Nukes of Hazard

The Elimination of U.S. Chemical Weapons: Lessons Learned and Future Prospects Jul 12, 2024

Chemical weapons have left a lasting impression on global security since their introduction in World War I. Now, with 100% of America's chemical weapons legacy dismantled, it's time to revisit how we got here and what concerns we have for future chemical weapons threats. Host Farah Sonde speaks to John Gilbert, Senior Science Fellow for the Center's Scientists Working Group on Biological and Chemical Security; John Isaacs, Senior Fellow at the Center for Arms Control & Non-Proliferation; Matthew Meselson, Thomas Dudley Cabot Professor of the Natural Sciences at Harvard University and Council for a Livable World board member; and Andy Weber, Senior Fellow at the Council on Strategic Risks’ Janne E. Nolan Center on Strategic Weapons. Music from www.bensound.com Show Notes: 'This Day in History Class' episode: https://omny.fm/shows/this-day-in-history-class/phone-call-in-dugway-sheep-incident-march-17-1968 'This Day in History Class' podcast: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-this-day-in-history-class-29520957/ Matthew Meselson's archives: https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/meselsonarchive Matthew Meselson's testimony to the Committee on Foreign Relations in 1969: https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/sites/projects.iq.harvard.edu/files/meselsonarchive/files/04301969meselson.pdf Jonathan B. Tucker's book 'War on Nerves': https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/180879/war-of-nerves-by-jonathan-b-tucker/

How Open-Source Intelligence Can Unlock Nuclear Secrets Sep 27, 2023

Open-source intelligence (OSINT) and satellite imagery have changed the way civil organizations understand and evaluate nuclear arsenals and delivery systems — and the way governments interact with a changing balance of transparency and secrecy. Join us as we break down new developments in OSINT technology, how OSINT analysis can be used in nuclear weapons verification and the challenges ahead in regulating its use. Host Farah Sonde speaks to Decker Eveleth, Graduate Research Assistant at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies; Marcy R. Fowler, Research and Analysis Manager for Open Nuclear Network; Matt Korda, Senior Research Fellow for the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists; and Dave Schmerler, Senior Research Associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. Music from www.bensound.com Show Notes: The Glory of Youth (Chinese Rocket Force TV Show) trailer: https://youtu.be/yXhIbqaMkCU?si=6m0GlALSyWf_BYpA Open Nuclear Network's Korean Peninsula Analysis Centre: https://analysis.opennuclear.org/

Nuclear Inheritance Part 2: Ukraine and the Bomb Aug 25, 2022

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought us closer to nuclear escalation than ever in a post Cold War world. One major question hangs overhead: what if Ukraine had kept its nuclear arsenal after the USSR’s dissolution? Host Geoff Wilson speaks with Mariana Budjeryn, author of Inheriting the Bomb: The Collapse of the USSR and the Nuclear Disarmament of Ukraine, about how Ukraine made the brave decision to give up the bomb.

Nuclear Inheritance Part 1: Kazakhstan and Nuclear Testing Jul 21, 2022

What happens when a new country is born with nuclear weapons already within its borders? What happens when the legacy of nuclear testing takes place almost entirely within communities of color? And how do the answers to these questions get knit together to form a national identity that refuses nuclear weapons, even in a world that seems to want to seek them out more than ever? Host Geoff Wilson talks with Togzhan Kassenova, Center board member and author of Atomic Steppe: How Kazakhstan Gave Up the Bomb, to break down these questions. Order the book: http://ow.ly/kQrX50K1gW7

The Future of Battlefield Nuclear Weapons May 19, 2022

Battlefield nuclear weapons — also called tactical or nonstrategic nuclear weapons — are a continuing topic of conversation in the halls of Congress and inside the Pentagon following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But what are they, are they necessary and why do we keep talking about them? Host Geoff Wilson talks with Jane Vaynman, Assistant Professor in Political Science at Temple University, to discuss their role in the U.S. nuclear arsenal, deterrence and more.

Rethinking Security in the Post-9/11 World Sep 10, 2021

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, a day that changed the trajectory of world history in ways that we are still coming to terms with. In this special episode of Nukes of Hazard, host Geoff Wilson talks to the Center's Executive Director, former Congressman John Tierney about his experience in Congress post-9/11, his work to redress some of the worst policies that came out of these tragic events, and how we must reframe the way we think about national security going forward.

China's Nuclear Buildup and the Case for Dialogue Aug 18, 2021

There is a rising clamor among top U.S. policymakers pushing for more military spending to confront China. Recent discoveries of new nuclear missile silos being built in China have only added fuel to the fire. But will China’s actions really change the nuclear balance of power? And what does it mean for global arms control and non-proliferation efforts? Host Geoff Wilson sits down with Hans Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists, who helped uncover some of China’s new nuclear developments, to get some answers.

Footballs, Biscuits and America's Nuclear Monarchy Jan 15, 2021

Inauguration Day means it's almost time for the nuclear football to shift from one president to another. But how does that work, exactly? And in a country built on a system of checks and balances, why does the President of the United States have complete and total control over the U.S. nuclear arsenal? How did the system get set up this way, what are the actual mechanics involved in a nuclear launch, and is it about time for America to rethink its system? Host Geoff Wilson sits down with Stephen Schwartz, nonresident Senior Fellow at the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and author of Atomic Audit, to get some answers.

2020 Mailbag Special Episode Dec 21, 2020

You asked, we answered! In our annual year-end mailbag podcast episode, host Geoff Wilson and Senior Policy Director Alexandra Bell take on listener-submitted questions, covering topics such as the future of nuclear policy under a Biden administration, the National Defense Authorization Act, "exotic" nuclear weapons and more.

The President and the Nuclear Button Sep 25, 2020

With the 2020 presidential election looming large, it’s a good time to take a look at the absolute power the President of the United States has over U.S. nuclear weapons. Policy Analyst and Host Geoff Wilson sat down with Dr. Alex Wellerstein, a historian of science at the Stevens Institute of Technology, to discuss the history of presidential launch authority, how our nuclear launch system actually works, and what steps we could take to make it more democratic.

75 Years Later: the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima Aug 05, 2020

August 6 marks the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, followed three days later by the bombing of Nagasaki, on August 9th. In this special episode, Nukes of Hazard host Geoff Wilson narrates a selection from John Hersey’s Hiroshima, written in 1946. We also revisit last year’s episode of Nukes of Hazard, an interview with Kathleen Burkinshaw, who tells the story of her mother, who survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

Survivor of 1988 Chemical Weapons Attack Shares His Story Jul 20, 2020

Mariwan Hama was 8 years old when he was a victim of a chemical weapons attack. It was 1988, during the closing days of the Iran-Iraq War, and the Iraqi military gassed ethnic Kurdish civilians in their own country with a lethal cocktail of mustard gas, sarin and VX nerve agents in what would become known as the Halabja Massacre. In this special episode, Center Senior Science Fellow John Gilbert speaks with Mariwan about his experience and thoughts on chemical weapons use today.

Down the Rabbit Hole: Planning for Nuclear War Mar 02, 2020

Since the beginning of the nuclear age, there have been hundreds of serious and well-drilled plans about how the United States would use nuclear weapons in war, with the express purpose of winning. But when a military plan calls for the use of thousands of nuclear weapons, and assumes that your enemy will respond in kind, how do you define winning? Policy Analyst and Host Geoff Wilson sat down with Dr. Fred Kaplan to discuss his new book, The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War.

2019 Mailbag Special Episode Dec 20, 2019

For our last episode of the year, experts at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation answered listener-submitted questions on topics like how nuclear weapons are made, the situation in the Middle East, the prospects of reaching nuclear zero, and more. Host Geoff Wilson, a policy analyst at the Center, is joined by Alexandra Bell, Senior Policy Director. Music by BenSound.com.

Women in Nuclear Security Sep 03, 2019

Women have been involved with U.S. nuclear weapons policy since before there were even nuclear weapons. Yet, women are still fighting hard for their place and their voice in this community. On this special episode of Nukes of Hazard, guest host Rachel Emond talks to Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, Ambassador Susan Burk, New America’s Heather Hurlburt and Senior Policy Director Alexandra Bell about experiencing sexism and racism in the nuclear security field, their career paths, and potential solutions to making this field more inclusive and diverse.

The Human Cost of the Hiroshima Bombing Aug 06, 2019

Kathleen Burkinshaw's mother was 12 years old when she survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Now 74 years later, the author of "The Last Cherry Blossom" shares her mother's story and explains how remembering the human cost of nuclear weapons can help young Americans understand why this issue is still important today.

Why Don’t Americans Talk About Their Nukes Anymore? Jul 26, 2019

Many Americans believe the “nuclear issue” was solved when the Cold War ended. Yet, there are still 14,000 nuclear weapons around the world today in the arsenals of nine countries. The United States alone currently maintains an arsenal of more than 6,000 weapons—more than enough to end life on this planet several times over. Americans are increasingly waking up to a nuclear nightmare, fueled by bloated defense budgets, unnecessary and wasteful modernizations of the U.S. nuclear arsenal, and the unchecked power of the president to launch a weapon at will. New host Geoff Wilson sat down with Joe Cirincione, the president of Ploughshares Fund, to make the case for why nuclear issues should be a serious agenda item for all Americans. Music: www.bensound.com

Will the Real Godzilla Please Stand Up Jun 07, 2019

Almost everyone has heard of Godzilla, even if they’ve never seen a Godzilla movie. What most people don’t know is the famous monster’s connection to nuclear weapons. Sixty-five years and 35 movies after its 1954 debut, Godzilla is still a mainstay in our summer movie rotation, but its origins have been all but erased. With nuclear tensions on the rise around the world, there’s no better time to get reacquainted with the real Godzilla. New host Geoff Wilson sits down with Godzilla experts -- Center Scoville Fellow Rachel Emond and intern Deverrick Holmes -- to discuss where Hollywood went wrong on Godzilla's nuclear past. Read the accompanying article in Inkstick: inkstickmedia.com/will-the-real-go…please-stand-up/

Bonus Episode: Ankit Panda on India's Anti-Satellite Test Apr 18, 2019

At the end of March, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India had successfully shot down one of its own satellites with an anti-satellite weapon. We spoke with Ankit Panda to break down the test and what it means for broader security issues in South Asia. Music: www.bensound.com

Star Wars: The Phantom Interceptor Apr 03, 2019

At the launch of his Administration's Missile Defense Review, President Trump declared that his goal is to intercept enemy missiles "anywhere, anytime, anyplace." In the nuclear world, that sounded a lot like President Reagan's nearly 40-year-old missile defense plan, "Star Wars." We explain President Trump's likely unrealistic and potentially dangerous vision with our Senior Science Fellow Philip Coyle and the Union of Concerned Scientists' Dr. Laura Grego. Music: www.bensound.com Artist Rendition of "Star Wars": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMfmVzHZvkc&t= Union of Concerned Scientists Report on GMD: https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/attach/2016/07/Shielded-from-Oversight-full-report.pdf

Trumping Reagan's Nuclear Legacy Dec 20, 2018

President Trump has announced that the United States will withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, a landmark agreement negotiated by President Ronald Reagan in 1987. This episode dives into the consequences of the decision and what it could mean for broader nuclear arms control moving forward. We're joined by two premier experts: Lynn Rusten of the Nuclear Threat Initiative and Olya Oliker of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Music: www.bensound.com

50 Years Later Aug 10, 2018

In 1963, President John F. Kennedy feared that 25 countries could possess nuclear weapons by the 1970's. Today, nine countries have them. Many experts attribute this to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), an agreement that turns 50 this year. We explore the Treaty and its future with Ambassador Susan Burk and Ambassador Laura Kennedy. Music: www.bensound.com

The Art of Violating the Deal May 11, 2018

President Trump announced he would withdraw from and openly violate U.S. commitments under the Iran Deal. We speak with nuclear expert Joe Cirincione and Iran expert Barbara Slavin about the impacts of this catastrophic decision. Music: www.bensound.com

Trump's New Nukes Feb 02, 2018

The Trump Administration has just released its Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), a document that calls for new nuclear capabilities and shatters a decades-old bipartisan consensus that reduced the role of nuclear weapons in American national security strategy. We dive into the NPR with nuclear experts Dr. Adam Mount, Anthony Wier, and Alexandra Bell. Music: www.bensound.com

The Nuclear Triad Dec 21, 2017

"The Nuclear Triad" defines the three strategic delivery systems in the U.S. nuclear arsenal: land-based missiles, submarine-based missiles, and weapons delivered via heavy bombers. As the United States is set to spend over $1 trillion sustaining and rebuilding this arsenal, we take a look into the triad's history and future with Dr. Alex Wellerstein, a premier nuclear historian. Music: www.bensound.com

Decertifying Without Cause Oct 16, 2017

Citing no substantive evidence, President Trump announced that he would not certify the Iran nuclear agreement, setting up a 60-day window for Congress to potentially re-impose nuclear-related sanctions against Iran. This episode dives into why Congress should do what it does best -- nothing -- with Tess Bridgeman, a former Deputy Legal Adviser to the National Security Council (NSC). Music: www.bensound.com

Cooperative Threat Reduction or: How I Stopped Worrying and Got Rid of the Bomb Sep 15, 2017

When the Cold War ended, four separate countries suddenly inherited the former Soviet nuclear arsenal. Destroying and removing those weapons was a herculean effort, and it couldn't have been done without the bipartisan leadership of two U.S. Senators. We tell the story with Senators Nunn and Lugar, as well as former Assistant Secretary of Defense Andrew Weber. Music: www.bensound.com

The Once and Future Framework Aug 11, 2017

In 1994, the United States negotiated an agreement with North Korea that curbed its nuclear ambitions for eight years. The collapse of the agreement offers lessons for diplomatic efforts today. Amidst heated rhetoric between President Trump and North Korean leadership, this episode dives into the agreement with North Korea experts Jon Wolfsthal, Joel Wit, and Ambassador Robert Gallucci. Music: www.bensound.com

Trinity: The First Nuclear Test Jul 28, 2017

Contrary to popular belief, the first nuclear explosion in human history took place not in Japan, but in New Mexico. This episode dives into that test and explains why Congress is threatening progress made on nuclear arms control. Music: www.bensound.com

The Iran Deal Two-Year Anniversary Jul 14, 2017

It's been two years since the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action -- commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal -- was signed. We speak to Ambassador Wendy Sherman, the lead U.S. negotiator of the agreement, and Richard Nephew, the lead American sanctions expert during the negotiations. Ambassador Sherman and Mr. Nephew discuss the merits of the agreement and the consequences of a U.S. withdrawal from it. Music: www.bensound.com

The Cloud of Nuclear Winter Jun 30, 2017

In 1961, the Soviet Union tested the largest nuclear weapon in history. At about 3,800 times more powerful than the bombs used against Japan, the effects were unimaginable. This episode dives into this and other harrowing stories of nuclear testing. We also interview Dr. Michael Mills, a scientific expert on the catastrophic consequences of a nuclear war -- known as nuclear winter. Music: www.bensound.com

The Day After A Nuclear War Jun 15, 2017

In 1983, a movie was released about nuclear war that shocked 100 million Americans. This episode dives into the movie and how it impacted President Reagan to change his views on nuclear weapons policy. Washington Post Reporter Dan Zak is also interviewed about his book "Almighty," which profiles nuclear activists and covers the history of U.S. nuclear weapons. Music: www.bensound.com

The Cuban Missile Crisis Jun 02, 2017

It was one of the tensest moments in American history. The discovery of Soviet nuclear missile infrastructure in Cuba set off a chain of events that could have exploded into nuclear war at any moment. This episode dives into the details and also covers the latest national missile defense test with Center expert Philip Coyle. Music: www.bensound.com

Congressman Lieu on Nuclear First Strike May 19, 2017

One single person has the sole authority to launch U.S. nuclear weapons: The President of the United States. We spoke with Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA) about his bill that would limit presidential nuclear authority. Our analysts also discuss the latest North Korean ballistic missile test that could have struck U.S. territory. Music: www.bensound.com

Nukes of Hazard: MacArthur's Almost Nuclear War May 05, 2017

During the Korean War, General Douglas MacArthur requested more than 30 nuclear weapons. This episode dives into the story and takes you inside modern day North Korea with MIT expert Dr. Jim Walsh. Music: http://www.bensound.com

Nukes of Hazard: Goldsboro and the Nuclear News Apr 21, 2017

In 1961, a nuclear bomb almost detonated over North Carolina. This episode explains how a nuclear catastrophe was barely avoided, and brings you up to date on two key nuclear news stories in North Korea and Iran. Music: http://www.bensound.com

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