Richard J Murphy

The video examines the long‑term erosion of confidence in the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency, tracing its post‑World War II origins, the political risks introduced by recent U.S. policies, and the structural imbalances that make the system fragile. It argues that a neutral, internationally governed clearing unit—reviving John Maynard Keynes’s “bankor” concept and possibly linked to a basket of currencies or commodities—could replace the dollar, urging a renewed debate on establishing such a new reserve currency.

The video challenges the claim that rising defence budgets must come at the expense of health, social care and public services, arguing that hollowing out society defeats the very purpose of what we are supposed to defend. It contends that unused economic capacity—not a lack of money—is the real constraint and advocates a politics of care that funds both security and welfare through resource re‑allocation, progressive taxation and modern monetary theory instead of austerity.

In this Funding the Future podcast, hosts interview Howard Reid and Elliot Johnson of the Common Sense Policy Group at Northumbria University, who explain how their latest research – “We Cannot Afford Cuts” and the “ACT Now/National Renewal” reports – demonstrates that public investment and current spending generate multiplier effects of up to £3 returned for every £1 spent, overturning austerity arguments. They then outline a tiered universal basic income scheme, from a starter plan of £75 per week for adults to a full minimum‑income standard, showing how restructured taxes, wealth‑ and environmental levies, and the resulting health and fiscal gains can make the policy fiscally viable and boost economic security.

The video argues that the “politics of might,” championed by leaders like Donald Trump, prioritizes domination, coercion, and inequality, undermining democracy, social cohesion, and long‑term economic stability. It advocates a “politics of care” that emphasizes vulnerability, mutual responsibility, and state‑provided security as the sustainable, democratic alternative we must adopt.

The video warns that the rapid rollout of artificial intelligence is generating a perfect storm of economic hazards—over‑inflated AI stock valuations, massive job losses, rising inflation from chip shortages, and strained energy‑water infrastructure—that together threaten a systemic financial collapse. It urges a slower, more deliberate adoption of AI and for policymakers to prioritize people over growth to avert a looming recession, widening inequality, and environmental damage.

The video argues that medicine is not a neutral force of healing but a tool repeatedly weaponized—from the 1850s diagnosis of drapetomania that labeled enslaved people’s quest for freedom as madness, to the medicalization of women’s dissent, homosexuality, trans rights, and neuro‑divergence—to enforce conformity and protect political and economic power. It calls for a new “politics of care” that respects difference, adapts institutions instead of disciplining individuals, and uses medicine to liberate rather than oppress.

sentences.The video contends that high‑paid UK workers are choosing to cut back hours not because of a lack of confidence or tax avoidance, but to prioritize health, relationships, and a smoother transition toward retirement, thereby improving personal well‑being and productivity per hour. It argues that this voluntary reduction creates space for younger talent, boosts overall efficiency, and calls for policies that support flexible, phased‑working arrangements rather than condemning reduced hours.

AI’s rapid expansion is creating a hidden crisis of energy and water consumption—MIT researchers predict that by 2026 AI will use as much electricity as Japan or Russia, and by 2030 data‑centres could account for a tenth of global power demand, while cooling requirements could divert water volumes enough for tens of millions of people—threatening grids, raising prices, and stressing already scarce resources. Because these massive physical costs are not reflected in AI’s price, the growth of the technology is unsustainable without strong public regulation and cost‑allocation, turning a seemingly limitless industry into a profound market failure.

produce.The video examines Donald Trump’s persistent claim to seize Greenland, arguing that the move would violate international law, threaten NATO’s collective‑defence principle, and be driven by speculative mineral interests rather than genuine security concerns. It then explores Europe’s response, Greenland’s desire for Danish governance or protected independence, and the broader stakes of choosing law over might in the future of trans‑Atlantic alliances.

output.The video argues that today's affordability crisis is fueled not by inflation but by systematic extraction of household income through soaring rents, mortgage interest, fees, and regulated monopolies created by decades of neoliberal policy decisions. It urges a return to robust competition policy and stronger government regulation to rebalance power, curb profit extraction, and make genuine affordability a political priority.

The video contends that the United States has turned Venezuela into a puppet state through offshore military pressure and sanctions, creating a modern form of colonial coercion that erodes international law. It warns that, in the wake of Brexit and a diminished British sphere of influence, the UK must choose in 2026 between aligning with this US‑driven tyranny or joining Europe to defend multilateralism, sovereignty and humanitarian care.

The video explains that capital is the accumulated stock of physical, environmental, human, and societal resources—not just financial money—and that neglecting its maintenance leads to infrastructure decay, social collapse, and environmental degradation. By contrasting financial capital’s dominance with the need to preserve the other four forms, the presenter argues that caring for all types of capital is essential for a sustainable economy and democracy.

.This video argues that feeling the world is mad—amid politics, media and capitalism—is a rational response, not a personal flaw, and urges viewers to recognize themselves as sane agents of change who can shape a more humane future. It also invites you to like, subscribe, read the accompanying blog and consider supporting the channel’s activism efforts.

The video contends that by 2026 the world is more fragile than at any point since 1945, as climate change, resource scarcity, forced migration and a destabilising three‑superpower order are amplified by Donald Trump’s reckless leadership and the erosion of democratic norms. It urges a “politics of care” — renewed climate action, democratic accountability and cooperation over militarised economics — and asks viewers to engage, lobby their MPs and support the channel’s work.