EP:15 [GUEST] Kelley Vlahos - Weapons, Wealth & Washington

What if the loudest “experts” on foreign policy are funded by the very industries that profit from endless war? We sit down with Kelley Vlahos, Senior Advisor at the Quincy Institute and Editorial Director at Responsible Statecraft, to trace the money, status, and narratives that keep Washington on a permanent war footing—and the practical ways to push back.

Kelley takes us inside the Quincy origin story and its transpartisan mission: build a coalition across left and right that puts restraint and diplomacy first. We explore how think tanks present themselves as neutral while drawing funds from defense contractors, foreign governments, and agencies, then shaping commissions and media talking points that always seem to point toward bigger Pentagon budgets. Kelly walks through the Think Tank Tracker, a public tool that lets you follow funding streams and weigh “expert” analysis with context. We also talk about the power of framing—why phrases like “forever wars” and “the blob” crack open debate in a media environment that once treated militarized policy as common sense.

From there, we dig into the post‑9/11 security state: clearances as status and currency, the revolving door that turns public office into private profit, and over classification that hides errors, inflates threats, and kneecaps accountability. Kelley shares reporting on how secrecy works in practice and why removing a clearance can feel like removing a limb in a town built on access. We connect these dynamics to the export of surveillance and digital ID tech abroad, highlighting how civil liberties get squeezed by permanent “temporary” measures.

This conversation isn’t doom and gloom—it’s a blueprint. Transparency tools, sharper language, and cross‑ideological alliances make it possible to challenge the incentive structure behind endless war. If you care about smarter statecraft, honest media, and a foreign policy that serves security without sacrificing liberty, tune in, share with a friend, and leave us a review. Your voice helps widen the space for peace.

CHAPTERS:
0:00 Meet Kelly and Responsible Statecraft
2:43 The Quincy Institute’s Origins and Mission
7:45 Media Gatekeepers and the “Blob”
12:08 Profit in Failure and the Think Tank Machine
18:20 The Think Tank Tracker and Transparency
24:35 Revolving Door, Lobbying, and Conflicts
31:55 Language, Narratives, and Public Trust
39:05 Security Clearances as Status and Power
46:00 Over classification and Guantánamo Lessons
52:20 Post‑9/11 Expansion of the Security State
58:05 Control, COVID Rules, and Public Spaces

Our theme music, Adventures In Jazz, was used with permission. Composed and performed by Bob Mamet.