Ankit Panda
@nktpnd.bsky.social
Stanton Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Author of ‘THE NEW NUCLEAR AGE’ (Polity) & ‘KIM JONG UN AND THE BOMB’ (Hurst/Oxford)
Subscribe to my newsletter (Nukesletter): https://panda.substack.com/
Subscribe to my newsletter (Nukesletter): https://panda.substack.com/
Pinned
Ankit Panda
@nktpnd.bsky.social
· May 21
Introducing Nukesletter
...a place for my ruminations on the new nuclear age.
panda.substack.com
Folks, I'm taking another stab at a newsletter: introducing Nukesletter (a revamp of my old newsletter from a couple years ago). Brief takes (longer form than what I'll share here) on my work, thinking, and interests. Take a look and subscribe here: panda.substack.com/p/introducin...
Big kulaks hoarding grain energy here.
November 7, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Big kulaks hoarding grain energy here.
Reposted by Ankit Panda
Reposted by Ankit Panda
The more important question is why Democrats everywhere are responsible for whatever happens in San Francisco or New York but Republicans don't have to spend huge amounts of time weighing in on the Texas GOP party platform.
November 4, 2025 at 4:38 PM
The more important question is why Democrats everywhere are responsible for whatever happens in San Francisco or New York but Republicans don't have to spend huge amounts of time weighing in on the Texas GOP party platform.
Many people are very annoyed that this is true. (Including me!)
Dick Cheney, among other things, directed the single largest drawdown of nuclear weapons in US history at the end of the Cold War www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/D...
November 4, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Many people are very annoyed that this is true. (Including me!)
I miss living in Astoria (and Jackson Heights).
It’s unfortunate that Bushwick has become such a metonym for the Mamdani campaign. Astoria — where he lives and represents, and which has a (frankly very Reddit-coded) mix of earnest lib professionals and high-striving immigrant entrepreneurs — captures better the sensibility that he ran on.
On this beautiful morning in Astoria, I cast my ballot for our city and our future.
I hope you will too.
I hope you will too.
November 4, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I miss living in Astoria (and Jackson Heights).
Dick Cheney, among other things, directed the single largest drawdown of nuclear weapons in US history at the end of the Cold War www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/D...
November 4, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Dick Cheney, among other things, directed the single largest drawdown of nuclear weapons in US history at the end of the Cold War www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/D...
Reposted by Ankit Panda
All nuclear explosions are supercritical. He probably means “hydronuclear” — slightly supercritical with insignificant fission release (<1 lb). The US conducted ~35 during the 1958-1961 test moratorium. As a Harvard-educated lawyer, he can understand this—if it’s to his benefit.
November 4, 2025 at 12:42 AM
All nuclear explosions are supercritical. He probably means “hydronuclear” — slightly supercritical with insignificant fission release (<1 lb). The US conducted ~35 during the 1958-1961 test moratorium. As a Harvard-educated lawyer, he can understand this—if it’s to his benefit.
Many thoughts (good and bad) on House of Dynamite, but Greta Lee as the NIO for North Korea is 💯.
November 3, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Many thoughts (good and bad) on House of Dynamite, but Greta Lee as the NIO for North Korea is 💯.
Reposted by Ankit Panda
President Trump's interview on 60 Minutes did very little to clarify his stance on the United States resuming full-scale nuclear tests for the first time in more than three decades. Let's look at some of his statements. 1/11
November 3, 2025 at 1:49 PM
President Trump's interview on 60 Minutes did very little to clarify his stance on the United States resuming full-scale nuclear tests for the first time in more than three decades. Let's look at some of his statements. 1/11
I spoke to ABC (the Australian one) about Trump's remarks on nuclear testing www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
What could Trump's US nuclear testing plan mean for the world? - ABC listen
US President Donald Trump wants his nation to restart the testing of nuclear weapons.
The US has not conducted an explosive nuclear weapons test in 33 years, which has prompted security experts to ca...
www.abc.net.au
November 3, 2025 at 8:57 PM
I spoke to ABC (the Australian one) about Trump's remarks on nuclear testing www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
In which I review an internet meme on inadvertent nuclear war.
What caused one of the most dangerous moments of the Cold War? Does nothing really ever happen? And how much do we – or should we – trust computers?
@nktpnd.bsky.social explains, with a little help from a Wojak meme: youtube.com/shorts/wzMqD...
@nktpnd.bsky.social explains, with a little help from a Wojak meme: youtube.com/shorts/wzMqD...
The Nuclear Crisis That Wasn't (Wojak Version)
YouTube video by Carnegie Explains
youtube.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:55 PM
In which I review an internet meme on inadvertent nuclear war.
Reposted by Ankit Panda
You can see the outlines of an illiberal international order
This is quite a story: the US employed every strongarm tactic available, including personal threats against delegates and their families, to derail an agreement on reducing shipping emissions that was almost finalized. on.ft.com/47lq3dZ
November 3, 2025 at 2:29 PM
You can see the outlines of an illiberal international order
Latest Trump comments on nuclear testing from CBS suggest he's latched onto the zero-yield controversy; State Department compliance reports in 2021 accused Russia of conducting "experiments" that generated "nuclear yield" (not so for China) www.cbsnews.com/news/read-fu...
November 3, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Latest Trump comments on nuclear testing from CBS suggest he's latched onto the zero-yield controversy; State Department compliance reports in 2021 accused Russia of conducting "experiments" that generated "nuclear yield" (not so for China) www.cbsnews.com/news/read-fu...
Reposted by Ankit Panda
Noncritical nuclear tests? Oh so the warheads can't handle a little criticism? Bunch of snowflakes. Woke DEI strikes again.
November 2, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Noncritical nuclear tests? Oh so the warheads can't handle a little criticism? Bunch of snowflakes. Woke DEI strikes again.
Good to have some clarity www.latimes.com/world-nation...
U.S. plans for nuclear weapons testing won't include explosions, energy secretary says
Energy Secretary Chris Wright says that new tests of the U.S. nuclear weapons system ordered up by President Trump will not include nuclear explosions
www.latimes.com
November 2, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Good to have some clarity www.latimes.com/world-nation...
Incredible things are happening apnews.com/article/trum...
Trump to host al-Sharaa in first-ever visit by a Syrian president to White House, official says
President Donald Trump will host Ahmad al-Sharaa for talks, a first-ever visit by a Syrian president to the White House. That's according to an administration official.
apnews.com
November 2, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Incredible things are happening apnews.com/article/trum...
Crusader Kings.
Old: The US might illegally attack Venezuela.
New: The US might illegally attack Nigeria.
New: The US might illegally attack Nigeria.
November 1, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Crusader Kings.
Reposted by Ankit Panda
Nuclear weapons testing as it is now isn’t the same kind of testing that conjures images of mushroom clouds.
But what it could be in light of President Trump’s recent news, says @nktpnd.bsky.social, is “a completely different ballpark.”
Ankit explains on @cnn.com with @jimsciutto.bsky.social.
But what it could be in light of President Trump’s recent news, says @nktpnd.bsky.social, is “a completely different ballpark.”
Ankit explains on @cnn.com with @jimsciutto.bsky.social.
October 31, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Nuclear weapons testing as it is now isn’t the same kind of testing that conjures images of mushroom clouds.
But what it could be in light of President Trump’s recent news, says @nktpnd.bsky.social, is “a completely different ballpark.”
Ankit explains on @cnn.com with @jimsciutto.bsky.social.
But what it could be in light of President Trump’s recent news, says @nktpnd.bsky.social, is “a completely different ballpark.”
Ankit explains on @cnn.com with @jimsciutto.bsky.social.
Reposted by Ankit Panda
ICYMI:
I wrote up thoughts on the whole Donald Trump nuclear testing kerfuffle.
Free, public post.
www.patreon.com/posts/no-nuc...
At the end of the day, there is no national security while we leave Trump et al regime in power.
I wrote up thoughts on the whole Donald Trump nuclear testing kerfuffle.
Free, public post.
www.patreon.com/posts/no-nuc...
At the end of the day, there is no national security while we leave Trump et al regime in power.
No Nuclear Explosive Testing, Not Today (Probably) | Martin Pfeiffer
Get more from Martin Pfeiffer on Patreon
www.patreon.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:27 PM
ICYMI:
I wrote up thoughts on the whole Donald Trump nuclear testing kerfuffle.
Free, public post.
www.patreon.com/posts/no-nuc...
At the end of the day, there is no national security while we leave Trump et al regime in power.
I wrote up thoughts on the whole Donald Trump nuclear testing kerfuffle.
Free, public post.
www.patreon.com/posts/no-nuc...
At the end of the day, there is no national security while we leave Trump et al regime in power.
Bellos was brilliant and a strong influence on me when I was younger. A great loss.
We're sad to hear of the death of David Bellos, a wonderfully witty writer, professor, translator and judge of the 2016 International Booker Prize.
October 31, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Bellos was brilliant and a strong influence on me when I was younger. A great loss.
"Andrii Sybiha's comments are the first confirmation that Russia has used the ground-launched 9M729 missile in combat - in Ukraine or elsewhere." www.reuters.com/business/aer...
www.reuters.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:47 PM
"Andrii Sybiha's comments are the first confirmation that Russia has used the ground-launched 9M729 missile in combat - in Ukraine or elsewhere." www.reuters.com/business/aer...
Reposted by Ankit Panda
President Trump’s directive to test nuclear weapons “on an equal basis” caused widespread alarm. But is the U.S. actually about to start testing nuclear weapons again?
The reality of the situation is a bit murkier than it may seem. @jamiekwong.bsky.social explains.
The reality of the situation is a bit murkier than it may seem. @jamiekwong.bsky.social explains.
October 31, 2025 at 3:51 PM
President Trump’s directive to test nuclear weapons “on an equal basis” caused widespread alarm. But is the U.S. actually about to start testing nuclear weapons again?
The reality of the situation is a bit murkier than it may seem. @jamiekwong.bsky.social explains.
The reality of the situation is a bit murkier than it may seem. @jamiekwong.bsky.social explains.
Will be on @cnn.com with @jimsciutto.bsky.social this evening to discuss why the US does not need to—and should not want to—test nuclear weapons.
October 30, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Will be on @cnn.com with @jimsciutto.bsky.social this evening to discuss why the US does not need to—and should not want to—test nuclear weapons.
Reposted by Ankit Panda
One problem with testing "on an equal basis" with Russia and China is that they might not be on equal basis with each other. If we match Russia, China gets a free pass to follow. China has the smallest number of tests (45 v 🇷🇺715 and 🇺🇸1032) and ∴ the most to gain from new data.
October 30, 2025 at 2:32 PM
One problem with testing "on an equal basis" with Russia and China is that they might not be on equal basis with each other. If we match Russia, China gets a free pass to follow. China has the smallest number of tests (45 v 🇷🇺715 and 🇺🇸1032) and ∴ the most to gain from new data.
I spoke to the @nytimes.com about Trump's unclear comments about nuclear testing www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/u...
Trump’s Test Threat Could Fuel Nuclear Tensions With China
www.nytimes.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:53 PM
I spoke to the @nytimes.com about Trump's unclear comments about nuclear testing www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/u...