# US Debt Hits $40 Trillion | DeProgram with Ted Rall and Jamarl Thomas

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/deprogram-with-ted-rall-and-jamarl-thomas-7404375/us-debt-hits-40-trillion-deprogram-with-ted-rall-and-jamarl-thomas
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/deprogram-with-ted-rall-and-jamarl-thomas-7404375/us-debt-hits-40-trillion-deprogram-with-ted-rall-and-jamarl-thomas.md
Podcast: [DeProgram with Ted Rall and Jamarl Thomas](https://stenobird.com/podcast/deprogram-with-ted-rall-and-jamarl-thomas-7404375)
Published: 2026-08-20T14:18:59+00:00
Episode link: https://rss.com/podcasts/deprogramshow/3083334
Audio file: https://content.rss.com/episodes/337462/3083334/deprogramshow/2026_08_20_14_18_50_d38ce33f-8c64-4645-bfff-84ba1bbf74fe.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/deprogram-with-ted-rall-and-jamarl-thomas-7404375/episodes/us-debt-hits-40-trillion-deprogram-with-ted-rall-and-jamarl-thomas
Duration seconds: 3656

## Resource

Conflict reporter/writer/cartoonist Ted Rall and political analyst Jamarl Thomas deprogram you from mainstream media every weekday at 9 AM ET. Today we discuss: • America’s gross national debt topped $40 trillion , after decades of borrowing to pay for the rising costs of the military, social safety net programs and Trump’s tax cuts. This year, the United States is on track to borrow more than $2 trillion to help pay for its obligations, including spending on the war in Iran and the sweeping tax cuts that Republicans enacted in 2025. Soaring interest payments to investors who have purchased America’s debt now make up about half of that red ink , pushing the United States into a deeper financial hole by $90,000 per second. • Asked at a debate whether Taiwan and the South China Sea are relevant national security priorities, South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham responded: “I’m just going to be honest here … I’m not that informed on national security, so.” She added that “national security is not my thing, not my area of expertise, but I do support the military.” Taiwan wants to boost defense spending to a record $35 billion. Should there be a mechanism to ban idiots from high office? LIVE ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@DeProgramShow LIVE ON RUMBLE: https://rumble.com/c/DeProgramShow https://x.com/tedrall https://x.com/JamarlThomas #tedrall #jamarlthomas #news #politics

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## Transcript

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