The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

"No Mercy / No Malice: License to Intervene"

Read by George Hahn (January 24, 2026)

Episode Overview

This Saturday installment features Scott Galloway’s "No Mercy / No Malice" essay, read by George Hahn. The central theme is a provocative critique of American military interventions, drawing a series of parallels between U.S. foreign policy and the James Bond film franchise. Galloway explores how America’s penchant for dramatic "openings" in wars—marked by technological superiority and operational bravado—gives way to lackluster, confused, and costly aftermaths. The essay calls into question America’s ability to plan for, and execute, coherent endgames in global affairs.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Davos, 1999 vs. Now: The Changing World Order

• [01:51]
  • Galloway reminisces about Davos in 1999: a time of peace, optimism, and America as the “good guy.”
  • Today’s landscape is more chaotic, resembling “a cross between Pre–World War II and the Gilded Age.”
  • The U.S. has, in Galloway’s analogy, swapped roles with the villain—akin to Bond and Blofeld changing places.

2. Bond Films as a Metaphor for U.S. Military Interventions

• [03:10]
  • The initial phases are grand and competent, but “the rest of the movie serves up mediocrity and confusion.”
  • Two key military campaigns are likened to specific Bond films:
    • The First Gulf War = Goldfinger: Clear stakes, an iconic villain (Saddam), and a clean, decisive ending.
    • The Iraq War = Spectre: Grand opening (“shock and awe”), followed by mission drift, unforeseen violence, and a lack of planning post-victory.
      • “Critics panned SPECTRE for wasting one of the best openings in Bond history... See the non-existent link between Saddam and 9/11, fictional WMDs, and a neocon pipe dream about spreading democracy throughout the Middle East.” [05:35]

3. Venezuela Raid: Another Spectacular Opening, Messy Aftermath

• [06:40]
  • Details of the operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, executed with technical precision and no American fatalities.
  • Quickly devolves: Lack of strategy for post-raid governance.
  • Comparison to “The World Is Not Enough”: “A forgettable Bond film with a convoluted plot about controlling oil pipelines.” [07:50]
  • Galloway critiques Trump’s rationale, calling regime change for Venezuela’s heavy crude akin to “invading the Alps for snow.”

4. Greenland: From Geopolitical Absurdity to Economic Fallout

• [09:00]
  • Explores Trump’s public musings about “seizing Greenland,” comparing it to the nonsensical Bond plot in “Quantum of Solace.”
  • Points out the futility: Greenland’s resources are largely inaccessible, and “attacking Denmark would blow up NATO, the most successful military alliance in history.”
    • Memorable moment: “We walked into a Starbucks with an AR15 locked and loaded and demanded a grande latte for $6.46. Okay, we can have that without the gun or the threats. So fucking stupid.” [09:57]
  • Europe responds by moving away from U.S. debt; financial instability ensues.

5. NATO, Russia, and China: Shifting Alliances and Risks

• [11:00]
  • Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov calls U.S. actions “stupid,” seeing opportunity in America undermining European unity.
  • China encourages “strategic autonomy” in Canada and Europe, as the rules-based order fades.

6. Iran: The Next (and Maybe Last) Real Inflection Point

• [13:25]
  • Galloway points to Iran as a regime destabilized by sanctions, protests, and regional setbacks.
    • “The Islamic Republic is looking death in the face and the U.S. has a small window to pull the plug.”
  • Criticizes both American indecisiveness and the moral paralysis of the left regarding regime change.
  • Suggests possible U.S. actions: airstrikes, cyberattacks, and supporting opposition.
  • Urges the U.S. to focus not on whether it’s capable, but on what happens after intervention: “The question isn’t whether we’re capable of regime change, but what comes next. The answer is likely something better or less bad.” [15:11]

7. The Core Issue: America’s Inability to Finish What It Starts

• [15:32]
  • Galloway argues that America's power is not so much declining as it is "unserious."
  • “What we lack is patience, humility, and the stamina for the boring part: asking what happens next.” [16:18]
  • Without a solid "second act," every intervention is destined for chaos and a “sequel no one asked for.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Scott Galloway (as read by George Hahn):

  • “It’s as if MGM greenlit a body swap installment of the Bond franchise where 007 and Ernst Stavro Blofeld switch places. Think Diamonds Are Forever meets Freaky Friday.” [02:06]
  • “Regime change for oil, 007. That’s like invading the Alps for snow.” [08:45]
  • “We walked into a Starbucks with an AR15 locked and loaded and demanded a grande latte for $6.46. Okay, we can have that without the gun or the threats. So fucking stupid.” [09:57]
  • “The tragedy of American power isn’t that it’s declining. It’s that it’s increasingly unserious.” [16:15]
  • “Until we relearn how to write second acts, every intervention will look the same: dazzling, destructive, and destined for a sequel no one asked for.” [16:27]

• Memorable Soundbite:

  • “Must act together, because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.” [11:35]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Davos Reflection & Bond Swap Analogy: 01:51 – 03:10
• First Gulf War = Goldfinger: 03:20 – 04:30
• Iraq War = Spectre: 04:35 – 06:20
• Venezuela Raid = World Is Not Enough: 06:40 – 08:15
• Greenland & “Quantum of Solace” Parody: 09:00 – 10:25
• NATO, Russia, China Response: 11:00 – 12:30
• Iran’s Vulnerability & Critique of U.S. Policy: 13:25 – 15:25
• Summary: American Power & Need for “Second Acts”: 15:32 – 16:32

Conclusion

This episode powerfully reframes recent American interventions through the lens of blockbuster cinema, arguing that while the U.S. can still stage impressive "opening acts," it too often neglects long-term strategy, humility, and serious endgames. Galloway’s tone is biting, unsparing, and often laced with pop-cultural humor, urging listeners to demand more thoughtful and enduring approaches to global leadership.

Final note:
“Life is so rich.” [16:32]