Annie Jacobsen

Well, you've raised a really important question that we look to the historical record for that answer, right? Because astonishingly, all of this began – like when Russia first got the bomb in 1949 – The powers that be, and I write about them in the book in a setup to the first, you know, for the moment of launch, right? Like, it's called how we got here, right?

Well, you've raised a really important question that we look to the historical record for that answer, right? Because astonishingly, all of this began – like when Russia first got the bomb in 1949 – The powers that be, and I write about them in the book in a setup to the first, you know, for the moment of launch, right? Like, it's called how we got here, right?

And you see, and I cite, you know, declassified documents from some of these early meetings where nuclear war plans were being laid out. And absolutely, back in the 1950s, the generals and the admirals that were running the nuclear command and control system believed that we could fight and win a nuclear war, despite hundreds of millions of people dying. This was the prevailing thought.

And you see, and I cite, you know, declassified documents from some of these early meetings where nuclear war plans were being laid out. And absolutely, back in the 1950s, the generals and the admirals that were running the nuclear command and control system believed that we could fight and win a nuclear war, despite hundreds of millions of people dying. This was the prevailing thought.

And you see, and I cite, you know, declassified documents from some of these early meetings where nuclear war plans were being laid out. And absolutely, back in the 1950s, the generals and the admirals that were running the nuclear command and control system believed that we could fight and win a nuclear war, despite hundreds of millions of people dying. This was the prevailing thought.

And only over time did the kind of concept come into play that, no, we can never have a nuclear war. It's the famous Gorbachev and Reagan joint statement, a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. But before that, many people believed that it could be won, and they were preparing for that.

And only over time did the kind of concept come into play that, no, we can never have a nuclear war. It's the famous Gorbachev and Reagan joint statement, a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. But before that, many people believed that it could be won, and they were preparing for that.

And only over time did the kind of concept come into play that, no, we can never have a nuclear war. It's the famous Gorbachev and Reagan joint statement, a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. But before that, many people believed that it could be won, and they were preparing for that.

I don't think that has anything to do with ageism. I think it has to do with, I think it's an earnest question, a really powerful one.

I don't think that has anything to do with ageism. I think it has to do with, I think it's an earnest question, a really powerful one.

I don't think that has anything to do with ageism. I think it has to do with, I think it's an earnest question, a really powerful one.

And if people were to ask that question of themselves or their sort of, you know, dinner party guests or their family around the dinner table guests, you might come to a real good conclusion about how bad our political system is and how bad our presidential candidates are. of whom has judgment problems. These are the two biggest issues with a nuclear launch, judgment and cognition.

And if people were to ask that question of themselves or their sort of, you know, dinner party guests or their family around the dinner table guests, you might come to a real good conclusion about how bad our political system is and how bad our presidential candidates are. of whom has judgment problems. These are the two biggest issues with a nuclear launch, judgment and cognition.

And if people were to ask that question of themselves or their sort of, you know, dinner party guests or their family around the dinner table guests, you might come to a real good conclusion about how bad our political system is and how bad our presidential candidates are. of whom has judgment problems. These are the two biggest issues with a nuclear launch, judgment and cognition.

And so where's the, you know, young-ish, thoughtful, forward-looking, wise, dedicated civil servant running for president? I know that sounds, you know, Fantastical. But I wish it weren't.

And so where's the, you know, young-ish, thoughtful, forward-looking, wise, dedicated civil servant running for president? I know that sounds, you know, Fantastical. But I wish it weren't.

And so where's the, you know, young-ish, thoughtful, forward-looking, wise, dedicated civil servant running for president? I know that sounds, you know, Fantastical. But I wish it weren't.

But I think about that issue with any... with any war, right? I mean, prior to writing Nuclear War, a Scenario, I previously wrote six books on military and intelligence programs designed to prevent nuclear war. And I believe the president as commander-in-chief should be of the highest character possible.

But I think about that issue with any... with any war, right? I mean, prior to writing Nuclear War, a Scenario, I previously wrote six books on military and intelligence programs designed to prevent nuclear war. And I believe the president as commander-in-chief should be of the highest character possible.

But I think about that issue with any... with any war, right? I mean, prior to writing Nuclear War, a Scenario, I previously wrote six books on military and intelligence programs designed to prevent nuclear war. And I believe the president as commander-in-chief should be of the highest character possible.