders' decisions and the needs of the public, particularly in terms of defense spending versus welfare priorities.

Nyhetsbrev steigan.no 13.12.2024

steigan.no • 8 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military Spending
  1. The use of a chemical called Bovaer in livestock feed is controversial. While it aims to reduce methane emissions from animals, experts warn it might disrupt the natural digestive processes and have unknown long-term effects on both animals and humans.
  2. Poland and other EU countries are wary about Ukraine joining the EU. They fear that Ukraine's poorer economy might lead to reduced funding and benefits for themselves, causing financial strain.
  3. There's an increasing trend in the U.S. to ramp up military spending, with a proposed budget of $895 billion for defense. This reflects a growing focus on military initiatives and support for various countries amidst ongoing global conflicts.

Support for Israel has a Long Bipartisan History

OpenTheBooks Substack • 2 implied HN points • 18 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military Spending
  1. The U.S. has given Israel a lot of money over the years, mainly for military support. It's around $305 billion since 1951, but this is a small part of what the U.S. spends on its own defense.
  2. Most of the aid goes directly to military and defense spending, allowing Israel to buy American-made weapons. This means American taxpayers help equip Israel's military.
  3. Support for Israel is mostly bipartisan, meaning both Republicans and Democrats have agreed on this aid. While Republicans have given slightly more overall, both parties continue to support Israel in various administrations.