The U.S. Empire Is Running Out of Resources — China Saw This Coming | Silk and Steel

The U.S. Empire Is Running Out of Resources — China Saw This Coming | Silk and Steel

Author: Alternate Current Radio August 22, 2026 Duration: 30:30
The U.S. now faces a growing strategic dilemma: Washington wants to maintain its global military presence while it simultaneously escalates confrontation with Iran, pressures Russia and attempts to contain China.But the resources are not unlimited.In this episode, Rachel Blevins speaks with geopolitical analyst Carl Zha, host of the Silk and Steel Podcast, about what the Strait of Hormuz crisis reveals about changes in the balance of global power.Carl argues that Trump's decision to reduce U.S.-South Korea military exercises has little to do with North Korea and much more to do with punishing Seoul for its refusal to participate in the Iran war.Meanwhile, the U.S. has moved major military assets from East Asia toward the Middle East, which raises questions about Washington's ability to maintain its so-called "pivot to Asia."While Washington scrambles to respond, China has spent years in preparation for the vulnerabilities that are now exposed.From massive strategic oil reserves and alternative energy sources to the Belt and Road Initiative and new trade routes, Beijing has prepared for the possibility of an American blockade and disruption of its energy supplies.Carl explains why China may now be in a strong position to weather the Hormuz crisis — and why the crisis could actually accelerate the decline of the U.S.-led global order.The conversation also examines Trump's threat of expanded secondary sanctions against China, the growing role of BRICS, alternatives to the U.S.-dominated financial system, and the possibility that Washington's attempt to isolate Russia, Iran and China could ultimately push those countries closer together.In this episode:• Why Trump reduces U.S.-South Korea military exercises
• The U.S. military's increased resource constraints
• Why America's "Pivot to Asia" may collapse
• The Strait of Hormuz as a potential Suez Canal moment
• Why China has stockpiled oil
• How China prepared for a possible U.S. blockade
• China's Belt and Road strategy and alternative trade routes
• Why secondary sanctions against China could backfire
• The rise of BRICS and alternatives to the dollar system
• Why a Cold War 2.0 would look very different from the original Cold War
• The emergent shift from a unipolar to a multipolar world
► Join UK Column Live every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1pm UK time or watch previous live recordings ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ► [UK Column Website] Explore all our written and video content on the official ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UK Column website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ► [Support UK Column] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Please donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to support our independent journalism & investigative journalism ► [UK Column YouTube] Please ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠subscribe to the UK Column News YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more alternative news and independent newsFollow #UKColumn on:► ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠► ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Telegram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠► ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ►⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Hosted by Mike Robinson and Brian Gerrish, UK Column Radio offers a distinct perspective on global events, anchored from Britain. This daily podcast, produced by Alternate Current Radio, moves beyond the standard news cycle to examine the underlying political, economic, and social forces shaping international headlines. Each episode features in-depth analysis and discussion, focusing on how decisions made in corridors of power translate into real-world consequences for citizens. The conversations are detailed and evidence-driven, appealing to listeners who prefer a more forensic approach to current affairs. You'll hear a consistent focus on themes of governance, media narrative, and national sovereignty, all framed within a context that challenges mainstream reporting. The tone is serious and engaged, built on the premise that a deeper understanding of news requires connecting disparate events into a coherent picture. For those seeking an alternative to conventional news commentary, this podcast provides a platform for sustained, critical dialogue. It’s a program dedicated to asking the questions often left unasked by other outlets, making it a regular listen for an audience that values thorough investigation over soundbite summaries.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

UK Column Radio
Podcast Episodes
The Dark Forces that Run the World | Jerm Warfare [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:38
Sean Stone, son of film maker Oliver Stone, explores the hidden forces shaping our world. We cover how Hollywood, pop culture and the national security state intertwine, why conspiracy theories are ridiculed, and how can…
UK Column News — 9th September 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:40
Mike Robinson, Charles Malet, and Vanessa Beeley present today's UK Column News.► Join UK Column Live every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1pm UK time or watch previous live recordings ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠…
Austrian Economics and Zionism | Jerm Warfare [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:53
Cuban-born Austrian economist Jorge Besada explains why human decisions matter more than numbers in economics, and why private property is the true foundation of both innovation and free speech.He takes a critical look a…
Military Matters: Episode 10 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:54
As war propaganda ramps up across the UK mainstream media, Charles Malet and Brian Gerrish look at the way in which the Ministry of Defence exploits its own service personnel — particularly with videos like this. Later i…
Return to Analogue and Beauty | Jerm Warfare Weekly Banter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:22
Jerm, Mike and Charles discuss technology's quiet costs. They weigh the ritual of mechanical watches against digital ones, challenge the "eight hours of sleep" myth, and consider how screens and artificial light disrupt…
UK Column News — 7th September 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:59
Ben Rubin and Brian Gerrish present today's UK Column News.► Join UK Column Live every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1pm UK time or watch previous live recordings ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠…
Mark Playne | A Thousand Words (Part 1 of 3) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:57
In the first part of their conversation, Mark Playne, the founder of Not On The Beeb, traces his path from private grief to public activism—his mother's cancer diagnosis, the research binge that followed her death, and a…
Oscar Pistorius and Legal Theatre | Jerm Warfare [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:25
Forensic scientist David Klatzow breaks down the Oscar Pistorius case. He covers the shooting of Reeva Steenkamp, police errors that marred the investigation, legal wrangling over intent, and the recklessness and self-de…