Rothbard Was Right: Libertarians Must Never Warm to the Warfare State

Rothbard Was Right: Libertarians Must Never Warm to the Warfare State

Author: Mises Institute April 22, 2026 Duration: 10:23
A foreign policy that seeks to maintain a global empire is entirely incompatible with the laissez-faire, free-market system at home that many hawkish self-described libertarians claim to support.Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/rothbard-was-right-libertarians-must-never-warm-warfare-state

Each day brings a fresh wave of headlines, often leaving us with more questions than answers about what's truly happening in the world. Audio Mises Wire steps into that space, transforming written analysis into an accessible audio format. This isn't just a news recap; it's a deep dive into current events, cultural shifts, and political debates through a specific and principled framework. The discussions are rooted in the traditions of Austrian economics and libertarian thought, providing a distinct perspective on everything from market fluctuations and policy decisions to broader philosophical questions about individual liberty and societal structure. By listening, you'll hear articulate readings of carefully selected articles that challenge conventional narratives. The podcast makes complex economic ideas understandable and connects them directly to the news of the day, examining the real-world consequences of government actions and cultural trends. It’s for anyone curious about the underlying forces shaping our society, who prefers commentary that questions mainstream assumptions. Tune in for a thoughtful, consistent examination of how timeless principles of voluntary cooperation and sound economics apply to our contemporary moment.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Audio Mises Wire
Podcast Episodes
The Next Food Pyramid: Lab-Grown Meat and the New Moral Orthodoxy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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The anti-meat movement has influenced government policy well beyond anything close to the truth about meat. From the discredited food pyramid to government funding of “lab-grown meat,” government aids the activists who a…
A Look Behind the Fed’s Curtains [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Our own Jonathan Newman had the opportunity to sit down with a Federal Reserve governor. The central banker's answers to Newman's questions were evasive and riddled with contradictions. It seems there is not much behind…
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The conservatives finally got their populist victory for middle-American working-class voters. The result is more federal spending, more federal power, and Israel-first foreign policy. Original article: https://mises.org…
Libertarians Must Never Warm to the Warfare State [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:26
Just as, for them, liberty must be the highest political end, peace must be the highest end of foreign policy.Original article: https://mises.org/mises-daily/libertarians-must-never-warm-warfare-state
Who Pays the Hormuz Toll? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:14
According to Rothbard’s first law of incidence, “no tax can be shifted forward.” That is, the person or company paying the tax cannot make the buyer pay the tax. Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/who-pays-ho…
Raico, Ekirch, and the Tragedy of American Militarism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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In dealing with the question of why the United States, a country founded on liberty, turned into a militaristic behemoth, Ralph Raico looked to the work of historian Arthur Ekirch for answers.Original article: https://mi…
Peaceful Nationalism as a Foundation for Economic Liberalism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:21
Ludwig von Mises Mises argues in Nation, State, and Economy that nationalism is compatible with economic and political liberty if it is peaceful, based on self-determination as an individual right.Original article: https…
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Duration: 16:09
Economics has its own four-letter words. Although they are not obscene, socialists and statists would find them so.Original article: https://mises.org/mises-wire/four-letter-economic-words