Trillion Dollar War Machine with Bill Hartung: The Cost of American Military Spending | WorldNow with Jim Falk

January 21, 2026 – The U.S. spends nearly a trillion dollars on its military each year, making up 40% of the world’s military spending. Is this spending really keeping America safe?

Bill Hartung, author and senior fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, argues that not only is this spending not keeping America safe, but it is endangering both the U.S. and the world at large.

Hartung joins WorldNow with Jim Falk to reveal how the American military industrial complex operates, its key players – from Hollywood and Silicon Valley to lobbyists and the Pentagon’s top contractors – and how we can secure America’s future and prosperity by re-envisioning America’s trillion-dollar war machine.

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Get yourself a copy of The Trillion Dollar War Machine on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore

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WorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, with the World Affairs Councils of America and World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth.

Presented in partnership with the Alaska World Affairs Council, Colorado Springs World Affairs Council, Columbia World Affairs Council, Columbus Council on World Affairs, Foreign Policy Association, Global Santa Fe, International Women’s Forum – Connecticut, Los Angeles World Affairs Council, Montana World Affairs Council, Off the Record, Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations, World Affairs Council of Albuquerque, World Affairs Council of Austin, World Affairs Council of Charlotte, World Affairs Council of Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky, World Affairs Council of Greater Houston, World Affairs Council of Hampton Roads, World Affairs Council of Jacksonville, World Affairs Council of New Orleans, World Affairs Council of Northwest Ohio, World Affairs Council of Orange County, World Affairs Council of San Antonio, World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts, WorldBoston, WorldDenver, and WorldOregon.

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Music composed by Zac Harmon and Christopher Troy

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