Empire, Deterrence, and Assimilation: Why the Bar Matters at Home and Abroad

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on: https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured From America’s uneasy military footprint in Syria to the broader question of assimilation at home, this episode tackles two issues that are often discussed separately—but shouldn’t be. Why are U.S. troops stationed in places with no clear mission, and what happens when deterrence disappears? Drawing on insights from Victor Davis Hanson, Rand Paul, and history itself, the discussion argues that Americans should never be left as sitting ducks overseas. At the same time, it turns inward to the assimilation debate, questioning an immigration model that prioritizes numbers over shared values, cultural cohesion, and accountability. An empire that won’t defend its people abroad—and won’t insist on assimilation at home—eventually weakens itself on both fronts.