Stephen Young
@atomicwonk.bsky.social
Advocate for more sensible nuclear weapons policies, firm believer that we should not live in a world where hundreds of millions could be dead in an hour. Associate Director for Government Affairs, Global Security Program, Union of Concerned Scientists
Reposted by Stephen Young
"The United States is currently undergoing a “once in a generation” nuclear modernization program that will cost nearly $2 trillion over its lifetime and, ironically, take multiple generations to complete due to delays."
Excited to announce that my @ucs.org colleague and @scovillepf.bsky.social fellow Sean Manning has his first piece on the UCS blog. He provides a critical analysis of rising military spending & the expanding influence of the military-industrial complex. Take a look: blog.ucs.org/sean-manning...
The Exploding Scope of the Military-Industrial Complex
Members of both major political parties have begun to question ballooning defense expenditures, which have almost tripled since the 1990s.
blog.ucs.org
December 23, 2025 at 9:10 PM
"The United States is currently undergoing a “once in a generation” nuclear modernization program that will cost nearly $2 trillion over its lifetime and, ironically, take multiple generations to complete due to delays."
In a hugely insightful piece on #AHouseofDynamite in @thebulletin.org, Scott Sagan & Shreya Lad include a great tidbit: the SecDef who commits suicide is a throwback to Truman's former SecDef James Forrestal, who killed himself in the same fashion. @nytimes.com: www.nytimes.com/1949/05/23/a...
FORRESTAL KILLED IN 13-STORY LEAP; U. S. MOURNING SET; NATION IS SHOCKED He Was a War Casualty as if He Died at Front, President Declares COPIED A POEM ON DEATH Had Seemed to Be Improving in the Naval...
www.nytimes.com
December 20, 2025 at 11:05 PM
In a hugely insightful piece on #AHouseofDynamite in @thebulletin.org, Scott Sagan & Shreya Lad include a great tidbit: the SecDef who commits suicide is a throwback to Truman's former SecDef James Forrestal, who killed himself in the same fashion. @nytimes.com: www.nytimes.com/1949/05/23/a...
Reposted by Stephen Young
CIA Realizes It’s Been Using Black Highlighters All These Year
theonion.com/cia-realizes...
theonion.com/cia-realizes...
December 19, 2025 at 9:27 PM
CIA Realizes It’s Been Using Black Highlighters All These Year
theonion.com/cia-realizes...
theonion.com/cia-realizes...
Reposted by Stephen Young
Yesterday, Rep. @joeneguse.bsky.social joined us via Zoom at #AGU25 to reject the Trump admin’s proposal to dismantle the Ntl. Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), one of the US’ leading weather & climate research institutions.
Urge Congress to halt this dangerous action: act.ucsusa.org/4oWtCwz
Urge Congress to halt this dangerous action: act.ucsusa.org/4oWtCwz
December 18, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Yesterday, Rep. @joeneguse.bsky.social joined us via Zoom at #AGU25 to reject the Trump admin’s proposal to dismantle the Ntl. Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), one of the US’ leading weather & climate research institutions.
Urge Congress to halt this dangerous action: act.ucsusa.org/4oWtCwz
Urge Congress to halt this dangerous action: act.ucsusa.org/4oWtCwz
Reposted by Stephen Young
“The research done at NCAR is an investment by every single tax-paying citizen in the United States, and it benefits all of us,” said UCS's @marc-alessi.bsky.social. “We are able to predict the weather days in advance, giving warning for hurricanes, extreme precipitation events, and droughts.”
We're all at risk if Trump dismantles this legendary lab
Breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research would be a "genuinely shocking self-inflicted wound."
grist.org
December 18, 2025 at 9:09 PM
“The research done at NCAR is an investment by every single tax-paying citizen in the United States, and it benefits all of us,” said UCS's @marc-alessi.bsky.social. “We are able to predict the weather days in advance, giving warning for hurricanes, extreme precipitation events, and droughts.”
Reposted by Stephen Young
The Vanity Fair photographer from the Susie Wiles story.
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
December 17, 2025 at 8:34 PM
The Vanity Fair photographer from the Susie Wiles story.
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
Excited to announce that my @ucs.org colleague and @scovillepf.bsky.social fellow Sean Manning has his first piece on the UCS blog. He provides a critical analysis of rising military spending & the expanding influence of the military-industrial complex. Take a look: blog.ucs.org/sean-manning...
The Exploding Scope of the Military-Industrial Complex
Members of both major political parties have begun to question ballooning defense expenditures, which have almost tripled since the 1990s.
blog.ucs.org
December 16, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Excited to announce that my @ucs.org colleague and @scovillepf.bsky.social fellow Sean Manning has his first piece on the UCS blog. He provides a critical analysis of rising military spending & the expanding influence of the military-industrial complex. Take a look: blog.ucs.org/sean-manning...
Reposted by Stephen Young
I gave a more accurate comparison here: “We would need to deploy more than 24,700 Iron Dome batteries to defend the 3.7 million square miles of the continental United States. At $100 million per battery, that would be approximately $2,470,000,000,000.” www.defenseone.com/ideas/2024/0...
Can Donald Trump really build an Iron Dome over America?
In a word, no. The president-turned-candidate is still selling the same old missile-defense snake oil.
www.defenseone.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:27 PM
I gave a more accurate comparison here: “We would need to deploy more than 24,700 Iron Dome batteries to defend the 3.7 million square miles of the continental United States. At $100 million per battery, that would be approximately $2,470,000,000,000.” www.defenseone.com/ideas/2024/0...
Reposted by Stephen Young
Authoritarianism 101: Punish people and institutions who speak out against the regime. A chilling @reuters.com analysis documents the administration’s ongoing efforts to suppress dissent and identifies at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership.
Trump’s campaign of retribution: At least 470 targets and counting
A Reuters investigation documents at least 470 acts of retribution under Trump’s leadership.
www.reuters.com
December 11, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Authoritarianism 101: Punish people and institutions who speak out against the regime. A chilling @reuters.com analysis documents the administration’s ongoing efforts to suppress dissent and identifies at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership.
Reposted by Stephen Young
Climate litigation brought some big moments in 2025. Courts stepped in where political systems faltered as judges restored funding, protected rights, and kept the door open for climate accountability. UCS's Delta Merner recaps some of the biggest climate wins of the year:
The Courts Delivered Important Climate Wins in 2025
In case after case, communities and states have secured real victories.
blog.ucs.org
December 10, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Climate litigation brought some big moments in 2025. Courts stepped in where political systems faltered as judges restored funding, protected rights, and kept the door open for climate accountability. UCS's Delta Merner recaps some of the biggest climate wins of the year:
A retired general argued that the fool's Golden Dome is feasible using an image stating the US system would defend an area 16 times larger than Iron Dome does for Israel. As the map shows, the US is in fact over 450 times larger. Expect more of this type of analysis from Golden Dome supporters.
December 11, 2025 at 7:12 PM
A retired general argued that the fool's Golden Dome is feasible using an image stating the US system would defend an area 16 times larger than Iron Dome does for Israel. As the map shows, the US is in fact over 450 times larger. Expect more of this type of analysis from Golden Dome supporters.
Reposted by Stephen Young
My blog on China's new arms control white paper. Short on arsenal details, long on sticking to the same nuclear thinking. Interesting bits include focus on developing countries' right to emerging tech for development and risk reduction with Chinese characteristics. blog.ucs.org/robert-rust/...
How Should We Read China’s First White Paper on Arms Control in 20 Years?
China's government says it remains open to arms control, characterizing the expansion of its nuclear arsenal as consistent with a defensive military posture.
blog.ucs.org
December 11, 2025 at 7:45 AM
My blog on China's new arms control white paper. Short on arsenal details, long on sticking to the same nuclear thinking. Interesting bits include focus on developing countries' right to emerging tech for development and risk reduction with Chinese characteristics. blog.ucs.org/robert-rust/...
Reposted by Stephen Young
A reminder that he has virtually unrestricted nuclear launch authority as you watch all the unhinged, racist, and sexist shit that Trump is spewing.
December 10, 2025 at 12:54 AM
A reminder that he has virtually unrestricted nuclear launch authority as you watch all the unhinged, racist, and sexist shit that Trump is spewing.
For your consideration:
In World War II, about 70 million people were killed in a conflict lasting 6 years.
Today, the US could kill 70 million people in less than an hour using roughly one-tenth of its deployed nuclear arsenal.
It would have another 1400 nuclear weapons.
In World War II, about 70 million people were killed in a conflict lasting 6 years.
Today, the US could kill 70 million people in less than an hour using roughly one-tenth of its deployed nuclear arsenal.
It would have another 1400 nuclear weapons.
December 10, 2025 at 3:37 AM
For your consideration:
In World War II, about 70 million people were killed in a conflict lasting 6 years.
Today, the US could kill 70 million people in less than an hour using roughly one-tenth of its deployed nuclear arsenal.
It would have another 1400 nuclear weapons.
In World War II, about 70 million people were killed in a conflict lasting 6 years.
Today, the US could kill 70 million people in less than an hour using roughly one-tenth of its deployed nuclear arsenal.
It would have another 1400 nuclear weapons.
First DOGE shuts down the US Institute of Peace, and now Trump has the empty building with no staff renamed for himself.
Words fail.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/u...
Words fail.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/u...
Trump Renames Institute of Peace for Himself
www.nytimes.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:27 PM
First DOGE shuts down the US Institute of Peace, and now Trump has the empty building with no staff renamed for himself.
Words fail.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/u...
Words fail.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/u...
My super smart @ucs.org colleague @lauraegrego.bsky.social answers a ton of questions generated around #AHouseofDynamite, including #nuclear weapons, missile defense, who controls US nukes, and more. Give it a look!
"A House of Dynamite:" UCS Expert Q&A
YouTube video by Union of Concerned Scientists
www.youtube.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:25 PM
My super smart @ucs.org colleague @lauraegrego.bsky.social answers a ton of questions generated around #AHouseofDynamite, including #nuclear weapons, missile defense, who controls US nukes, and more. Give it a look!
At some point @nuclearanthro.bsky.social you asked if the FY26 Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan was late and might be expected soon. I went back & looked & Team Biden didn't release their first SSMP until March 2022, so they were late too. Here's the page:
Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan (SSMP)
NNSA's Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan is a key planning document for the Nuclear Security Enterprise.
www.energy.gov
November 18, 2025 at 5:00 PM
At some point @nuclearanthro.bsky.social you asked if the FY26 Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan was late and might be expected soon. I went back & looked & Team Biden didn't release their first SSMP until March 2022, so they were late too. Here's the page:
Reposted by Stephen Young
Today, the EPA released proposed revisions to the definition of “waters of the United States”, which would further erode clean water safeguards & endanger wetlands & streams across the US. “This is a destructive and unfounded attack on clean water protections," said @geostatstacy.bsky.social.
EPA Proposes Striking Wetlands Protections, Risking Water Quality Across US
The U.S. EPA today released a revised definition of “waters of the United States, narrowing the waters protected under the Clean Water Act. Statement by Dr. Stacy Woods at the Union of Concerned Scien...
www.ucs.org
November 17, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Today, the EPA released proposed revisions to the definition of “waters of the United States”, which would further erode clean water safeguards & endanger wetlands & streams across the US. “This is a destructive and unfounded attack on clean water protections," said @geostatstacy.bsky.social.
Reposted by Stephen Young
As week one of #COP30 comes to a close, UCS's Rachel Cleetus highlights key issues our staff in Belém, Brazil, are closely watching. "The negotiations are at a stage now where glimmers of progress are emerging, but there’s a long way to go..."
As Week One Winds Down at COP30 in Brazil, What’s at Stake and What’s Ahead
“While climate disasters decimate the lives of millions, when we already have the solutions—this will never, ever be forgiven.”
blog.ucs.org
November 14, 2025 at 9:44 PM
As week one of #COP30 comes to a close, UCS's Rachel Cleetus highlights key issues our staff in Belém, Brazil, are closely watching. "The negotiations are at a stage now where glimmers of progress are emerging, but there’s a long way to go..."
Prefer Youtube video's to podcasts? Your wish is my command: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ILF...
Here @ucs.org expert @lauraegrego.bsky.social review the disastrous Golden Dome anti-missile program.
Here @ucs.org expert @lauraegrego.bsky.social review the disastrous Golden Dome anti-missile program.
November 14, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Prefer Youtube video's to podcasts? Your wish is my command: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ILF...
Here @ucs.org expert @lauraegrego.bsky.social review the disastrous Golden Dome anti-missile program.
Here @ucs.org expert @lauraegrego.bsky.social review the disastrous Golden Dome anti-missile program.
Reposted by Stephen Young
📢Scientists unite!📢 You have a critical role to play in speaking truth to power. Please join us November 20 for a virtual training on how the scientific community can stand up for our democracy and push back against the growing authoritarian threat in the US.
Register: act.ucsusa.org/44007SY
Register: act.ucsusa.org/44007SY
November 13, 2025 at 9:42 PM
📢Scientists unite!📢 You have a critical role to play in speaking truth to power. Please join us November 20 for a virtual training on how the scientific community can stand up for our democracy and push back against the growing authoritarian threat in the US.
Register: act.ucsusa.org/44007SY
Register: act.ucsusa.org/44007SY
Reposted by Stephen Young
Just in time for your evening commute: @ucs.org's @lauraegrego.bsky.social on the ins, outs, and myths of missile defense on the Burn Bag podcast ⬇️ 🎙️
Want to hear the bottom-line on why Golden Dome - & all long-range missile defenses - might _sound_ good but in reality are technically unrealistic, wildly expensive, and deeply destabilizing? My super smart @ucs.org colleague @lauraegrego.bsky.social has all that & more in this Burn Bag podcast.
The Nuclear Threshold: Will Missile Defense Systems Really Save Us? featuring Dr. Laura Grego - The Burn Bag Podcast
The Nuclear Threshold is a three-part Burn Bag mini-series exploring how deterrence, defense, and diplomacy shape nuclear risk in the 21st century. Across three conversations with leading experts, we ...
burnbag.buzzsprout.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Just in time for your evening commute: @ucs.org's @lauraegrego.bsky.social on the ins, outs, and myths of missile defense on the Burn Bag podcast ⬇️ 🎙️
Reposted by Stephen Young
Cyber warfare and misinformation propaganda is so much more effective than nuclear weapons.
November 13, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Cyber warfare and misinformation propaganda is so much more effective than nuclear weapons.
Reposted by Stephen Young
Didn't we already go through all this with SDI/Star Wars 40 years ago?
November 13, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Didn't we already go through all this with SDI/Star Wars 40 years ago?
Want to hear the bottom-line on why Golden Dome - & all long-range missile defenses - might _sound_ good but in reality are technically unrealistic, wildly expensive, and deeply destabilizing? My super smart @ucs.org colleague @lauraegrego.bsky.social has all that & more in this Burn Bag podcast.
The Nuclear Threshold: Will Missile Defense Systems Really Save Us? featuring Dr. Laura Grego - The Burn Bag Podcast
The Nuclear Threshold is a three-part Burn Bag mini-series exploring how deterrence, defense, and diplomacy shape nuclear risk in the 21st century. Across three conversations with leading experts, we ...
burnbag.buzzsprout.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Want to hear the bottom-line on why Golden Dome - & all long-range missile defenses - might _sound_ good but in reality are technically unrealistic, wildly expensive, and deeply destabilizing? My super smart @ucs.org colleague @lauraegrego.bsky.social has all that & more in this Burn Bag podcast.