Stephen Schwartz
@atomicanalyst.bsky.social
Editor/Co-author, “Atomic Audit: The Costs and Consequences of US Nuclear Weapons Since 1940” • Nonresident Senior Fellow, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists • Nuclear weapons expert (history, policy, costs, accidents) and tracker of the nuclear “Football.”
Pinned
In the March 1981 issue of the @bulletinatomic.bsky.social, conflict resolution expert and Harvard Law School professor Roger Fisher described his “quite simple” idea to force US presidents to viscerally confront the lethal consequences of ordering a nuclear attack. books.google.com/books/about/...
Yesterday morning, @penguinsix.bsky.social spotted VP Vance’s Marine Corps aide outside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building walking from his motorcade and carrying his duplicate “Football.” VPs have been accompanied by a backup Presidential Emergency Satchel 24/7 since Walter Mondale (1977-81).
November 11, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Yesterday morning, @penguinsix.bsky.social spotted VP Vance’s Marine Corps aide outside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building walking from his motorcade and carrying his duplicate “Football.” VPs have been accompanied by a backup Presidential Emergency Satchel 24/7 since Walter Mondale (1977-81).
75 yrs ago today, a B-50 bomber ferrying a Mark-4 atomic bomb (minus its plutonium pit or capsule) from Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, developed engine trouble and jettisoned the bomb over the St. Lawrence River near Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec.
November 10, 2025 at 3:41 PM
75 yrs ago today, a B-50 bomber ferrying a Mark-4 atomic bomb (minus its plutonium pit or capsule) from Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, developed engine trouble and jettisoned the bomb over the St. Lawrence River near Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec.
Tonight, Germany marks both the 87th anniversary of Kristallnacht—the “Night of Broken Glass” (1938)—and the 36th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall (1989). Hatred versus joy. Separateness versus unity. Oppression versus freedom. Death versus life. All in the span of just 51 years.
November 9, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Tonight, Germany marks both the 87th anniversary of Kristallnacht—the “Night of Broken Glass” (1938)—and the 36th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall (1989). Hatred versus joy. Separateness versus unity. Oppression versus freedom. Death versus life. All in the span of just 51 years.
At 8:50 AM today in 1979, data from a simulated massive Soviet nuclear decapitation attack running at NORAD were somehow sent to live warning displays there, SAC, the National Military Command Center, and the ANMCC at Raven Rock, triggering a false alarm and a ~6-minute threat assessment conference.
November 9, 2025 at 3:50 PM
At 8:50 AM today in 1979, data from a simulated massive Soviet nuclear decapitation attack running at NORAD were somehow sent to live warning displays there, SAC, the National Military Command Center, and the ANMCC at Raven Rock, triggering a false alarm and a ~6-minute threat assessment conference.
As seen, briefly, in “A House of Dynamite.”
Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX-1) a floating, self-propelled, mobile active electronically scanned array early-warning radar station coming into Pearl Harbor under tow - November 7, 2025 SRC: INST- kellynewburgh
November 8, 2025 at 9:26 PM
As seen, briefly, in “A House of Dynamite.”
Trump and RFK, Jr.:
Cellphones, cell towers, WiFi routers — DANGEROUS!!!
Nuclear reactors, radioactive waste — No need to worry.
Cellphones, cell towers, WiFi routers — DANGEROUS!!!
Nuclear reactors, radioactive waste — No need to worry.
Radiation Fears Bring MAHA and MAGA Movements Into Conflict
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Trump and RFK, Jr.:
Cellphones, cell towers, WiFi routers — DANGEROUS!!!
Nuclear reactors, radioactive waste — No need to worry.
Cellphones, cell towers, WiFi routers — DANGEROUS!!!
Nuclear reactors, radioactive waste — No need to worry.
Today in 1963, the “Twilight Zone” episode “The Old Man in the Cave” aired for the first time on CBS. Set in 1974, 10 years after a nuclear war, survivors in a remote town must choose whether to continue to follow the advice of their leader and an unseen old man or a cadre of newly-arrived soldiers.
November 8, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Today in 1963, the “Twilight Zone” episode “The Old Man in the Cave” aired for the first time on CBS. Set in 1974, 10 years after a nuclear war, survivors in a remote town must choose whether to continue to follow the advice of their leader and an unseen old man or a cadre of newly-arrived soldiers.
Today in 1957 in the Pacific Ocean, 2 miles south of Christmas Island (Kiritimati)w, the United Kingdom conducted Round C (Operation Grapple X), its first successful H-bomb test. A Valiant bomber dropped an experimental device which exploded at an altitude of ~7,382 feet. The yield was 1.8 Megatons.
November 8, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Today in 1957 in the Pacific Ocean, 2 miles south of Christmas Island (Kiritimati)w, the United Kingdom conducted Round C (Operation Grapple X), its first successful H-bomb test. A Valiant bomber dropped an experimental device which exploded at an altitude of ~7,382 feet. The yield was 1.8 Megatons.
The White House Navy aide was on “Football” duty this evening for Trump’s latest trip to his Mar-a-Lago club/home in Palm Beach, Florida. The ~45-lb. satchel accompanies Trump 24/7, enabling him alone to authorize the use of any of our ~1,770 deployed nuclear weapons—up to 900 on alert—at any time.
November 8, 2025 at 5:29 AM
The White House Navy aide was on “Football” duty this evening for Trump’s latest trip to his Mar-a-Lago club/home in Palm Beach, Florida. The ~45-lb. satchel accompanies Trump 24/7, enabling him alone to authorize the use of any of our ~1,770 deployed nuclear weapons—up to 900 on alert—at any time.
This sleepy, confused, unhealthy old man has sole and ultimate authority over whether, when, and how to use any or all of the approximately 1,770 deployed weapons in the US nuclear stockpile, up to 900 of which are maintained on 24/7 alert on Minuteman III ICBMs and Trident II D5LE SLBMs.
photos of Trump sleeping through yesterday's Oval Office event via Andrew Harnik of Getty
November 7, 2025 at 5:08 PM
This sleepy, confused, unhealthy old man has sole and ultimate authority over whether, when, and how to use any or all of the approximately 1,770 deployed weapons in the US nuclear stockpile, up to 900 of which are maintained on 24/7 alert on Minuteman III ICBMs and Trident II D5LE SLBMs.
Today in 2003 at Bangor Naval Submarine Base, Washington State, a Trident I C4 SLBM being hoisted from launch tube 16 on the USS Georgia struck an access ladder mistakenly left in the tube, tearing a 9-inch gash in the nose cone and nearly hitting the third-stage motor and a 100-kiloton W76 warhead.
November 7, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Today in 2003 at Bangor Naval Submarine Base, Washington State, a Trident I C4 SLBM being hoisted from launch tube 16 on the USS Georgia struck an access ladder mistakenly left in the tube, tearing a 9-inch gash in the nose cone and nearly hitting the third-stage motor and a 100-kiloton W76 warhead.
Today in 1983, NATO began ABLE ARCHER 83, a European-wide nuclear weapons release exercise that paranoid Soviet leaders feared was a cover story for a nuclear first strike and “may have inadvertently placed our relations with the Soviet Union on a hair trigger.” nsarchive2.gwu.edu/nukevault/eb...
November 7, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Today in 1983, NATO began ABLE ARCHER 83, a European-wide nuclear weapons release exercise that paranoid Soviet leaders feared was a cover story for a nuclear first strike and “may have inadvertently placed our relations with the Soviet Union on a hair trigger.” nsarchive2.gwu.edu/nukevault/eb...
Military censors decided this May 1944 US Army/Warner Bros. training cartoon for troops returning home (directed by Chuck Jones and featuring the voice of Mel Blanc as Private Snafu) came too close to inadvertently revealing the Top Secret atomic bomb and shelved it. archive.org/details/Priv...
November 6, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Military censors decided this May 1944 US Army/Warner Bros. training cartoon for troops returning home (directed by Chuck Jones and featuring the voice of Mel Blanc as Private Snafu) came too close to inadvertently revealing the Top Secret atomic bomb and shelved it. archive.org/details/Priv...
One baby Trump is more than enough, no thanks.
November 6, 2025 at 5:36 PM
One baby Trump is more than enough, no thanks.
At 1: 35 AM PDT Wed., the US conducted a flight test (Glory Trip 254) of an unarmed Minuteman III ICBM from Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA. The missile (from Warren AFB, WY) was launched by a crew on a Navy E-6B using the Airborne Launch Control System. www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article...
November 6, 2025 at 3:52 PM
At 1: 35 AM PDT Wed., the US conducted a flight test (Glory Trip 254) of an unarmed Minuteman III ICBM from Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA. The missile (from Warren AFB, WY) was launched by a crew on a Navy E-6B using the Airborne Launch Control System. www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article...
Today in 1971, the United States conducted CANNIKIN, its largest-ever underground nuclear test. A Spartan antiballistic missile carrying a W71 thermonuclear warhead was lowered into a 7.5-foot-wide, 5,873-foot-deep shaft beneath Amchitka Island, Alaska, and detonated. The yield was about 5 Megatons.
November 6, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Today in 1971, the United States conducted CANNIKIN, its largest-ever underground nuclear test. A Spartan antiballistic missile carrying a W71 thermonuclear warhead was lowered into a 7.5-foot-wide, 5,873-foot-deep shaft beneath Amchitka Island, Alaska, and detonated. The yield was about 5 Megatons.
Today in 1961, former Manhattan Project Nobel Prize-winning chemist, Atomic Energy Commission member, and fallout shelter advocate Willard Libby’s highly-publicized, do-it-yourself $30 hillside shelter—made out of railroad ties and sandbags of dirt—burned down in the Bel Air wildfire in Los Angeles.
November 6, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Today in 1961, former Manhattan Project Nobel Prize-winning chemist, Atomic Energy Commission member, and fallout shelter advocate Willard Libby’s highly-publicized, do-it-yourself $30 hillside shelter—made out of railroad ties and sandbags of dirt—burned down in the Bel Air wildfire in Los Angeles.
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
WINNING IS LOSING
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
WINNING IS LOSING
November 6, 2025 at 7:51 AM
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
WINNING IS LOSING
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
WINNING IS LOSING
As we endure Day 36 of the Trump-Republican Government Shutdown™—the longest ever—don’t forget that way back on September 19, Republicans voted to keep the federal government funded for only seven weeks because the majority of their own members would not support anything more.
They’re the problem.
They’re the problem.
November 5, 2025 at 7:17 PM
As we endure Day 36 of the Trump-Republican Government Shutdown™—the longest ever—don’t forget that way back on September 19, Republicans voted to keep the federal government funded for only seven weeks because the majority of their own members would not support anything more.
They’re the problem.
They’re the problem.
The White House Military Office Army aide is on “Football” duty for Trump’s flight to Florida to address the America Business Forum Miami. The ~45-lb. satchel accompanies Trump 24/7, enabling him alone to authorize the use of any of our ~1,770 deployed nuclear weapons—up to 900 on alert—at any time.
November 5, 2025 at 3:53 PM
The White House Military Office Army aide is on “Football” duty for Trump’s flight to Florida to address the America Business Forum Miami. The ~45-lb. satchel accompanies Trump 24/7, enabling him alone to authorize the use of any of our ~1,770 deployed nuclear weapons—up to 900 on alert—at any time.
It looks like Trump is preparing to further deface the White House (from a live feed of his departure this morning for Miami, Florida):
November 5, 2025 at 3:40 PM
It looks like Trump is preparing to further deface the White House (from a live feed of his departure this morning for Miami, Florida):
Today in 1946, Admiral William H.P. Blandy created significant controversy when he, his wife Roberta, and Rear Admiral Frank J. Lowry were photographed with this cake in the Officers’ Club at the Army War College in Washington, DC, celebrating the conclusion of Operation Crossroads at Bikini Atoll.
November 5, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Today in 1946, Admiral William H.P. Blandy created significant controversy when he, his wife Roberta, and Rear Admiral Frank J. Lowry were photographed with this cake in the Officers’ Club at the Army War College in Washington, DC, celebrating the conclusion of Operation Crossroads at Bikini Atoll.
Dick Cheney did enormous and lasting damage as VP from 2001-09. But we shouldn’t overlook the fact that under two Bush presidencies—as secretary of defense (1989-93) and then as VP—he also supported the largest unilateral elimination of US nuclear weapons in history—almost 15,000 bombs and warheads.
November 4, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Dick Cheney did enormous and lasting damage as VP from 2001-09. But we shouldn’t overlook the fact that under two Bush presidencies—as secretary of defense (1989-93) and then as VP—he also supported the largest unilateral elimination of US nuclear weapons in history—almost 15,000 bombs and warheads.
Today in 1983, “Testament” opened in multiple US cities after premiering at the Telluride Film Festival on September 3.
Unlike “The Day After,” first broadcast nationwide on ABC 16 days later, this more intimate film explores the devastating effects of a distant nuclear war on a single family.
Unlike “The Day After,” first broadcast nationwide on ABC 16 days later, this more intimate film explores the devastating effects of a distant nuclear war on a single family.
November 4, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Today in 1983, “Testament” opened in multiple US cities after premiering at the Telluride Film Festival on September 3.
Unlike “The Day After,” first broadcast nationwide on ABC 16 days later, this more intimate film explores the devastating effects of a distant nuclear war on a single family.
Unlike “The Day After,” first broadcast nationwide on ABC 16 days later, this more intimate film explores the devastating effects of a distant nuclear war on a single family.
Today in 1962, the United States conducted TIGHTROPE—its last fully-atmospheric nuclear test—as part of Operation Fishbowl. A Nike Hercules SAM was fired 69,000 feet into the sky, where its W31 warhead exploded 2 miles south-southwest of Johnston Island with a reported yield of 10 kilotons.
November 4, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Today in 1962, the United States conducted TIGHTROPE—its last fully-atmospheric nuclear test—as part of Operation Fishbowl. A Nike Hercules SAM was fired 69,000 feet into the sky, where its W31 warhead exploded 2 miles south-southwest of Johnston Island with a reported yield of 10 kilotons.