American Power
American Power is a geopolitical podcast that explores the forces beneath the headlines, focusing on military strategy, energy markets, and political decision-making. Hosted by writer and comedian Nat Towsen, military strategist Chad Scott, and oil and energy expert Mr. Global, the show breaks down global events through the systems that shape them. Each episode goes beyond the daily news cycle to examine incentives, history, and unintended consequences, discussing why wars become hard to stop, how oil markets anticipate conflict, and who pays the price when strategy, economics, and politics intersect.
Episodes
Trump Turns to Putin as the Middle East Crisis Escalates
This week on American Power, Nat Towsen, Chad Scott and Matt Randolph break down Trump's Russian diesel deal, why it could undermine sanctions against Moscow, and what his calls to replace Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mean for the war in Ukraine.Then, the conflict in the Middle East takes another dangerous turn. As Houthi attacks threaten Saudi Arabia's airports, oil infrastructure and s
American Power Extra: Could the Americas Become Energy Independent?
In this American Power Extra, Matt Randolph proposes a bold idea: a Pan-American Energy Alliance that would connect the energy resources of North, Central and South America to reduce dependence on foreign oil, protect against global energy shocks and strengthen economies across the Western Hemisphere.From oil and natural gas to nuclear, renewables and critical minerals, Matt explains how regional
The Real Winner of Trump’s Trade War? China.
This week on American Power, Nat Towsen, Chad Scott and Matt Randolph are joined by international trade expert Chad Bown to break down Trump’s tariff strategy, America’s growing economic fight with Canada, and why weakening U.S. alliances could ultimately give China an even bigger advantage.Bown also explains how China gained leverage over critical minerals and global supply chains, why America ne
American Power Extra: Putin’s New Plan to Break Ukraine
Russia’s war in Ukraine may be entering a new phase. After years of grinding offensives and enormous losses, Russia has made little net battlefield progress in 2026. Now, Vladimir Putin appears to be leaning harder into a different strategy: attacking Ukraine’s economy, energy grid, transportation network, logistics, and civilian infrastructure in an effort to make the war too costly to susta
What Did Trump Actually Get From Xi?
This week on American Power, Nat Towsen, Chad Scott and Matt Randolph break down the Trump-Xi summit, the limited agreements that came out of it, and why both countries may be more interested in buying time than resolving their biggest disputes.Then, the conversation turns to the AI race. Is competition with China becoming an excuse for American tech companies to race ahead without meaningful guar
One Week Ago, Mr. Global Died. Here’s What He Wishes He’d Done Differently
One week ago, Matt Randolph, better known as Mr. Global, suffered a massive “widowmaker” heart attack. During emergency treatment, his heart stopped twice, requiring doctors to shock and resuscitate him both times.Now home and recovering, Matt shares what happened, the warning signs he wishes he hadn’t ignored, and why assuming he was simply “out of shape” nearly cost him his life. He also reflect
Ambassador Kurt Volker on What It Will Take to Stop Putin
This week on American Power, Nat Towsen and Chad Scott are joined by former U.S. Ambassador to NATO and former Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker to discuss the future of the war in Ukraine, Russia’s escalating hybrid attacks on NATO countries, and what it would take to deter Putin.Volker also explains why he believes Ukraine should eventually join NATO, how the war in Ira
American Power Extra: Trump, Xi and the Race to Control the Future
In this American Power Extra, Chad Scott breaks down what’s at stake in the Donald Trump and Xi Jinping summit, from tariffs and China’s control of critical minerals to the AI race, Taiwan and Iran. With tensions growing faster than potential agreements, Chad explains what each side wants, where a deal may actually be possible, and why simply preventing another U.S.-China escalation could count as
The Iran War Is Spreading
This week on American Power, Nat Towsen, Chad Scott and Matt Randolph break down the Houthi advance along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, attacks on Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline, and how the growing conflict could further disrupt global shipping and oil supplies while stretching U.S. military resources even thinner.Plus, Trump blames the Russia-Ukraine war for soaring diesel prices, and the EPA ro
American Power Extra: Would You Sell Your Vote for $5,000?
In this American Power Extra, Matt Randolph takes on the idea that a $5,000 check should be enough to buy political loyalty. He explains why desperately needed financial relief is no substitute for real policy, accountability or leadership, and why no amount of money should be enough to make Americans abandon their principles.
We’re always looking for new opportunities to partner with creators, co
Omer Bartov on Gaza, Genocide and American Complicity
This week on American Power, Nat Towsen, Chad Scott and Matt Randolph are joined by Omer Bartov, Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University, to examine Israel’s actions in Gaza and why Bartov believes they meet the definition of genocide. A former IDF officer who initially resisted using the term, Bartov explains what changed his mind, why he believes the destruction goes beyo
American Power Extra: What Even Is Trump's Foreign Policy?
In this American Power Extra, Chad Scott breaks down the contradictions at the heart of Donald Trump’s “America First” foreign policy. From fighting a war with Iran while depleting weapons meant to deter China to demanding allies become more self-reliant while undermining those same alliances, Chad examines how Trump’s unpredictability is reshaping American power and giving adversaries more opport
Did Trump Get Played on Venezuela’s Oil Deal?
This week on American Power, Nat Towsen, Chad Scott and Matt Randolph dig into Trump’s Venezuela oil deal, from questions about the country’s massive reported reserves and whether its heavy crude can actually refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to the enormous investment required to develop new production. They also examine whether the deal is really about countering China and why Venezuela’s h
American Power Extra: Two Americas
In this American Power Extra, Matt Randolph breaks down the growing divide between America’s “ownership economy” and its “paycheck economy.” While stocks soar and billions pour into AI, data centers, and technology, millions of Americans are struggling with rising housing costs, household debt, groceries, energy prices, and increasingly expensive credit.
Matt explains why GDP and Wall Street gai
America Can’t Afford a Trade War With Canada
This week on American Power, Nat Towsen, Nat Towsen, Chad Scott and Matt Randolph unpack how Trump’s escalating trade fight with Canada could have consequences far beyond tariffs. Mr. Global and Chad break down how deeply the U.S. and Canadian economies are connected, why Canada may be positioned to fight back, and what the dispute means for American consumers and U.S. power abroad. Plus, America
American Power Extra: The China-Russia Threat Everyone Gets Wrong
Everyone gets the China-Russia relationship wrong. One camp sees a unified anti-American alliance. The other sees a fragile marriage of convenience destined to collapse. A major two-year study from the Center for European Policy Analysis argues that both views miss what makes the partnership dangerous.
In this episode of American Power, we break down what the relationship between Xi Jinping and Vl
What the USS Lincoln Crisis Reveals About the U.S. Military
Nat Towsen, Chad Scott and Matt Randolph unpack the crisis aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and what it reveals about military leadership, morale and America’s ability to project power around the world. Plus, why dwindling diesel inventories and uncertainty around the Strategic Petroleum Reserve could create the next major economic headache.
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American Power Extra: Why American Healthcare Fails Us
America built its healthcare system around the promise of rugged individualism: work hard, take responsibility, and take care of yourself. But illness does not care how responsible you are.
In this American Power Extra, the hosts examine what happens when a fundamentally collective problem is treated as a personal burden. The United States spends more than twice as much per person on healthcare as
How Energy Became the World's Most Powerful Weapon
This week on American Power, Nat Towsen, Chad Scott, and Matt Randolph explore how oil has become one of the world's most effective geopolitical weapons. They unpack new reporting that suggests hundreds of millions of barrels of oil may have gone unreported in global inventories, and what that could mean for energy markets.
The conversation also examines how countries weaponize energy through sanc
Are We Running Out of Missiles?
This week on American Power, host Nat Towsen is joined by military analyst Chad Scott and energy expert Matt Randolph to examine two stories with major implications for American power. First, they break down the growing concerns over U.S. munitions stockpiles, why Patriot and THAAD missile shortages matter, and how countries like Iran, China, and Russia may be adapting their strategies to exploit
Sen. Martin Heinrich on the AI Race America Might Not Be Ready For
Senator Martin Heinrich joins American Power to explore why energy has become one of America's most important national security challenges. Together with Nat Towsen, Chad Scott, and Matt Randolph, he breaks down the Strait of Hormuz, diplomacy with Iran, the AI race with China, the future of the electric grid, and why America can't compete globally without investing in the infrastructure that powe
American Power Extra: How Trust in Elections Gets Broken
Donald Trump says election security is one of his top priorities, but do his actions match his rhetoric?
In this American Power Extra, Chad Scott examines how U.S. election security evolved after Russian interference in 2016 and traces the bipartisan efforts by the Obama, first Trump, and Biden administrations to strengthen protections against cyberattacks, foreign influence, and threats to electi
Energy Expert Robert Rapier on America’s Biggest Energy Myth
Energy expert Robert Rapier joins American Power to explain why the Iran war continues to affect gas and diesel prices, even though the United States is the world’s largest oil producer. The panel breaks down the Strait of Hormuz, America’s complicated claim to energy independence, Trump’s options for ending the conflict, and the long-term future of oil, renewables, nuclear power, AI data centers,
American Power Extra: Death by a Thousand Cuts
The American Dream didn't vanish overnight. In this American Power Extra, Matt Randolph examines the decades-long economic transformation that reshaped the middle class—from stagnant wages and declining unions to globalization, soaring housing and healthcare costs, and the rise of Wall Street. Using historical data and economic trends, he explores how policy choices changed who benefits from the A
Ambassador Julie Smith on NATO's Trust Crisis
Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julie Smith joins American Power for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of the transatlantic alliance. Together, they unpack the latest NATO summit, the war in Ukraine, Trump's impact on America's relationships with its allies, and why restoring trust may be the alliance's biggest challenge in the years ahead. Plus, a look at hybrid warfare, cyber threats, Gre
American Power Extra: When AI Becomes National Security
What happens if America's biggest AI companies become too important to fail? In this American Power Extra, Chad Scott explores why Washington may be preparing to treat artificial intelligence as critical national infrastructure, what that could mean for companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, and whether government investment in AI blurs the line between free markets and state power. Plus, why the ra
What Happens If NATO Falls Apart?
This week on American Power, host Nat Towsen is joined by military strategist Chad Scott and energy expert Matt Randolph to explain why one of the world's oldest military alliances still shapes everything from global security to the price you pay at the pump.
The team examines the latest fighting in Iran, the growing threat to Middle East energy infrastructure, and what renewed attacks could mean
America's Allies Are Making Backup Plans
This week on American Power, host Nat Towsen is joined by military strategist Chad Scott and energy expert Matt Randolph to explain why gas prices remain stubbornly high even as oil prices fall, what Ukraine's attacks on Russian refineries could mean for global diesel supplies, and why energy markets are behaving unlike anything experts have seen before.
Then the conversation turns to geopolitics.
Ukraine Found Russia’s Weak Spot
This week on American Power, Nat Towsen, Chad Scott, and Matt Randolph break down Putin’s rare admission of fuel shortages, Ukraine’s escalating strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, and why diesel may be one of the most important weapons in the war.
Chad explains how Russia’s battlefield losses, collapsing logistics, and growing domestic pressure could threaten Putin’s grip on power. Matt bre
Mr. Global Goes to Washington
This week on American Power, Nat Towsen, Chad Scott, and Matt Randolph unpack Matt's appearance before a Senate energy committee, where he challenged lawmakers to think about energy affordability, corporate power, and the people struggling to pay their bills. Then the conversation turns to Iran, where a new agreement raises tough questions about leverage, sanctions, and whether the U.S. gave away
The Future of War Is Flying Overhead (with Preston Stewart)
Military analyst Preston Stewart joins American Power fresh off a trip to Ukraine to explain how drones, innovation, and battlefield adaptation are transforming modern warfare. From Russia's energy vulnerabilities to the rise of Ukraine as a drone superpower, this conversation explores what Americans misunderstand about the war, how energy infrastructure has become a battlefield, and why every mil
Can America Afford the Future?
Climate and energy strategist Patrick Robbins joins American Power to break down renewable energy, affordability, data centers, grassroots organizing, and the biggest misconceptions shaping the climate debate. Plus: why local politics may matter more than Washington when it comes to building the energy system of tomorrow.
For more information about climate policies that could transform New York, c
The AI Boom Is Making Your Bills More Expensive
The U.S. and Iran remain locked in a dangerous stalemate while AI data centers place unprecedented demands on America's power grid. Nat Towsen, Chad Scott and Matt Randolph examine why diplomacy keeps failing, how energy markets are responding, and whether the race for technological dominance is creating new vulnerabilities at home.
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The War Nobody Wanted, The Deal Nobody Likes
This week on American Power, host Nat Towsen, military strategist Chad Scott and energy expert Matt Randolph (Mr. Global) break down the emerging Iran deal, why Republican hawks are furious, and whether America has any real leverage left. They also dive into Israel's role in the negotiations, the future of the Strait of Hormuz, and what Democrats still don't understand about Gaza, energy prices, a
China Is Playing Chess. America Is Playing Candyland.
This week on American Power, host Nat Towsen is joined by military strategist Chad Scott and energy expert Matt Randolph (Mr. Global) to break down Trump’s high-profile meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Chad explains how China quietly gained leverage on Taiwan, semiconductors, and strategic messaging while the U.S. walked away celebrating vague trade promises and headline-friendly “wins.”
Rep. Adam Smith on the War Congress Didn’t Approve
On this episode of American Power, host Nat Towsen is joined by military strategist Chad Scott, energy expert Matt Randolph (Mr. Global), and Congressman Adam Smith, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, to break down the escalating conflict with Iran, the limits of presidential war powers, and what comes next.
Smith explains why the U.S. now finds itself “stuck in a bad place” wit
The Ceasefire That Wasn’t
This week on American Power, host Nat Towsen is joined by military strategist Chad Scott and energy expert Matt Randolph (Mr. Global) to break down the growing chaos in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
Chad explains why America may already be operating outside the limits of the War Powers Act, how the blockade itself qualifies as an act of war, and why Iran’s strategy is to defeat the U.S.by exhau
Power at the Edge of Failure
This week on American Power, host Nat Towsen is joined by military strategist Chad Scott and energy expert Matt Randolph (Mr. Global) to examine a crisis hiding in plain sight: rising fuel prices, shrinking reserves, stalled Iran negotiations, and a global economy that may be far more fragile than it looks.
Matt breaks down why U.S. fuel inventories are nearing operational minimums, why gas prices
Oil and Blood: Iran, the U.S. and the Petrodollar
This week on American Power, host Nat Towsen steps back from the daily chaos to trace how the U.S.-Iran relationship; from early oil extraction and Western intervention to coups, sanctions, and the rise of the modern Iranian regime.
Energy expert Matt Randolph (Mr. Global) breaks down how Iran’s oil wealth was exploited for decades and why the country’s current strategy is rooted in economic warf
The Strait Illusion: Why This Strategy Fails
This week on American Power, energy expert Matt Randolph (Mr. Global) reveals a critical timing problem: Iran could keep getting paid for oil shipments for weeks, meaning the economic pressure hasn’t even started yet. Military strategist Chad Scott walks through the logistics of enforcing a blockade across an area the size of a U.S. state with limited ships, unclear authority, and a mission the N
When War Breaks the Rules And the Markets
This week on American Power, we break down a dangerous new phase of the Iran conflict: threats of strikes on civilian infrastructure, rising oil prices, and a global system starting to buckle under pressure.
Military expert Chad Scott explains why targeting power plants crosses into war crime territory not just internationally, but under U.S. law and why history shows this kind of strategy doesn’t
Oil, Iran, and the Cost of Escalation
What happens when a war starts breaking the systems it depends on?
In this debut episode of American Power, hosted by Nat Towsen, we break down the escalating conflict with Iran. As the Strait of Hormuz closes and the threat expands to the Red Sea, oil markets surge, global trade slows, and the cost of escalation becomes harder to contain.
Military strategist Chad Scott explains why the U.S. may b
American Power: Trailer
American Power is a geopolitical podcast about the forces beneath the headlines — where military strategy, energy markets, and political decision-making collide. Hosted by writer and comedian Nat Towsen alongside a military strategist and an oil and energy expert, the show breaks down global events through the systems that shape them.
We’re always looking for new opportunities to partner with crea
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