The Peter McCormack Show #163 - Scott Horton - How Debt, Inflation and War Are All Connected
Apr 8, 2026
Scott Horton, director of Antiwar.com and long-time critic of U.S. foreign policy, explains how war ties into everyday economics. He outlines hidden war taxes, expanding national debt, and how military spending fuels inflation. He also discusses media narratives, the iron triangle of power, and why interventions persist despite public fatigue.
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War Spending Acts As A Hidden Tax
- War spending functions as a hidden tax that diverts public resources away from domestic needs through monetary inflation and rising prices.
- Scott Horton links higher consumer prices and wages lagging price rises to government borrowing for wars and empire maintenance, hurting lower-income workers most.
Debt Interest Now Outweighs Empire Costs
- Interest on the national debt now consumes a larger share of the federal budget than even core empire costs, reducing funds for services.
- Horton cites a $40 trillion official debt and Winslow Wheeler's $1.7 trillion empire accounting to show interest exceeds empire spending.
Foreign Policy Shaped By Israel Lobby And Neocons
- U.S. foreign interventions are heavily influenced by the Israel lobby and neoconservatives, not solely national interest.
- Horton traces Iraq and Syria choices to neocon networks aligned with Israeli strategic aims and ideological framing.
