Neuroscientist Nicholas Wright explains why big powers "lose" wars they dominate on the kill ratio—and why counterinsurgencies (Vietnam, Afghanistan, maybe Iraq) reliably punish the side with less at stake. His new book, Warhead: How the Brain Shapes War and War Shapes the Brain, argues that identity, surprise, and revenge are ancient brain features, while metacognition—the mind watching itself—can be the thin guardrail against strategic self-harm. Along the way: post-1945 German polling as a reminder that political "reconstruction" happens on a years-long timetable, not on an American attention span. Plus, a Trump "warrior dividend" of $1,776 per service member—tariffs funding patriotism, one numerology check at a time. Produced by Corey Wara Email us at <a class="c-link" href= "mailto:thegist@mikepesca.com" target="_blank" rel= "noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link= "mailto:thegist@mikepesca.com" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-haspopup="menu">⁠⁠⁠⁠thegist@mikepesca.com⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠<a class="c-link" href= "mailto:ad-sales@libsyn.com" target="_blank" rel= "noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link= "mailto:ad-sales@libsyn.com" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-haspopup="menu">ad-sales@libsyn.com</a>⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit <a class="c-link" href= "https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist" target="_blank" rel= "noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link= "https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist" data-sk= "tooltip_parent">⁠⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> Subscribe to The Gist: <a class="c-link" href= "https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link= "https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/" data-sk= "tooltip_parent">⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: <a class="c-link" href= "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g" target= "_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link= "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g" data-sk= "tooltip_parent">⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> Subscribe to The Gist Instagram Page: <a class="c-link" href= "https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/?locale=en_US%2Cen_GB%2Cen_US%2Cen_GB%2Cen_US%2Cen_GB%2Cen_US%2Cen_GB&hl=am-et" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link= "https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/?locale=en_US%2Cen_GB%2Cen_US%2Cen_GB%2Cen_US%2Cen_GB%2Cen_US%2Cen_GB&hl=am-et" data-sk="tooltip_parent">⁠⁠⁠⁠GIST INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> Follow The Gist List at: <a class="c-link" href= "https://mikepesca.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link= "https://mikepesca.substack.com/" data-sk= "tooltip_parent">⁠⁠⁠⁠Pesca⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> <a class="c-link" href= "https://mikepesca.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link= "https://mikepesca.substack.com/" data-sk= "tooltip_parent">⁠⁠⁠⁠Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>

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Nicholas Wright: When Ancient Brains Meet Modern War

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