Always at War The deadly decline of US empire | GOING DEEP with Noah Kulwin
Feb 27, 2026
Noah Kulwin, journalist and co-host of Blowback, digs into America’s interventionist playbook. He recounts Blowback’s origins and explains how chaos can be a strategic tool. They probe how Americans are insulated from war’s costs, why political elites cling to the status quo, and what global shifts mean for U.S. power.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Hebron Visit That Shifted A Young Zionist
- Visiting Hebron was a turning point that broke Noah Kulwin's Zionist convictions by showing stark Israeli military-backed segregation.
- He recalls settlers protected by the army and graffiti calling for the third temple as a before-and-after experience.
Blowback's Scrappy Origin Story
- Blowback began as a side project in 2019 when Noah Kulwin and Brendan James pitched a limited series about the Iraq war.
- Kulwin describes weekend work, archival research for later seasons, and COVID-driven audience growth.
Chaos As A Tool Of American Strategy
- U.S. interventions often use chaos as a strategic tool rather than an accidental outcome.
- Noah Kulwin argues destabilization makes weaker states more pliant, and policymakers absorb disaster as a productive outcome.