Debt Weapon: John Perkins on Global Power Plays: The Art of The Steal | John Perkins

The United States is no longer the world’s dominant economic power—China has overtaken it in trade influence, not through military force, but by selling a more appealing economic model. In this revealing episode, John Perkins, former chief economist and whistleblower behind the 'Confessions of an Economic Hitman' trilogy, exposes how the U.S. has long used debt as a weapon to control nations—offering massive loans tied to infrastructure projects that lock countries into dependency, while silently threatening regime change if they refuse. What’s changed, Perkins argues, is that this system is no longer hidden: Donald Trump has weaponized it domestically, using fear, scarcity, debt, and division to entrench power and loyalty. The result? A nation where people are trapped not just by student loans and mortgages, but by psychological and economic dependency. Yet Perkins offers a radical alternative: the 'life economy'—a regenerative, long-term model based on sustainability, equity, and respect for nature. He challenges listeners to confront their own 'jaguar'—the inner fear or limiting belief—through five transformative questions that unlock personal agency and collective change. This isn’t about politics; it’s about humanity’s survival and evolution.