In a recent episode of “On Contact,” Truthdig columnist Chris Hedges discusses the current state of the American empire with historian Alfred McCoy.

“If it comes to a military crunch,” the historian tells the journalist, “we could lose.”

As Hedges explains, wars in the Middle East as well as global trade agreements have weakened the U.S. middle class, wrecked the economy and left the country’s infrastructure to decay. In addition to these factors and others, Hedges includes climate change and “virulent right-wing populism” in a volatile mix that could “see the American empire collapse almost overnight.”

Watch the full episode in our video player above.

— Posted by Natasha Hakimi Zapata

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