RedCircle VERIFY_TOKEN_1e72cf3b-072f-4ff2-b1ca-335c3af46f72 -- Rendered At Thu, 28 May 2026 16:07:49 +0000 What We Leave https://redcircle.com/shows/what-we-leave en-US All rights reserved. Robert Jacobson The United States spends more on defense than the next ten countries combined. What if even a fraction of that went toward clean energy, infrastructure, or debt reduction instead? "What We Leave" is a micro podcast exploring the peace economy. The idea is that we can convert defense-dependent industries and communities toward civilian, sustainable purposes. Drawing on the work of economist Seymour Melman and contemporary movements like the Peace Economy Project, each 3-5 minute episode examines one piece of this puzzle: the policy levers, the economic logic, and the human stakes. This isn't about being anti-military. It's about asking a harder question: what kind of economy do we want to leave behind? 1e72cf3b-072f-4ff2-b1ca-335c3af46f72 The United States spends more on defense than the next ten countries combined. What if even a fraction of that went toward clean energy, infrastructure, or debt reduction instead?

"What We Leave" is a micro podcast exploring the peace economy. The idea is that we can convert defense-dependent industries and communities toward civilian, sustainable purposes.

Drawing on the work of economist Seymour Melman and contemporary movements like the Peace Economy Project, each 3-5 minute episode examines one piece of this puzzle: the policy levers, the economic logic, and the human stakes.

This isn't about being anti-military.

It's about asking a harder question: what kind of economy do we want to leave behind?

]]> episodic no Robert Jacobson hello@robertjacobson.com no full Why Your Neighbor Seems Crazy Why Your Neighbor Seems Crazy Robert Jacobson What if the people on the other side of the political divide aren't as extreme as we think they are?

Research from More in Common found that Americans imagine almost twice as many of their political opponents hold extreme views than actually do. The people with the most distorted perceptions aren't the ones tuned out. They're the ones most tuned in. Robert explores how engagement-based algorithms amplify division, why we're disagreeing with fictional versions of each other, and what this means for anyone trying to find common ground. You can't have a peace economy if you can't even talk to each other.



Topics: perception gap, polarization, social media algorithms, Center for Humane Technology, attention economy, common ground, media literacy




]]> <p><span>What if the people on the other side of the political divide aren&#39;t as extreme as we think they are?</span></p><p><span>Research from More in Common found that Americans imagine almost twice as many of their political opponents hold extreme views than actually do. The people with the most distorted perceptions aren&#39;t the ones tuned out. They&#39;re the ones most tuned in. Robert explores how engagement-based algorithms amplify division, why we&#39;re disagreeing with fictional versions of each other, and what this means for anyone trying to find common ground. You can&#39;t have a peace economy if you can&#39;t even talk to each other.</span></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Topics:</strong><span> perception gap, polarization, social media algorithms, Center for Humane Technology, attention economy, common ground, media literacy</span></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p> f946bb72-8bfc-4d0e-9b71-96e9fac906eb https://redcircle.com/shows/1e72cf3b-072f-4ff2-b1ca-335c3af46f72/episodes/80848297-cef6-4171-8291-8eedabbe63fd Fri, 08 May 2026 03:36:59 +0000 274 no full Episode 5: Who's Actually Talking? Episode 5: Who's Actually Talking? Robert Jacobson When we make decisions as a country, whose voice actually carries weight?

The 2024 election cycle cost about $20 billion and most of that didn't come from ordinary people.

About 80% of Americans, across party lines, say money in politics threatens our elections. The Supreme Court decisions tied lawmakers' hands.

Robert explores the For Our Freedom Amendment, a constitutional amendment effort that's gained support from 24 states; red and blue alike to restore the ability of Congress and states to set reasonable limits on political spending.


Topics: money in politics, Citizens United, For Our Freedom Amendment, American Promise, campaign finance, constitutional amendment, democracy

]]> <p>When we make decisions as a country, whose voice actually carries weight?</p><p>The 2024 election cycle cost about $20 billion and most of that didn&#39;t come from ordinary people. </p><p>About 80% of Americans, across party lines, say money in politics threatens our elections. The Supreme Court decisions tied lawmakers&#39; hands. </p><p>Robert explores the For Our Freedom Amendment, a constitutional amendment effort that&#39;s gained support from 24 states; red and blue alike to restore the ability of Congress and states to set reasonable limits on political spending.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Topics:</strong> money in politics, Citizens United, For Our Freedom Amendment, American Promise, campaign finance, constitutional amendment, democracy</p> 8ca4ba51-d3ef-41bf-a0d0-11647a994de0 https://redcircle.com/shows/1e72cf3b-072f-4ff2-b1ca-335c3af46f72/episodes/857c6b49-ccf5-4c7e-bad0-ca2c828a7d0a Sat, 28 Mar 2026 00:07:10 +0000 283 no full Episode 4: Strange Bedfellows Episode 4: Strange Bedfellows Robert Jacobson Something's happening in Congress that doesn't fit the usual headlines. People who disagree about almost everything are starting to agree on one thing.

Robert looks at the unlikely coalitions forming around War Powers and military spending. Tim Kaine and Rand Paul in the Senate, Thomas Massie and progressive Democrats in the House.

They're arriving at similar questions from very different starting points. These coalitions aren't winning yet, but the conversation is changing. Change usually starts with unlikely alliances.


Topics: War Powers, bipartisan coalition, Tim Kaine, Rand Paul, Thomas Massie, congressional oversight, military authorization

]]> <p>Something&#39;s happening in Congress that doesn&#39;t fit the usual headlines. People who disagree about almost everything are starting to agree on one thing.</p><p>Robert looks at the unlikely coalitions forming around War Powers and military spending. Tim Kaine and Rand Paul in the Senate, Thomas Massie and progressive Democrats in the House. </p><p>They&#39;re arriving at similar questions from very different starting points. These coalitions aren&#39;t winning yet, but the conversation is changing. Change usually starts with unlikely alliances.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Topics:</strong> War Powers, bipartisan coalition, Tim Kaine, Rand Paul, Thomas Massie, congressional oversight, military authorization</p> 1fc154ec-e8ce-4880-a96b-2a102bc1707b https://redcircle.com/shows/1e72cf3b-072f-4ff2-b1ca-335c3af46f72/episodes/8fdf955e-1f3e-48eb-a23d-5e21c7d2ed4c Sat, 28 Mar 2026 00:05:49 +0000 209 no full Episode 3: What Happens to the Workers? Episode 3: What Happens to the Workers? Robert Jacobson Whenever someone brings up rethinking military spending, there's a fair question that comes up: what about the jobs?

Robert takes this question seriously. He explores the work of economist Seymour Melman, who spent decades developing plans for "economic conversion" helping defense workers transition to civilian industries.


Congress never fully embraced the idea, and when Cold War spending dropped, unprepared communities paid the price. We did this before. After World War II, the U.S. converted an entire war economy in just a few years. The question is whether we're willing to plan ahead.

Topics: economic conversion, defense jobs, Seymour Melman, workforce transition, manufacturing, Cold War

]]> <p>Whenever someone brings up rethinking military spending, there&#39;s a fair question that comes up: what about the jobs?</p><p>Robert takes this question seriously. He explores the work of economist Seymour Melman, who spent decades developing plans for &#34;economic conversion&#34; helping defense workers transition to civilian industries. </p><p><br></p><p>Congress never fully embraced the idea, and when Cold War spending dropped, unprepared communities paid the price. We did this before. After World War II, the U.S. converted an entire war economy in just a few years. The question is whether we&#39;re willing to plan ahead.</p><p><strong>Topics:</strong> economic conversion, defense jobs, Seymour Melman, workforce transition, manufacturing, Cold War</p> 7bca2c71-6121-4238-b70d-34cb54aea928 https://redcircle.com/shows/1e72cf3b-072f-4ff2-b1ca-335c3af46f72/episodes/471c4fce-d286-483e-a0c4-9b1d6a7b6cf5 Sat, 28 Mar 2026 00:03:31 +0000 241 no full Episode 2: What Fifty Billion Dollars Looks Like Episode 2: What Fifty Billion Dollars Looks Like Robert Jacobson Fifty billion dollars. It's the kind of number that shows up in headlines, gets debated for a few days, then disappears. What does it actually mean?

Robert breaks down the tradeoffs we rarely talk about. Fifty billion could fund school lunches for 30 million kids for nearly three years. It could pay for Head Start for four years straight. 

It covers about a week of intensive military operations. 

The question isn't which choice is "right" but it's whether we're even framing these as tradeoffs at all.

Topics: federal spending, guns vs butter, school lunch program, Head Start, budget tradeoffs, opportunity cost

]]> <p>Fifty billion dollars. It&#39;s the kind of number that shows up in headlines, gets debated for a few days, then disappears. What does it actually mean?</p><p>Robert breaks down the tradeoffs we rarely talk about. Fifty billion could fund school lunches for 30 million kids for nearly three years. It could pay for Head Start for four years straight. </p><p>It covers about a week of intensive military operations. </p><p>The question isn&#39;t which choice is &#34;right&#34; but it&#39;s whether we&#39;re even framing these as tradeoffs at all.</p><p><strong>Topics:</strong> federal spending, guns vs butter, school lunch program, Head Start, budget tradeoffs, opportunity cost</p> 6579f555-cfa2-4a41-9ab5-1b8458a0dba0 https://redcircle.com/shows/1e72cf3b-072f-4ff2-b1ca-335c3af46f72/episodes/930f7c73-5d9b-4a33-b7f2-73b2a71ff814 Fri, 27 Mar 2026 23:57:23 +0000 203 no full Episode 1: What If We Did the Math Differently? Episode 1: What If We Did the Math Differently? Robert Jacobson What if the way we spend money as a country just doesn't add up? Not as a partisan argument , but as neighbors trying to figure out what's best for our kids and grandkids.

In this first episode, Robert Jacobson looks at research showing countries that shift resources away from military spending see higher economic growth over time. He explores why this isn't a left-right debate anymore, and how fiscal conservatives and progressives are starting to ask similar questions from different directions.


Topics: peace dividend, military spending, economic growth, opportunity cost, federal budget priorities

]]> <p>What if the way we spend money as a country just doesn&#39;t add up? Not as a partisan argument , but as neighbors trying to figure out what&#39;s best for our kids and grandkids.</p><p>In this first episode, Robert Jacobson looks at research showing countries that shift resources away from military spending see higher economic growth over time. He explores why this isn&#39;t a left-right debate anymore, and how fiscal conservatives and progressives are starting to ask similar questions from different directions.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Topics:</strong> peace dividend, military spending, economic growth, opportunity cost, federal budget priorities</p> 71ecc0cf-769c-4ea8-9999-7c7344ae0a08 https://redcircle.com/shows/1e72cf3b-072f-4ff2-b1ca-335c3af46f72/episodes/acf22d9a-d855-4bf0-9245-488cd6b10bf1 Fri, 27 Mar 2026 23:48:51 +0000 210 no