Current Affairs Ben and Jerry's Co-Founder Takes on America's War Machine (w/ Ben Cohen)
Apr 16, 2026
Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s and longtime activist for peace and social justice, discusses militarism, Pentagon spending, and how U.S. policy fuels arms races. He explains vivid budget demos, the profit motives behind war, and the fight to preserve Ben & Jerry’s progressive mission after a takeover.
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Military Budget Is Theft From Domestic Needs
- Military spending diverts resources and spirit away from domestic needs like schools, housing, and childcare.
- Ben Cohen cites Eisenhower: each bomber or carrier is ultimately a theft from people who lack food, clothing, and basic services.
U.S. Actions Drive Global Arms Races
- U.S. militarism produces the very threats other countries respond to, driving global arms races and insecurity.
- Cohen argues NATO expansion after the Cold War provoked Russian responses culminating in the Ukraine war.
Weapons Industry Fuels Policy With Lobbying
- The weapons industry wields disproportionate political power through lobbying and campaign contributions.
- Cohen: the industry provides two lobbyists for every member of Congress and shapes legislation and elections to sustain profits.
