Robert P. Murphy, author of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Capitalism, discusses the Federal Reserve’s Quantitative Easing program; why the Fed has just decided to buy mortgage-backed securities at a 40 billion/month clip; how businesses are disguising the increased costs they must pass on to customers; Ben Bernanke’s devoted service to the big banks; how interest-earning excess reserves are keeping bankrupt banks afloat and discouraging private lending; the argument that defense spending cuts hurt the economy; and why Americans increasingly depend on government services and jobs for their survival. Check out the interview page here: https://scotthorton.org/91712-bob-murphy/ For more on Scott's work: Check out The Libertarian Institute: https://www.libertarianinstitute.org Read Scott's book, Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan: https://foolserrand.us Follow Scott on Twitter using the handle @scotthortonshow: https://twitter.com/scotthortonshow Like Scott's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/scotthortonshow/ And check out Scott's full interview archives: https://scotthorton.org/all-interviews-2/ You can also support Scott's work by making a one-time or recurring donation at https://scotthorton.org/donate/ Or you can donate per interview at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/scotthortonshow ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeeQHHL_BPc

Lawrence Wittner joins the show to talk nuclear weapons and the possibility of a nuclear-free world. He explains that the safety of mutually assured destruction has nearly failed several times, and that nuclear war is a very plausible threat to humanity. Beyond the massive casualties likely to result from the hugely increased power of today’s bombs, the smoke and ash could also rise high enough into the air that normal atmospheric processes can’t easily clear them away, causing a global nuclear winter. The consequences of this catastrophe would be even greater than any initial destruction. He also discusses the history of the NPT; that the United States and the Soviet Union sought nuclear monopoly by getting much of the rest of the world to agree never to pursue nuclear weapons, albeit in return for reducing their own arsenals. Wittner explains that while reducing weapons stockpiles is not so difficult (given the deterrent factor of even a small arsenal), eliminating them entirely is very difficult. Fortunately it seems most nations are perfectly happy not to pursue nuclear weapons at all. Check out the interview page here: https://libertarianinstitute.org/6-22-18-lawrence-wittner-talks-nuclear-buildup-and-mutually-assured-destruction/ For more on Scott's work: Check out The Libertarian Institute: https://www.libertarianinstitute.org Read Scott's book, Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan: https://foolserrand.us Follow Scott on Twitter using the handle @scotthortonshow: https://twitter.com/scotthortonshow Like Scott's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/scotthortonshow/ And check out Scott's full interview archives: https://scotthorton.org/all-interviews-2/ You can also support Scott's work by making a one-time or recurring donation at https://scotthorton.org/donate/ Or you can donate per interview at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/scotthortonshow ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da2Ocymhp3Q