Doug Casey’s Take – “New Alliances Leading Us to Disaster”

Date: September 19, 2025
Host: Matthew Smith
Guest: Doug Casey

Episode Overview

In this episode, Doug Casey and Matthew Smith dig into the seismic shifts in international alliances—particularly the new defense pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan—warning that such "entangling alliances" have historically led nations into global disasters. The conversation expands to American foreign policy, domestic overreach, potential civil conflict, the erosion of constitutional rights, and the persistent mistrust of official narratives around high-profile events. The tone is skeptical, libertarian, and characteristically irreverent, with Doug repeatedly drawing historical parallels and expressing cynicism toward both government and corporate power.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. New Saudi Arabia–Pakistan Defense Pact (00:16–03:54)

• Doug highlights a recent defense alliance between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, which he considers ominous.
• He describes Saudi Arabia as a "cash flow machine" and Pakistan as "utterly corrupt, overpopulated, poor, and a country with nuclear weapons."
• Doug compares the situation to the tangled alliances that helped trigger World War I:

  “These alliances can only result in the kind of situation that you had in World War I... It's the same type of thing that's going on in the Middle East right now.” (03:28)

• The U.S. base in Qatar is discussed as part of a misguided policy:

  “There's absolutely no reason for having a US base there or in Bahrain.” (01:58)

2. Washington's Warning on Foreign Entanglements (04:04–07:01)

• Doug invokes George Washington's farewell address, asserting that America has disregarded his advice:

  “He emphasizes that the US should be friendly to everybody but not too friendly and definitely not allied to anybody. So word to the wise which has been completely forgotten.” (05:32)

• Argues the US should "have a balanced budget" and avoid foreign intervention.

3. Erosion of Foundational American Principles (07:11–08:22)

• Doug and Matthew lament the abandonment of the Declaration of Independence and how the Constitution’s core is ignored:

  “Only part of the Constitution that's observed today are technical details... The rest of it is a total dead letter.” (07:45)

4. Threats to Civil Liberties over Domestic Policy (08:22–13:21)

• Discussion shifts to recent state responses after the Charlie Kirk incident, including moves to designate domestic groups like Antifa as terrorist organizations.
• Doug warns that Republicans “augment the power of the state” and this will backfire:

  “Nobody seems to recognize that it's not the Democrats per se that are our enemy. It's the institution of the state that's our enemy.” (09:23)

• ICE’s heavy-handed approach to Korean workers in Georgia is described as "police state" behavior (10:22–12:04).

5. Domestic Conflict and Growing Division (13:40–17:52)

• Doug anticipates that a market meltdown will be the real catalyst for unrest:

  “I personally think [the markets melting down] will be the real catalyst for all this type of thing.” (13:35)

• Discusses polarization in America, referencing Marjorie Taylor Greene’s comment suggesting “red people and blue people don't belong in the same union”:

  “These two groups that really hate each other… want to control the apparatus of the state… This can’t last.” (14:54)

• Advocates drastic reduction of government:

  “You've got to cut back the US government about 95% to solve the problem. That's the only solution short of separation.” (16:43)

6. Media, Censorship, and State–Corporate Nexus (18:17–22:10)

• The firing of Jimmy Kimmel is discussed; Doug blames state intrusion and the FCC for media manipulation:

  “This is just a good reason to abolish the FCC. It’s none of their business... All involvement of the state, everything.” (19:24)

• Criticizes media corporations for being "whores" run by managers with no stake in the company, and points out that licensing barriers protect them (20:52–22:10).

7. Aftermath of Charlie Kirk Shooting & Turning Point’s Future (22:10–24:19)

• Doug doubts Turning Point USA will remain relevant under new leadership:

  “Will the young men go for Charlie's wife to lead them the way? Probably not… If she tries to turn Turning Point into something to influence young female college students, that's a tough one.” (23:09–23:45)

• Questions remain about the group's funding and the media narrative.

8. Distrust in Official Narratives and Unanswered Questions (24:19–29:25)

• Long-standing skepticism about 9/11, government secrecy, and recent high-profile assassinations.
• Doug repeatedly notes,

  “All we really know is what we're told on the media, which is… a lot of holes.” (24:19)

• The tendency of authorities to suppress or obscure critical evidence is highlighted (e.g., Missing Pentagon video, the “lost” bullet from Charlie Kirk’s shooting).

9. Broader Reflections & The Future (29:25–End)

• The hosts end on a note of resignation and humor, joking about endless cover-ups and new distractions like a potential Chinese moon landing.
• Doug sums up the general mood:

  “We're expected to eat this giant sandwich they give us and be happy.” (28:56)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It's all lies. You can't believe any of this stuff anyways. None of our business. And there shouldn't be a giant US base there.”
  — Doug, on Middle East alliances and U.S. involvement (01:40)

• “These alliances can only result in the kind of situation that you have had in World War I...”
  — Doug, drawing parallels to historical disasters (03:28)

• “He [Washington] emphasizes that the US should be friendly to everybody but not too friendly and definitely not allied to anybody. So word to the wise which has been completely forgotten.”
  — Doug, on ignoring founding advice (05:32)

• “Nobody seems to recognize that it's not the Democrats per se that are our enemy. It's the institution of the state that's our enemy.”
  — Doug, criticizing state overreach (09:23)

• “These corporations never do the right thing. They're basically just whores run by managements that don't have any skin in the game...”
  — Doug, on corporate/state collusion (20:52)

• “You've got to cut back the US government about 95% to solve the problem. That's the only solution short of separation.”
  — Doug, advocating radical reform (16:43)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:16] – Saudi Arabia–Pakistan alliance and implications
• [03:28] – Entangling alliances and history lesson
• [05:32] – Founding father George Washington’s farewell address advice
• [09:23] – On the real threat being the institution of the state
• [13:35] – Market crash as catalyst for societal turmoil
• [14:54] – Doubling down on red versus blue America and civil split
• [16:43] – Calling for a 95% decrease in government activity and spending
• [19:24] – The FCC’s role in suppressing opposition, Kimmel’s firing
• [23:09] – Turning Point’s questionable future under new female leadership
• [24:19] – Persistent “holes in the story” in major national events
• [28:56] – Public forced to accept official narratives without answers

Summary Takeaway

Casey and Smith argue that new global and domestic alliances threaten disaster, both by repeating historic mistakes and by fueling internal division. The expansion of state and corporate power is seen as the root rot in democracy, with chilling implications for liberty and trust in institutions. Their advice: learn from history, reclaim foundational principles, and treat all official narratives with sharp skepticism.