Brent Johnson: Decline of the Republic, Rise of the Empire

Brent Johnson: Decline of the Republic, Rise of the Empire

Author: Geopolitics & Empire January 17, 2026 Duration: 59:30

Brent Johnson of Santiago Capital discusses what he believes to be the decline of the U.S. republic and rise of the American Empire. He explains his “Dollar Milkshake Theory” and how essentially Washington is the cleanest shirt in the dirty laundry. Pax Americana will continue its rampage and what it is doing with stablecoins is going to even further its reach.

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Websites

Santiago Capital https://santiagocapital.com
Substack https://research.santiagocapital.com
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@MilkshakesPod
X https://x.com/SantiagoAuFund

About Brent Johnson

Brent Johnson brings twenty-five years of experience in the financial markets to his position as CEO of Santiago Capital.

He enjoyed more than nine years as a Managing Director at BakerAvenue, a $2.5 Billion Asset Manager and Wealth Management firm, with offices in San Francisco, Dallas and New York.  During his time there he was the lead advisor for several of the firms largest clients.

Prior to joining BakerAvenue, Brent spent nine years at Credit Suisse in their private client group. He got his start as part of the training program at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ) in New York prior to moving to San Francisco. He joined Credit Suisse in the fall of 2000 when the bank purchased DLJ.

Earlier in his career, Brent was a financial auditor for Philip Morris Management Company in New York City where he performed audits at the company’s headquarters as well as subsidiaries in Germany, Hong Kong, and Richmond, Virginia.

In addition to his role at Santiago Capital, he is also a member of the Advisory Board for Monetary Metals, a platform that allows investors to earn a yield on gold, paid in gold, by leasing and lending to qualified precious metals businesses in the industry.

Brent regularly gives interviews and speaks at conferences regarding precious metals, currencies & macroeconomic trends. He is well known as the originator of the “Dollar Milkshake Theory” and his views have been quoted in numerous print, online and television outlets. He lives in San Juan, Puerto Rico with his wife Mary and son Moses.

*Podcast intro music used with permission is from the song “The Queens Jig” by the fantastic “Musicke & Mirth” from their album “Music for Two Lyra Viols”: http://musicke-mirth.de/en/recordings.html (available on iTunes or Amazon)


Tracing the lines on the map that connect past conflicts to present-day crises, Geopolitics & Empire offers a deep and often sobering analysis of how power is projected and contested across the globe. This isn't about surface-level headlines; instead, each episode digs into the historical roots of modern alliances, economic warfare, and the enduring strategies of empires, both old and new. You’ll hear discussions that connect pivotal moments in history to the diplomatic and military maneuvering we see today, providing context that is frequently missing from the daily news cycle. The conversations hosted here are built on the understanding that today’s border disputes, trade wars, and intelligence operations are chapters in a much longer story. By weaving together the categories of history, government, and current affairs, this podcast creates a comprehensive narrative. It’s for anyone who feels that the world’s flashpoints can’t be understood without examining the ambitions, rivalries, and foundational events that set the stage decades or even centuries ago. Tune in for a rigorous exploration of the forces that truly shape international relations, where every treaty, revolution, and strategic pivot is examined for its lasting consequences on the global order.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

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