Cato Podcast The Purse and the Sword
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Sep 11, 2025 Brandon Buck, a Research Fellow at the Cato Institute and historian of U.S. foreign policy, joins the discussion. They dive into the significance of renaming the Pentagon to the Department of War and its implications for America’s foreign policy. The panel critiques recent budget negotiations and explores the urgency of fiscal responsibility. Buck also addresses the historical context of the 'America First' movement and how perceptions of threats, like cartels, shape current military strategies. The conversation is both timely and thought-provoking.
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Shutdowns Don't Solve Big Fiscal Problems
- Government shutdowns rarely shrink government because pay is restored and essential services often continue.
- The real problem is Congress's dysfunctional budget process and rising mandatory spending on autopilot.
Use Reconciliation Wisely
- Use reconciliation to target mandatory programs because it bypasses the 60-vote Senate threshold.
- But avoid bundling political giveaways; prioritize spending cuts that actually reduce the deficit.
Entitlements Drive Unsustainable Debt
- The US fiscal path is unsustainable due mainly to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security growth.
- You cannot tax or cut discretionary spending alone to fix it; mandatory entitlements must be addressed.
