Steve Clemons

.@nicolange_ writes about the new economics of war. Read more: nationalinterest.org/feature/the-ne…

@RoKhanna How cool. This is a wonderful commemoration. Habermas was one of the truly tremendous intellectuals of the last century

Jurgen Habermas, one of the world's greatest philosophers, passed away today. These words are my north star. "If any trace of utopianism remains in me, it lies solely in the belief that democracy—and public debate in its optimal forms—has the capacity to cut the Gordian knot of problems that would otherwise be practically insoluble.” The greatest honor of my life was having him read and blurb my book, Dignity in a Digital Age.

Congratulations to @JenGriffinFNC, who received the RTDNA First Amendment Award recognizing her commitment to responsible journalism and protecting the freedoms that make it possible.

Greetings friends -- Do you know who financed the Louisiana Purchase, or who helped privately bankroll the weaponry, the ships, and needs of George Washington's soldiers during the most desperate days of the Revolutionary War? Do you know who John Adams would rail on about as the controlling manipulator of Washington and the ascending Alexander Hamilton? The person is Thomas Willing -- and he has essentially been overlooked by historians. He was the first President of the Bank of North America and the Bank of the United States, and had he not played his part, the United States would have been a shambles and we would probably have ended up British or French in the long run. My friend and colleague, Richard Vague - former Secretary of Banking & Securities for Pennsylvania, has written a riveting history of this important financial force in America's founding era, The Banker Who Made America: Thomas Willing and the Rise of the American Financial Aristocracy, to help celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary. Because you are a friend of mine, or of Widehall, or a friend of a friend, we’ve arranged a 30% discount if you purchase it through the publisher, Politybooks.com and use the code BMA26 (enter on the “your cart” page in the checkout process). For lovers of the history of the Declaration of Independence, the American Revolution, and the early years of the new country, we view this book as required reading. Here’s what some have said: “You will love it.” R. Scott Stephenson, Ph.D. President & Chief Executive Officer, @AmRevMuseum “Thomas Willing’s many interwoven careers—merchant trader, politician, peerless banker—contributed enormously to America’s early history.” @PatToomey Former United States Senator “A fascinating portrait of a cautious and reluctant revolutionary.” Liaquat Ahamed Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Lords of Finance “I urge you to read this insightful narrative about how our country’s Revolution was financed and our early Republic sustained.” @ChrisCoons United States Senator “A forgotten but essential figure in the founding of our nation.” Patrick Spero, PhD. Chief Executive Officer of the @AmPhilSociety and award-winning historian See below for more details. Thanks, and we hope you enjoy! Warmest regards, Steve Clemons mailchi.mp/60517ca3b2d5/a…

Promoting HIV protection deserves the sizzle. @heymistr_ #Housewives washingtonblade.com/2026/03/11/hou…

And one other notch on @nvidia ceo Jensen Huang's #5LayerCake is that the US must lead in each of these layers -- energy, chips, infrastructure, models AND applications. They all link up -- and packaging all of them together should be a national obsession. And connecting an evolved, trained and retrained workforce to these layers is what will make this work.

Watch out #Australia.

This seems relevant to @brithume's post on interceptors. Read @nicolange_ on The New Economy of War in @TheNatlInterest x.com/SCClemons/stat…

@ZacharyKeck agree - it would be useful to have context, and the implication of your note is that there probably isn't a one size fits all frame for the balance between exotic, complex system and simpler/mass ones.

To understand the new, I always first look to history. It would be good to see a study comparing similar eras in the past where highly trained troops or elite equipment dominated warfare for an extended period until it lost out to mass (human or equipment)

@Pachacutec_ I very much hope that you are right - but there is a debate out there about exactly this. @ylecun whom I admire is probably on your side, but lots of others are on the other. hope you are well @Pachacutec_

You all have no idea of what consciousness is because you don’t even understand yourselves. The complex computational devices have nothing in their nature like you that knows itself and experiences qualia now.

In addition to @TheNatlInterest piece by @nicolange_ "The New Economics of War" which is really an indictment of our defense acquisition reality today, nationalinterest.org/feature/the-ne… here is another piece written by invitation from @TheEconomist by @nicolange_ & @FabricePothier that is sobering and really makes the challenges on the defense materials and planning side very stark. economist.com/by-invitation/…

very much must read from @EvanFeigenbaum

Ian - the issue is exactly as you put it. It's not that Claude has to become the most conscious in comparison to all human beings, just a majority of them - which is sadly too low a bar.

I dont know Palmer Luckey. I do know others at Anduril and heard them and their course at the @AspenSecurity forum last year. And I've talked with Dems and Republicans about the challenge of maintaining interceptor supply stock and other defense items because of an allergy to quicker, faster production. There may be others out there that are also in this track. I am really interested in the US defense production base and what the equilibrium should be between the more exotic, complex, multi billion dollar weapons system complex and other models of faster, quicker, less exotic defense widget production. Anyway, that's my take on it anyway. Appreciate you weighing in - but wanted to make clear why I wrote why I did. all best

@SCClemons NP. I think Palmer Luckey is the closest thing America has to a living example of Dr. Evil. He's got mad scientist genes and delights in killing almost as much as Hegseth.

Under-the-radar Anduril ad from Clemons. They make their stuff overseas. Does he own their stock??? Peace.

And also.....just fyi, and respectfully as not trying to pick a fight with you -- but I think Anduril makes sense for these times. But this is what a quick search helped find, "Anduril Industries is building its primary, 5-million-square-foot "Arsenal-1" hyperscale manufacturing facility in Pickaway County near Columbus, Ohio. This site is designed to produce autonomous drones and weapons systems, with production expected to begin around 2026, marking a major expansion of their production capabilities in the Midwest."

Read this very compelling piece by @nicolange_ in @TheNatlInterest with screaming logic about the kinds of weapons, interceptors and platforms the US and allies need in times like these. He writes: This war already marks a turning point. The old American and Western idea of a technologically superior, fast, and clean military strike is crumbling. Opponents such as Iran and Russia are forcing defenders to respond to waves of low-cost attacks with expensive countermeasures repeatedly. There may be other defense firms out there -- but @anduriltech has been pushing cheaper, faster, mass production in defense procurement - and I think for Europe and the US, its better to shift from exotic to simpler and faster. nationalinterest.org/feature/the-ne…

This is good news from @StateDept on assisting Americans with exit from #MiddleEast. 28,000 people so far reportedly. Good to be safe, BUT what happens with #FII, the F1 races, the big economic conferences, and all the business that was building between the region and the US? A systemic exit by Americans from the Middle East is not good for business and undermines a lot of what we have been trying to build. state.gov/releases/offic…

This is a really important piece by @ksadjadpour. The challenge of unitary coordination in a place like Iran is a challenge and needs to be understood when dealing with them.