American Power

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Latest Episodes:

American Power Extra: When AI Becomes National Security Jul 17, 2026

What happens if America's biggest AI companies become too important to fail? In this American Power Extra, Chad Scott explores why Washington may be preparing to treat artificial intelligence as critical national infrastructure, what that could mean for companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, and whether government investment in AI blurs the line between free markets and state power. Plus, why the race with China could redefine capitalism, national security, and the future of American technological leadership.

We’re always looking for new opportunities to partner with creators, companies, politicians, and organizations that share our mission. If you’re interested in partnering with us to help reshape the national conversation — get in touch! @wearefindout

What Happens If NATO Falls Apart? Jul 15, 2026

This week on American Power, host Nat Towsen is joined by military strategist Chad Scott and energy expert Matt Randolph to explain why one of the world's oldest military alliances still shapes everything from global security to the price you pay at the pump.

The team examines the latest fighting in Iran, the growing threat to Middle East energy infrastructure, and what renewed attacks could mean for oil markets. They also break down the recent NATO summit, Ukraine's growing military capabilities, and why Russia viewed the alliance's latest commitments as a setback. Plus: a conversation about misinformation during wartime, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and why understanding global alliances is essential to understanding American power.

America's Allies Are Making Backup Plans Jul 08, 2026

This week on American Power, host Nat Towsen is joined by military strategist Chad Scott and energy expert Matt Randolph to explain why gas prices remain stubbornly high even as oil prices fall, what Ukraine's attacks on Russian refineries could mean for global diesel supplies, and why energy markets are behaving unlike anything experts have seen before.

Then the conversation turns to geopolitics. Chad breaks down why NATO allies are accelerating military spending, how Europe's security strategy is evolving, and why America's unpredictability is forcing allies to rethink decades of defense planning. Finally, the team examines growing public tensions between the Trump administration and Israel, the future of negotiations with Iran, and what those fractures could mean for stability in the Middle East.

Ukraine Found Russia’s Weak Spot Jul 01, 2026

This week on American Power, Nat Towsen, Chad Scott, and Matt Randolph break down Putin’s rare admission of fuel shortages, Ukraine’s escalating strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, and why diesel may be one of the most important weapons in the war.

Chad explains how Russia’s battlefield losses, collapsing logistics, and growing domestic pressure could threaten Putin’s grip on power. Matt breaks down why diesel shortages matter far beyond Russia and how disruptions to fuel, fertilizer, and exports could ripple through the global economy. Plus: Trump’s energy policy, America’s renewable energy failures, and why local socialist wins in New York may signal a bigger shift in how voters think about affordability, climate, and power.

Mr. Global Goes to Washington Jun 24, 2026

This week on American Power, Nat Towsen, Chad Scott, and Matt Randolph unpack Matt's appearance before a Senate energy committee, where he challenged lawmakers to think about energy affordability, corporate power, and the people struggling to pay their bills. Then the conversation turns to Iran, where a new agreement raises tough questions about leverage, sanctions, and whether the U.S. gave away more than it gained.

From energy policy and healthcare costs to the future of the Iran deal, this episode explores what happens when political messaging collides with reality.

The Future of War Is Flying Overhead (with Preston Stewart) Jun 17, 2026

Military analyst Preston Stewart joins American Power fresh off a trip to Ukraine to explain how drones, innovation, and battlefield adaptation are transforming modern warfare. From Russia's energy vulnerabilities to the rise of Ukraine as a drone superpower, this conversation explores what Americans misunderstand about the war, how energy infrastructure has become a battlefield, and why every military in the world is studying Ukraine's playbook.
To donate to the Ukraine Organizations mentioned in this episode, check out:

https://car4ukraine.com/
https://dzygaspaw.com/

https://ukraineaidops.org/

Can America Afford the Future? Jun 10, 2026

Climate and energy strategist Patrick Robbins joins American Power to break down renewable energy, affordability, data centers, grassroots organizing, and the biggest misconceptions shaping the climate debate. Plus: why local politics may matter more than Washington when it comes to building the energy system of tomorrow.

For more information about climate policies that could transform New York, check out www.springstreetclimate.org

The AI Boom Is Making Your Bills More Expensive Jun 03, 2026

The U.S. and Iran remain locked in a dangerous stalemate while AI data centers place unprecedented demands on America's power grid. Nat Towsen, Chad Scott and Matt Randolph examine why diplomacy keeps failing, how energy markets are responding, and whether the race for technological dominance is creating new vulnerabilities at home.

The War Nobody Wanted, The Deal Nobody Likes May 27, 2026

This week on American Power, host Nat Towsen, military strategist Chad Scott and energy expert Matt Randolph (Mr. Global) break down the emerging Iran deal, why Republican hawks are furious, and whether America has any real leverage left. They also dive into Israel's role in the negotiations, the future of the Strait of Hormuz, and what Democrats still don't understand about Gaza, energy prices, and the voters they lost.

China Is Playing Chess. America Is Playing Candyland. May 20, 2026

This week on American Power, host Nat Towsen is joined by military strategist Chad Scott and energy expert Matt Randolph (Mr. Global) to break down Trump’s high-profile meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Chad explains how China quietly gained leverage on Taiwan, semiconductors, and strategic messaging while the U.S. walked away celebrating vague trade promises and headline-friendly “wins.” Matt breaks down why China may already be better prepared for a prolonged global energy crisis than almost any country on earth: massive strategic oil reserves, aggressive renewable investment, and a long-term industrial strategy built around resilience.

Rep. Adam Smith on the War Congress Didn’t Approve May 13, 2026

On this episode of American Power, host Nat Towsen is joined by military strategist Chad Scott, energy expert Matt Randolph (Mr. Global), and Congressman Adam Smith, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, to break down the escalating conflict with Iran, the limits of presidential war powers, and what comes next.

Smith explains why the U.S. now finds itself “stuck in a bad place” with few clear options, and the reality behind modern war powers: presidents act first, and Congress struggles to keep up.

Chad Scott brings the military perspective, examining how blockades and ongoing strikes blur the line between deterrence and full-scale war. Matt Randolph breaks down the energy side, explaining why “energy independence” is largely a myth and how global oil markets are already shaping the conflict and its consequences at home.

The Ceasefire That Wasn’t May 06, 2026

This week on American Power, host Nat Towsen is joined by military strategist Chad Scott and energy expert Matt Randolph (Mr. Global) to break down the growing chaos in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

Chad explains why America may already be operating outside the limits of the War Powers Act, how the blockade itself qualifies as an act of war, and why Iran’s strategy is to defeat the U.S.by exhausting it economically and politically.

Matt walks through what could become the next major shock to Americans at home: collapsing gasoline and diesel inventories, record exports, and a supply crunch that could send gas prices soaring even if oil prices stabilize.

Power at the Edge of Failure Apr 29, 2026

This week on American Power, host Nat Towsen is joined by military strategist Chad Scott and energy expert Matt Randolph (Mr. Global) to examine a crisis hiding in plain sight: rising fuel prices, shrinking reserves, stalled Iran negotiations, and a global economy that may be far more fragile than it looks.

Matt breaks down why U.S. fuel inventories are nearing operational minimums, why gas prices may keep rising even if oil doesn’t, and how false reports of peace talks may be distorting markets rather than calming them. Chad explains why tactical military success is not the same as strategic success and why negotiations with Iran may be stuck because both sides wrongly believe they hold the upper hand.

Oil and Blood: Iran, the U.S. and the Petrodollar Apr 22, 2026

This week on American Power, host Nat Towsen steps back from the daily chaos to trace how the U.S.-Iran relationship; from early oil extraction and Western intervention to coups, sanctions, and the rise of the modern Iranian regime.
Energy expert Matt Randolph (Mr. Global) breaks down how Iran’s oil wealth was exploited for decades and why the country’s current strategy is rooted in economic warfare, not military dominance. That includes the often-overlooked role of dollar-denominated debt and the global demand for U.S. currency. Military strategist Chad Scott explains how U.S. decisions, from the 1953 Iranian coup d’état to backing Iraq and beyond, helped shape the adversary it faces today.

The Strait Illusion: Why This Strategy Fails Apr 15, 2026

This week on American Power, energy expert Matt Randolph (Mr. Global) reveals a critical timing problem: Iran could keep getting paid for oil shipments for weeks, meaning the economic pressure hasn’t even started yet. Military strategist Chad Scott walks through the logistics of enforcing a blockade across an area the size of a U.S. state with limited ships, unclear authority, and a mission the Navy wasn’t designed to execute. Along the way, host Nat Towsen pushes on the contradictions: if the blockade risks drawing in nuclear powers, alienating allies, and failing to immediately impact Iran, what is the actual strategy? And if it doesn’t work, are the only real options escalation or a very public retreat?

When War Breaks the Rules And the Markets Apr 08, 2026

This week on American Power, we break down a dangerous new phase of the Iran conflict: threats of strikes on civilian infrastructure, rising oil prices, and a global system starting to buckle under pressure.

Military expert Chad Scott explains why targeting power plants crosses into war crime territory not just internationally, but under U.S. law and why history shows this kind of strategy doesn’t weaken regimes, it hardens them.

Energy expert Matt Randolph (Mr. Global) walks through what’s already happening in the oil markets, where physical crude is trading far above futures, a warning sign that gas prices could soon surge past record highs.

Oil, Iran, and the Cost of Escalation Apr 01, 2026

What happens when a war starts breaking the systems it depends on?

In this debut episode of American Power, hosted by Nat Towsen, we break down the escalating conflict with Iran. As the Strait of Hormuz closes and the threat expands to the Red Sea, oil markets surge, global trade slows, and the cost of escalation becomes harder to contain.

Military strategist Chad Scott explains why the U.S. may be past the point of easy de-escalation, and what “boots on the ground” really means in a country the size of Western Europe. Energy expert Matt Randolph (Mr. Global) walks through how oil, shipping, and fertilizer disruptions are already rippling through the global economy and why even reopening the Strait won’t fix what’s coming next.

American Power: Trailer Mar 31, 2026

American Power is a geopolitical podcast about the forces beneath the headlines — where military strategy, energy markets, and political decision-making collide. Hosted by writer and comedian Nat Towsen alongside a military strategist and an oil and energy expert, the show breaks down global events through the systems that shape them.

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