How Lockheed Martin Made War Into a $500 Billion Business episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 2, 2026 · 16 MIN

How Lockheed Martin Made War Into a $500 Billion Business

from Elsewhere · host Tyler Cooper

What if the biggest arms dealer in the world wasn't a country, but a business model? Tyler Cooper breaks down how capitalism didn't just change war - it industrialized death itself, turning conflict from local disputes into global killing machines powered by profit margins. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why military spending exploded 300% between 1871-1914 as nations became customers in a deadly marketplace • How Germany's Krupp company sold weapons to 46 countries simultaneously, arming both sides of every conflict • The shocking moment World War I required 1.5 million factory workers just to keep the bullets coming • Why a single machine gun could suddenly fire 600 rounds per minute when soldiers could barely manage 15 👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners who want to understand how economic forces shape the conflicts we see on today's news. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Tyler introduces war's transformation into big business [01:45] The Krupp empire: selling death to everyone [03:30] Military spending goes crazy in the 1800s [05:15] World War I becomes the first industrial war [07:00] Machine guns change everything overnight [09:30] How profit motives replaced patriotic ones [11:00] What this means for modern conflicts 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow Elsewhere on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next favorite insight is one tap away. 🔍 Topics: military industrial complex, capitalism and war, World War I, arms dealers, Krupp company ----- Keywords: current affairs, global economy, foreign policy, world events podcast, international podcast, explainer podcast, politics explained, international relations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the biggest arms dealer in the world wasn't a country, but a business model? Tyler Cooper breaks down how capitalism didn't just change war - it industrialized death itself, turning conflict from local disputes into global killing machines powered by profit margins. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • Why military spending exploded 300% between 1871-1914 as nations became customers in a deadly marketplace • How Germany's Krupp company sold weapons to 46 countries simultaneously, arming both sides of every conflict • The shocking moment World War I required 1.5 million factory workers just to keep the bullets coming • Why a single machine gun could suddenly fire 600 rounds per minute when soldiers could barely manage 15 👤 Perfect for: lifelong learners who want to understand how economic forces shape the conflicts we see on today's news. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Tyler introduces war's transformation into big business [01:45] The Krupp empire: selling death to everyone [03:30] Military spending goes crazy in the 1800s [05:15] World War I becomes the first industrial war [07:00] Machine guns change everything overnight [09:30] How profit motives replaced patriotic ones [11:00] What this means for modern conflicts 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow Elsewhere on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, your next favorite insight is one tap away. 🔍 Topics: military industrial complex, capitalism and war, World War I, arms dealers, Krupp company ----- Keywords: current affairs, global economy, foreign policy, world events podcast, international podcast, explainer podcast, politics explained, international relations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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How Lockheed Martin Made War Into a $500 Billion Business

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This episode was published on July 2, 2026.

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What if the biggest arms dealer in the world wasn't a country, but a business model? Tyler Cooper breaks down how capitalism didn't just change war - it industrialized death itself, turning conflict from local disputes into global killing machines...

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