1/16/26 Daniel McAdams on Greenland, Venezuela and Iran

7 snips

Jan 19, 2026

Daniel McAdams, executive director of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity, discusses the intriguing dynamics of U.S. foreign policy. He analyzes Trump's Greenland ambitions and the strategic motives tied to Arctic resources. They explore the Venezuela situation as a pursuit for quick geopolitical wins and the hidden political interests behind interventions. The conversation touches on the chaos in social media influencing public perception and emphasizes the importance of independent journalism amidst legacy media. Lastly, they caution against hasty military actions, referencing historical decisions.

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INSIGHT

Greenland As A PR Victory

Trump frames Greenland as a symbolic, high-visibility win rather than a practical asset grab.
Daniel McAdams says the idea mixes grandiosity with strategic Arctic competition and unrealistic expectations.

INSIGHT

Zero-Sum Resource Mindset

McAdams argues U.S. policy treats global resources as zero-sum prizes to seize rather than subjects for cooperation.
He links this mindset to economic panic over national debt and declining manufacturing.

INSIGHT

Venezuela: Quick Win Illusion

McAdams sees Venezuela action pitched as a quick, low-cost foreign-policy win to appease hawks.
He warns promised resource windfalls often turn out to be hype with privatized profits and socialized costs.

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Scott brought Daniel McAdams back on the show to talk about the prospects of Trump taking over Greenland, the capture of Maduro, protests in Iran and the status of America’s antiwar movement more broadly.

Discussed on the show:

“US Surging Military Assets To the Middle East To Prepare for War With Iran After Trump Postpones Attack” (Antiwar.com)
The Panama Deception

Daniel McAdams is the executive director of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity and the co-host of the Ron Paul Liberty Report. Follow him on Twitter @DanielLMcAdams and read all of his work over at Antiwar.com.

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