Progressive Commentary Hour The Progressive Commentary Hour with Ret. Col. Lawrence Wilkerson
Dec 17, 2025
Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, a retired U.S. Army Colonel and former chief of staff to Colin Powell, shares his insights on America’s declining global influence. He discusses the dangers of nuclear capabilities amidst imperial decline and connects soaring debt to potential conflict. Wilkerson critiques the U.S.–Israel relationship and highlights the impact of AI on job displacement. He warns about the concentration of corporate power and its implications for democracy, while also addressing China’s industrial dominance and strategic advancements.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Learn The Broad Sweep Of History
- Study broad geopolitical history to recognize long-term shifts instead of short-term headlines.
- Wilkerson urges Americans to learn history and the 'broad sweep' to grasp strategic decline.
American Empire In Decline
- The U.S. functions as a modern empire whose global power is waning rapidly due to strategic blindness.
- Lawrence Wilkerson warns decline parallels historical empires but now includes nuclear risk.
Nuclear Weapons Change The Endgame
- Nuclear weapons uniquely change imperial decline dynamics by making catastrophic options conceivable.
- Wilkerson fears the U.S. might use nuclear force to arrest economic collapse, risking global annihilation.