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Scott Horton: The Case Against War and the Military Industrial Complex | Lex Fridman Podcast #478

Lex Fridman | September 3, 2025



Scott Horton is the director of the Libertarian Institute, editorial director of Antiwar.com, host of The Scott Horton Show, co-host of Provoked, and for the past three decades a staunch critic of U.S. military interventionism.
Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep478-sb
See below for timestamps, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.

*CONTACT LEX:*
*Feedback* – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey
*AMA* – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama
*Hiring* – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring
*Other* – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact

*EPISODE LINKS:*
Supplemental Notes & Corrections: https://lexfridman.com/scott-horton-links-and-notes/
Scott’s X: https://x.com/scotthortonshow
Scott Horton Show: https://youtube.com/@scotthortonshow
Provoked Show: https://youtube.com/@Provoked_Show
Scott’s Substack: https://scotthortonshow.com/
Scott’s Website: https://scotthorton.org/
Scott’s Books: https://amzn.to/3T9Qg7y
Libertarian Institute: https://libertarianinstitute.org/
Antiwar.com: https://antiwar.com/

*SPONSORS:*
To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:
*Allio Capital:* AI-powered investment app that uses global macroeconomic trends.
Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/allio_capital-ep478-sb
*Hampton:* Community for high-growth founders and CEOs.
Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/hampton-ep478-sb
*BetterHelp:* Online therapy and counseling.
Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/betterhelp-ep478-sb
*AG1:* All-in-one daily nutrition drink.
Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/ag1-ep478-sb

*OUTLINE:*
0:00 – Introduction
0:45 – From the Cold War to the War on Terror
53:43 – Iraq War 1
1:21:48 – Bin Laden
2:21:09 – Afghanistan War
2:36:05 – Iraq War 2
3:02:30 – Military Industrial Complex
3:41:56 – Scott’s life story
4:11:45 – Iraq War 2 (continued)
5:03:14 – Syria
5:56:32 – Iraq War 3
6:08:59 – Somalia
6:14:26 – Iran
7:04:12 – Israel-Palestine
8:53:49 – Cold War 2.0

*PODCAST LINKS:*
– Podcast Website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast
– Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr
– Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
– RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/
– Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4
– Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/lexclips

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Written by Lex Fridman

Comments

This post currently has 32 comments.

  1. @lexfridman

    September 3, 2025 at 7:24 am

    Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep478-sa
    See below for timestamps, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.
    0:00 – Introduction
    0:45 – From the Cold War to the War on Terror
    53:43 – Iraq War 1
    1:21:48 – Bin Laden
    2:21:09 – Afghanistan War
    2:36:05 – Iraq War 2
    3:02:30 – Military Industrial Complex
    3:41:56 – Scott's life story
    4:11:45 – Iraq War 2 (continued)
    5:03:14 – Syria
    5:56:32 – Iraq War 3
    6:08:59 – Somalia
    6:14:26 – Iran
    7:04:12 – Israel-Palestine
    8:53:49 – Cold War 2.0

    CONTACT LEX:
    Feedback – give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey
    AMA – submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama
    Hiring – join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring
    Other – other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact

    EPISODE LINKS:
    Supplemental Notes & Corrections: https://lexfridman.com/scott-horton-links-and-notes/
    Scott's X: https://x.com/scotthortonshow
    Scott Horton Show: https://youtube.com/@scotthortonshow
    Provoked Show: https://youtube.com/@Provoked_Show
    Scott's Substack: https://scotthortonshow.com/
    Scott's Website: https://scotthorton.org/
    Scott's Books: https://amzn.to/3T9Qg7y
    Libertarian Institute: https://libertarianinstitute.org/
    Antiwar.com: https://antiwar.com/

    SPONSORS:
    To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:
    Allio Capital: AI-powered investment app that uses global macroeconomic trends.
    Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/allio_capital-ep478-sa
    Hampton: Community for high-growth founders and CEOs.
    Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/hampton-ep478-sa
    BetterHelp: Online therapy and counseling.
    Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/betterhelp-ep478-sa
    AG1: All-in-one daily nutrition drink.
    Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/ag1-ep478-sa

  2. @salonez91

    September 3, 2025 at 7:24 am

    10h condensed knowledge, without breaking sweat. My tipe of people. Btw why other then split and conquer is the reason why USA helps Shia and not Sunni, and sometimes the opposite as USA wants to balance these 2 groups so no one is too strong.

  6. @lomaxdesigns1716

    September 3, 2025 at 7:24 am

    @2:05:18 Clinton, the Saudis and the Brits were backing the Mujahadeen in Bosnia and Kosovo. This is Scott Horton's version of a throw away comment. Have you any idea the depth of the rabbit hole I'm about to go down? Am I the only one mind bending off that sentence?

  7. @CyndieJobb-bz4hh

    September 3, 2025 at 7:24 am

    Context is important. Curiosity is necessary for seeking content leading to context. Lex has expressed sadness in scientists lack of curiosity and submergence in dogma stagnating potential future discoveries. I heard him discussing this w Avi Loeb once. They put words to my gut feeling at the time. Appreciate the deep dives both of you. CJ

  8. @bravostoresystems

    September 3, 2025 at 7:24 am

    2:58 in you say this is dark. U.S. Government can't admit BinLaden single handedly performed 9.11. Make up shit. Anything. Like Horton is. The killing of children syndrome used by Arabs in Lebanon is the same logic Horton uses because 2 guys had to have joined BinLaden, for an attack on UN in Lebanon. Same theme. U.S. Government simply wants to go to War and does, for any reason. For any reason. For any reason. Horton states his none bias when he chuckles the Irish and Scots. "We beat each other".

  15. @JD-os2kr

    September 3, 2025 at 7:24 am

    I was fixing some shower tiles, grout, caulking, etc.
    7+ hours in and still going strong!
    This is one of the best foreign policy podcast episodes of all time.
    Legendary recall and connecting of the many dots by Scott .
    Great questions from Lex.
    This is an instant classic!

  26. @jeffstoney358

    September 3, 2025 at 7:24 am

    Fantastic and extremely informative. Bottom line, I support only to defend the American homeland proper and only until the enemy is driven out of America, my support stops at that point. I will support NO MORE foreign conflicts.

Comments are closed.

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