The Jordan Harbinger Show 1189: Edward Fishman | Why the Dollar Is America's Most Potent Weapon
15 snips
Jul 29, 2025 
Edward Fishman, a former State Department sanctions architect and author of Choke Points, shares his insights on economic warfare. He explains how the U.S. wields power through economic choke points instead of military force. Fishman discusses the dollar's dominance, allowing the U.S. to impose impactful sanctions, even on allies. He highlights the evolving landscape, where China strives for supremacy in rare earth minerals, reshaping global power dynamics. Lastly, he emphasizes the importance of understanding these economic tools to foster democratic engagement and avert conflicts.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Power of Invisible Choke Points
- Invisible choke points like the dollar and semiconductor supply chains give the U.S. asymmetric global power.
- This economic leverage can impose severe harm without military force through cutting off access or sanctions.
Economic Warfare's Moral Hazard
- Economic warfare resembles the revolutionary impact air power had on the military.
- It lowers the threshold to inflict damage with less risk, making economic sanctions almost irresistible to use.
North Korea Money Laundering Crackdown
- In 2005, the U.S. pressured a Chinese bank managing North Korean money to stop dealings.
- This led to banks globally de-risking North Korea to avoid losing dollar access, weaponizing private sector self-interest.
