American War Machine: The War That Came Home

What happens when the war machine runs out of foreign enemies?

In this special multi-segment deep-dive, we trace how the logic, tools, and propaganda of America’s endless wars have been turned inward — weaponizing our classrooms, protests, borders, and even identities.

From the militarization of public schools and police forces to the abuse of emergency powers and the corporate surveillance economy, The War That Came Home exposes how war never ended — it just got rebranded.

You’ll hear personal reflections from a Marine-turned-educator, historical context, and the stories our leaders don’t want told.

We explore:

• How institutions built for foreign conflict now target American civilians

• How JROTC and military recruitment exploit working-class students

• How war profiteers like Palantir and GEO Group shifted focus to domestic control

• How emergency powers bypass democracy and normalize authoritarianism

• And why the true cost of war is paid not just overseas, but in our homes and schools

This isn’t just a critique — it’s a call to action. Because the battlefield is here. And so is our power to change it.

• Brennan Center for Justice – "National Emergency Powers: What They Are and How They Work"

• The Intercept – “The U.S. Military Is Using Clearview AI”

• ProPublica – “How JROTC Took Root in American High Schools”

• Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) – "Surveillance in Schools and Facial Recognition Risks"

• Department of Veterans Affairs – 2024 Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report

• Naomi Klein – The Shock Doctrine

• Shoshana Zuboff – The Age of Surveillance Capitalism

• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) – Reports on AUMF and Emergency Powers

• Congressional Research Service – “Emergency Powers of the U.S. President”

• Pew Research Center – “Public Perceptions of Patriotism and Protest”

• Howard Zinn – A People’s History of the United States

• Quotes and testimonies from veterans, students, and scholars (see episode for context)

We can’t end the war machine without political pressure.

📱 Download the 5 Calls app — it shows you who your local and federal representatives are and gives you scripts to make quick, effective calls on issues that matter, like:

• Ending emergency powers abuse

• Demilitarizing schools and local police

• Expanding VA mental health services

• Protecting civil liberties and protest rights

Call. Share. Organize.
Because if we don’t speak, the machine keeps running.

📌 Sources & Research References:📲 Take Action: Call Your Reps Now