Annie Jacobsen, an acclaimed investigative journalist and author focusing on national security and nuclear issues, discusses alarming scenarios that could lead to nuclear conflict. She highlights the chilling possibility of a nuclear winter just 72 minutes after a launch. The conversation addresses the concentration of power in nuclear decisions and critiques Hollywood's portrayal of nuclear crises. Jacobsen emphasizes the urgent need for public engagement on nuclear risks and the importance of international communication to avert catastrophe.
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insights INSIGHT
72 Minutes to Nuclear Winter
It can take only 72 minutes from a nuclear launch to nuclear winter and global collapse.
This fast timeline underscores the terrifying immediacy of nuclear war risks today.
insights INSIGHT
Launch Officers Follow Orders
Launch officers almost never defy direct nuclear launch orders.
The idea that mid-level military personnel can stop a nuclear strike is Hollywood fiction.
question_answer ANECDOTE
The Nuclear Football Explained
The nuclear football is a briefcase carried 24/7 by a military aide right next to the president.
It contains the "Black Book," emergency plans detailing nuclear war and targets.
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In 'Nuclear War: A Scenario', Annie Jacobsen presents a meticulously researched and chilling scenario of a nuclear war. The book begins with a surprise nuclear attack by North Korea on the United States, triggering a cascade of events that involve multiple nations and lead to catastrophic consequences. Jacobsen draws on exclusive interviews with military and civilian experts, as well as recently declassified government reports, to outline the minute-by-minute unfolding of a nuclear conflict. The book highlights the dangers of the 'Launch on Warning' policy, the inadequacy of current nuclear defenses, and the devastating impact on global civilization, including the immediate destruction, long-term environmental damage, and the eventual collapse of societal structures. Jacobsen's work serves as a call to action for disarmament and a stark reminder of the existential threat posed by nuclear weapons.
Seventy-two minutes. That’s how long it could take from a country launching a nuclear weapon to global nuclear winter and the end of human civilization.
If that’s not scary enough, the United States is right now involved in two proxy wars involving nuclear powers — one in Ukraine, and the other in the Middle East.
Today on Lever Time, David Sirota asks acclaimed investigative journalist Annie Jacobsen, author of Nuclear War: A Scenario, the big bombshell questions: What scenarios are most likely to trigger a nuclear conflict? What can be done to pull us back from the brink? And just how close are we to the worst-case scenario?
As a special bonus to our paid subscribers, we’re also airing our full, uncut interview with Annie Jacobsen on the Lever Time Premium feed. Click here for access.
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