Robinson's Podcast 273 - Richard Wolff: Iran, Israel, and the End of the American Empire
42 snips
Mar 22, 2026 
Richard Wolff, Marxist economist and professor emeritus, gives a big-picture take on the Iran conflict and global shifts. He traces historical roots, explains why the war heightens Israeli and European vulnerabilities, links energy and industrial decline to geopolitical risk, and explores how deindustrialization, China’s rise, and AI reshape power and economic winners. The conversation focuses on cause, consequence, and global realignment.
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Ben-Gurion Strike Undermines Israeli Invulnerability
- Iran demonstrated it can strike critical Israeli infrastructure (Ben-Gurion airport) despite media silence in the US.
- That physical vulnerability undermines myths of Israeli invulnerability and changes regional risk calculus.
War Is Costing Israel More Than Expected
- The Israel campaign now imposes huge economic and social costs on Israelis unlike prior asymmetric operations.
- Wolff stresses rebuilding cities, airports, and infrastructure will strain Israel and force US financial support.
Unilateral Action Risks A Messy US Europe Divorce
- Trump's unilateral war risks fracturing US-Europe relations and accelerating a messy geopolitical divorce.
- Europeans feel hit by tariffs, energy risks, and lack of consultation, pushing them toward independence.
