Chris, Zack, and Melanie get together to talk about Michael Beckley’s new article, “The Stagnant Order and the End of Rising Powers.” What consequences might the decline and greying of populations have for global security? Has the era of transformative discoveries ended? Has the United States become a “rogue superpower, with little sense of obligation beyond itself”? Have corruption, political dysfunction, and waning innovation made it impossible for states to pursue agendas of economic growth and national security? 

Chris has a strong grievance for Congress which has failed to do its constitutional job and is again putting the country through a government shutdown, Zack praises President Trump for securing a peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand, and Melanie is frustrated by President Trump putting more tariffs on Canada because of an ad featuring President Reagan that he didn’t like.  

Show Links: 

• Francis J. Gavin, The Taming of Scarcity and the Problems of Plenty: Rethinking International Relations and American Grand Strategy in a New Era (International Institute of Strategic Studies, 2024). 

• Brian Mann and Sarah McCammon, “People are having fewer kids. Their choice is transforming the world’s economy,” NPR, October 27, 2025. 

• Julia Gledhill, “What You Need to Know about Pentagon and Military-Related Spending in H.R. 1,” Stimson Center/Costs of War Project, October 23, 2025. 

• Pooja Salhotra, “In Trump-Friendly Iowa, the President’s Policies Have Hit Hard,” New York Times, October 26, 2025. 

• Lalee Ibssa and Ivan Periera, “Trump Raises Tariffs on Canada 10% After Reagan Ad Airs During World Series,” ABC News, October 26, 2025. 

• Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Closes Billion-Dollar Deals with Australia, White House, October 20, 2025. 

• Nicholas Eberstadt, “The Age of Depopulation: Surviving a World Gone Grey,” Foreign Affairs, January/February 2025. 

• Greg Iacurci, “ACA Enhanced Subsidy Lapse Could Hit Early Retirees Hardest Amid Shutdown Fight,” CNBC, October 17, 2025.