Rescuing Reason

Microchips are essential components of almost everything we humans make today. Yet, about 90% of the world's microchips come from one country: Taiwan. Given how essential these components are to global manufacturing and trade, the West should be concerned about its reliance on an island that is under threat of invasion from China. This episode explores the history of microchips; how they ended up being almost entirely produced...

Rare earth elements are essential to our world's manufacturing sectors; particularly hi-tech defense equipment, green technologies, and anything that uses a battery or magnet (which is a lot of stuff). Yet, China cornered the market on rare earth element processing, leaving Western democracies vulnerable to trade disruptions. This episode explores the history of rare earth elements and how the West needs to regain market share...

In this episode we examine Australia's military spending - which has not matched NATO increases in % GDP on military spending. With war raging in the Ukraine and the Middle East, and a growing Chinese military threat, many states have substantially increased their military budgets in recent months. Most NATO countries pledged 5% GDP on military spending, and the US is urging its allies in the Indo-Pacific region to do the same...

With war raging in the Ukraine and the Middle East, and a growing Chinese military, many states have substantially increased their military budgets in recent months. Most NATO countries pledged 5% GDP on military spending, and the US is urging its allies in the Indo-Pacific region to do the same. This podcast explores the history of military spending, the reasons for increasing military spending, and in Part 2 (coming out mid-Nov 2...

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is seeking to counter Western global influence through mutual economic, political and security agreements between its member states. Those states include China, Russia, India, Iran, Pakistan and Belarus. Some are going so far as to call the Shanghai Cooperation Organization the Global South's NATO. It behooves westerners to understand what the Global South is, and how this loose alliance a...

Western leaders are calling out Israel for breaches of International Humanitarian Law. Yet, some of their claims demonstrate a misunderstanding of International Humanitarian Law.  This episode dives into the history of the International Humanitarian Law - also known as the Laws of War, and we consider how Western societies interpret these laws in the modern era; particularly in Gaza. Part 2 will be published 1 Oct 2025, and it will...