America’s Enemies Benefit from Domestic Political Dysfunction

As the world watches the unfolding geopolitical chess match, it’s increasingly clear that the Axis of Aggression — the unofficial alliance of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea against the U.S. — harbors more than just ambitions of regional dominance. Its strategies extend beyond military posturing and economic influence; they also involve a keen interest in America’s internal dysfunctions. Specifically, our autocratic rivals benefit from, and increasingly stoke, three dysfunctions that have overtaken American politics: budgetary instability, industrial stagnation, and fractured alliances.

One of the cornerstones of America’s global influence is its economic might. For as long as “guns vs. butter” has been a philosophical debate, America has dominated due to its ability to fund both. But today, we are for the first time ever spending more on debt-interest payments than on national defense, causing many to question whether “guns” need to be cut to create space for “butter.”