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/...
At least the courageous musicians aboard the RMS Titanic didn’t try to pretend their ship wasn't sinking, or convince any of the passengers otherwise.
February 9, 2026 at 9:42 PM
At least the courageous musicians aboard the RMS Titanic didn’t try to pretend their ship wasn't sinking, or convince any of the passengers otherwise.
OTD 30 yrs ago, “Broken Arrow” was released.
A B-3 stealth bomber pilot (John Travolta) conspires with mercenaries to steal two 1.2-Megaton B83 thermonuclear bombs during a training exercise over Utah and threatens to detonate them in Salt Lake City unless the US government hands over $250,000,000.
A B-3 stealth bomber pilot (John Travolta) conspires with mercenaries to steal two 1.2-Megaton B83 thermonuclear bombs during a training exercise over Utah and threatens to detonate them in Salt Lake City unless the US government hands over $250,000,000.
February 9, 2026 at 2:41 PM
OTD 30 yrs ago, “Broken Arrow” was released.
A B-3 stealth bomber pilot (John Travolta) conspires with mercenaries to steal two 1.2-Megaton B83 thermonuclear bombs during a training exercise over Utah and threatens to detonate them in Salt Lake City unless the US government hands over $250,000,000.
A B-3 stealth bomber pilot (John Travolta) conspires with mercenaries to steal two 1.2-Megaton B83 thermonuclear bombs during a training exercise over Utah and threatens to detonate them in Salt Lake City unless the US government hands over $250,000,000.
Today in 1977, Robert Aldrich’s thriller “Twilight’s Last Gleaming” was released. In it, a maverick US Air Force general (Burt Lancaster) escapes from death row, commandeers a Titan ICBM launch complex in Montana, and threatens to start World War III unless the president accedes to all his demands.
February 9, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Today in 1977, Robert Aldrich’s thriller “Twilight’s Last Gleaming” was released. In it, a maverick US Air Force general (Burt Lancaster) escapes from death row, commandeers a Titan ICBM launch complex in Montana, and threatens to start World War III unless the president accedes to all his demands.
The White House Military Office Army aide is on “Football” duty for Emperor Trump’s latest taxpayer-funded jaunt to his Mar-a-Lago Club. The ~45-pound 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.
February 7, 2026 at 12:24 AM
The White House Military Office Army aide is on “Football” duty for Emperor Trump’s latest taxpayer-funded jaunt to his Mar-a-Lago Club. The ~45-pound 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.
I didn’t stress it yesterday, but the megalomaniacal narcissism required for Trump to perpetuate this gargantuan, self-aggrandizing, bald-faced lie is off the scale:
“I have stopped Nuclear Wars from breaking out across the World between Pakistan and India, Iran and Israel, and Russia and Ukraine.”
“I have stopped Nuclear Wars from breaking out across the World between Pakistan and India, Iran and Israel, and Russia and Ukraine.”
More than 12 hours after New START expired, Trump posted: “… we should have our Nuclear Experts work on a new, improved, and modernized Treaty that can last long into the future.”
Oh really? You could have ordered that 5-9 years ago during your first term, not to mention last year.
YOU DON’T CARE.
Oh really? You could have ordered that 5-9 years ago during your first term, not to mention last year.
YOU DON’T CARE.
February 6, 2026 at 9:27 PM
I didn’t stress it yesterday, but the megalomaniacal narcissism required for Trump to perpetuate this gargantuan, self-aggrandizing, bald-faced lie is off the scale:
“I have stopped Nuclear Wars from breaking out across the World between Pakistan and India, Iran and Israel, and Russia and Ukraine.”
“I have stopped Nuclear Wars from breaking out across the World between Pakistan and India, Iran and Israel, and Russia and Ukraine.”
The United States has now publicly accused China of conducting secret, very low yield underground nuclear tests designed to evade seismic detection, specifically on June 22, 2020, by exploding a device inside an underground cavern large enough to decouple the shockwave from the surrounding rock.
US accuses China of secret nuke testing as it calls for broader arms control treaty
The US accused China Wednesday of conducting at least secret nuclear tests as Washington continued its push for a new arms control treaty.
nypost.com
February 6, 2026 at 5:57 PM
The United States has now publicly accused China of conducting secret, very low yield underground nuclear tests designed to evade seismic detection, specifically on June 22, 2020, by exploding a device inside an underground cavern large enough to decouple the shockwave from the surrounding rock.
OTD 30 yrs ago, Secretary of Energy Hazel R. O’Leary held her third Openness Initiative press conference, declassifying, among other things, a complete inventory of US production, acquisition, use, and distribution of plutonium from 1944-94, incl. its current locations. www.osti.gov/opennet/serv...
February 6, 2026 at 3:29 PM
OTD 30 yrs ago, Secretary of Energy Hazel R. O’Leary held her third Openness Initiative press conference, declassifying, among other things, a complete inventory of US production, acquisition, use, and distribution of plutonium from 1944-94, incl. its current locations. www.osti.gov/opennet/serv...
Today in 1987, “When the Wind Blows”—an animated adaptation of the powerful 1982 satirical graphic novel by Raymond Briggs about an elderly British couple valiantly following the government’s detailed civil defense advice to try and survive a nuclear attack—opened in theaters in the United Kingdom.
Anti-War Animation Film I When the Wind Blows (1986) I Retrospective
YouTube video by Retrospective - Classic Movies
www.youtube.com
February 6, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Today in 1987, “When the Wind Blows”—an animated adaptation of the powerful 1982 satirical graphic novel by Raymond Briggs about an elderly British couple valiantly following the government’s detailed civil defense advice to try and survive a nuclear attack—opened in theaters in the United Kingdom.
75 years ago this morning, the United States conducted FOX, a proof test of a Mk-6 atomic bomb, at the Nevada Proving Ground, its fifth test there. The yield was 22 kilotons (the predicted yield was 34 kilotons). Below, the first published photographs of a mushroom cloud over Nevada, from that test.
February 6, 2026 at 3:08 PM
75 years ago this morning, the United States conducted FOX, a proof test of a Mk-6 atomic bomb, at the Nevada Proving Ground, its fifth test there. The yield was 22 kilotons (the predicted yield was 34 kilotons). Below, the first published photographs of a mushroom cloud over Nevada, from that test.
More than 12 hours after New START expired, Trump posted: “… we should have our Nuclear Experts work on a new, improved, and modernized Treaty that can last long into the future.”
Oh really? You could have ordered that 5-9 years ago during your first term, not to mention last year.
YOU DON’T CARE.
Oh really? You could have ordered that 5-9 years ago during your first term, not to mention last year.
YOU DON’T CARE.
February 5, 2026 at 10:10 PM
More than 12 hours after New START expired, Trump posted: “… we should have our Nuclear Experts work on a new, improved, and modernized Treaty that can last long into the future.”
Oh really? You could have ordered that 5-9 years ago during your first term, not to mention last year.
YOU DON’T CARE.
Oh really? You could have ordered that 5-9 years ago during your first term, not to mention last year.
YOU DON’T CARE.
Today in 1958, an F-86L interceptor collided with a B-47 bomber on a simulated nuclear attack run, severely damaging both aircraft. To land safely at Hunter AFB, Georgia, B-47 pilot Major Howard Richardson jettisoned a 3.4-Megaton Mark-15 thermonuclear bomb into Wassaw Sound. It was never recovered.
February 5, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Today in 1958, an F-86L interceptor collided with a B-47 bomber on a simulated nuclear attack run, severely damaging both aircraft. To land safely at Hunter AFB, Georgia, B-47 pilot Major Howard Richardson jettisoned a 3.4-Megaton Mark-15 thermonuclear bomb into Wassaw Sound. It was never recovered.
Trump has boasted for decades that he knows everything there is to know about nuclear weapons and could easily negotiate a great deal with Russia And yet, New START, the last treaty constraining US and Russian nuclear weapons expires at midnight and Trump hasn't lifted a tiny finger to replace it.
Around 1990, Trump encountered START negotiator Ambassador Richard Burt at a New York reception. According to Burt, Trump expressed envy at Burt’s position and then offered him this unsolicited advice on how to get a “terrific” deal with the Soviet Union: www.politico.com/magazine/sto...
February 4, 2026 at 11:42 PM
Trump has boasted for decades that he knows everything there is to know about nuclear weapons and could easily negotiate a great deal with Russia And yet, New START, the last treaty constraining US and Russian nuclear weapons expires at midnight and Trump hasn't lifted a tiny finger to replace it.
When New START expires at midnight, nothing can legally stop the Trump regime from dramatically increasing the number of operationally deployed nuclear weapons, especially on ICBMs and SLBMs. Within months, it could easily surge the number of such warheads by uploading MIRVs from the reserve force.
February 4, 2026 at 11:34 PM
When New START expires at midnight, nothing can legally stop the Trump regime from dramatically increasing the number of operationally deployed nuclear weapons, especially on ICBMs and SLBMs. Within months, it could easily surge the number of such warheads by uploading MIRVs from the reserve force.
Hyatt sent me an email reminding me to use my accumulated (but meager) hotel rewards points before they expire, and suggested some ways I could do that.
There’s just one small problem. I first have to become a time traveler.
There’s just one small problem. I first have to become a time traveler.
February 4, 2026 at 12:21 AM
Hyatt sent me an email reminding me to use my accumulated (but meager) hotel rewards points before they expire, and suggested some ways I could do that.
There’s just one small problem. I first have to become a time traveler.
There’s just one small problem. I first have to become a time traveler.
Look, I’m just a lowly senator from South Dakota who’s been in office for 21 years …
February 3, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Look, I’m just a lowly senator from South Dakota who’s been in office for 21 years …
65 years ago today the first “Looking Glass” EC-135 airborne command post went aloft from Strategic Air Command HQ at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, ensuring the ability to fight a nuclear war if SAC were destroyed. For more than 29 years—until July 24, 1990—at least one aircraft was continuously airborne.
February 3, 2026 at 3:30 PM
65 years ago today the first “Looking Glass” EC-135 airborne command post went aloft from Strategic Air Command HQ at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, ensuring the ability to fight a nuclear war if SAC were destroyed. For more than 29 years—until July 24, 1990—at least one aircraft was continuously airborne.
“If your fallout last more than four hours …”
So this is a very early (1954) attempt to illustrate what the fallout implications of high-yield nuclear weapons are for war — basically just putting the Castle BRAVO fallout pattern over possible US targets...
...and I can't stop thinking about how ridiculously, hilariously phallic they all look.
...and I can't stop thinking about how ridiculously, hilariously phallic they all look.
February 2, 2026 at 11:52 PM
“If your fallout last more than four hours …”
No offense to computer avatar doctors (especially @robertpicardo.bsky.social), but this is absolutely not “the best way” to provide quality, timely medical care to Americans living in rural communities.
February 2, 2026 at 9:31 PM
No offense to computer avatar doctors (especially @robertpicardo.bsky.social), but this is absolutely not “the best way” to provide quality, timely medical care to Americans living in rural communities.
ICE, CBP, and DHS agents marauding through cities across the United States are many things, but holy, saintly, and sacred they are absolutely not. Holy thesaurus, Batman!
Kustoff: "That is a reason they have to wear masks because they have been doxxed & their families have been threatened. So to me that is a nonstarter & I think to most Republicans that is a nonstarter and I'd like to think most Democrats would realize we need to protect the sanctity of these agents"
February 2, 2026 at 8:50 PM
ICE, CBP, and DHS agents marauding through cities across the United States are many things, but holy, saintly, and sacred they are absolutely not. Holy thesaurus, Batman!
If you watch “Groundhog Day” on Groundhog Day, can you rupture the space-time continuum? Can we at least try?
February 2, 2026 at 8:34 PM
If you watch “Groundhog Day” on Groundhog Day, can you rupture the space-time continuum? Can we at least try?
Look! Up in the sky!
The world needs a hero. Unfortunately, we’ve got John. Season 13 of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver premieres February 15th at 11pm on @hbomax! youtu.be/PawUmci7JuU
Season 13 Trailer: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
YouTube video by LastWeekTonight
youtu.be
February 2, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Look! Up in the sky!
70 years ago today, in a first, the USSR launched an R-5 medium-range ballistic missile (NATO designation: SS-3 Shyster) carrying a live warhead across populated areas of Kazakhstan from the Kapustin Yar test site to the Sary Shagan test range. The 0.3-kt warhead detonated on the ground near Aralsk.
February 2, 2026 at 4:08 PM
70 years ago today, in a first, the USSR launched an R-5 medium-range ballistic missile (NATO designation: SS-3 Shyster) carrying a live warhead across populated areas of Kazakhstan from the Kapustin Yar test site to the Sary Shagan test range. The 0.3-kt warhead detonated on the ground near Aralsk.
The White House Military Office Coast Guard aide was on “Football” duty tonight for Emperor Trump’s return to Washington, DC, from Palm Beach. The ~45-lb. satchel follows 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.
February 2, 2026 at 3:25 AM
The White House Military Office Coast Guard aide was on “Football” duty tonight for Emperor Trump’s return to Washington, DC, from Palm Beach. The ~45-lb. satchel follows 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.
Translation:
It’s embarrassing to keep reading how I—the smartest, most talented, most sophisticated man in the world—have tanked the leading cultural institution in the capital region, so I’ll pretend it’s totally normal to shut it down for two years to “improve” it (after boasting I already did).
It’s embarrassing to keep reading how I—the smartest, most talented, most sophisticated man in the world—have tanked the leading cultural institution in the capital region, so I’ll pretend it’s totally normal to shut it down for two years to “improve” it (after boasting I already did).
Trump: "I have determined that the fastest way to bring The Trump Kennedy Center to the highest level of Success, Beauty, and Grandeur, is to cease Entertainment Operations for an approximately two year period of time, with a scheduled Grand Reopening that will rival and surpass anything."
February 2, 2026 at 12:08 AM
Translation:
It’s embarrassing to keep reading how I—the smartest, most talented, most sophisticated man in the world—have tanked the leading cultural institution in the capital region, so I’ll pretend it’s totally normal to shut it down for two years to “improve” it (after boasting I already did).
It’s embarrassing to keep reading how I—the smartest, most talented, most sophisticated man in the world—have tanked the leading cultural institution in the capital region, so I’ll pretend it’s totally normal to shut it down for two years to “improve” it (after boasting I already did).
The White House Military Office Coast Guard aide was on “Football” duty last night for Emperor Trump’s latest trip to his Mar-a-Lago Club. 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.
February 1, 2026 at 3:16 PM
The White House Military Office Coast Guard aide was on “Football” duty last night for Emperor Trump’s latest trip to his Mar-a-Lago Club. 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.