The Doomsday Machine: A Conversation with Carl Robichaud (Episode #330)

One of the primary locations where the fissile material for the Manhattan Project was produced, leading to lasting health and environmental effects.

One of the primary locations where the fissile material for the Manhattan Project was produced, leading to lasting health and environmental effects.

A region that was the subject of a fictitious war game scenario during the Obama Administration, involving a Russian invasion and the use of nuclear weapons.

A nuclear power whose invasion of Ukraine has heightened nuclear risk and whose nuclear arsenal expansion is a concern, also discussed in terms of US-China-Russia nuclear standoff.

A nuclear power with a rapidly expanding arsenal, creating a potential three-way nuclear standoff with the US and Russia, and involved in growing tensions with the US over Taiwan.

The country that had a nuclear weapons program first, prompting the U.S. to pursue nuclear weapons out of fear, and a context for ethical considerations in warfare.

A country whose invasion by Russia in 2022 escalated nuclear risk, drawing comparisons to the Cuban Missile Crisis, and whose potential nuclear arsenal is discussed.

Has indicated to Russia that nuclear weapons should not be used in the Ukraine conflict.

The focal point of a potential hot war between the US and China, with the US commitment to defend it becoming less equivocal.

A key site of the Manhattan Project, but only a part of the larger effort to produce nuclear weapons.

One of two Japanese cities where the atomic bombs were dropped by the United States in 1945, with its ethical implications discussed.

The country where the US had missiles secretly removed in exchange for the Soviet removal of missiles from Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The US President whose administration has become less equivocal about its willingness to defend Taiwan.

A writer at The New Yorker whose class on 'thinking the unthinkable' was instrumental in Carl Robichaud's interest in nuclear weapons, and author of 'The Fate of the Earth'.

The administrator of the U.S. occupation in Tokyo after World War II, during which John Hersey secretly recorded the stories of Hiroshima survivors.

A Soviet commodore who outranked his captain on a nuclear-armed submarine during the Cuban Missile Crisis and prevented the launch of a nuclear torpedo.

US President who unilaterally took all US tactical nuclear weapons off alert in 1991, in recognition of a changed security environment after the Soviet Union's fall.

Former government official and chief negotiator for the New START Treaty, who utilized her expertise built outside of government.

A recognized war reporter at The New Yorker who recorded the stories of six Hiroshima survivors, revealing the human cost and radiation sickness, changing the public's view of the atomic bomb.

Co-leads Longview Philanthropy's program on nuclear weapons policy and co-manages their nuclear weapons policy fund, serving as the expert guest on the podcast.

Author of 'The Bomb', known for describing war games that highlight different outcomes based on who is making decisions in nuclear conflict scenarios.

An geopolitical strategist whose work on China's demographic collapse is mentioned.

A scientist mentioned in a scene with Oppenheimer, discussing the possibility of igniting the atmosphere with the Trinity test.

Oversaw the Manhattan Project's enormous engineering feat, primarily focused on producing fissile material in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Hanford, Washington.

A Soviet lieutenant colonel in 1983 who, observing faulty radar data indicating a US first strike, reasoned it was an error and thus averted a retaliatory nuclear response.

US Ambassador to the UN during the Cuban Missile Crisis, who was favorably inclined towards accepting Khrushchev's offer.

Author of 'Command and Control', a book detailing the preparations for continuity of government in the event of nuclear war.

The leader of China, who has stated his desire to deal with the Taiwan issue during his tenure.

Soviet leader during the Cuban Missile Crisis, who secretly agreed to remove missiles from Cuba in exchange for the removal of US missiles from Turkey.

A former US Secretary of Defense with whom Sam Harris discussed the psychological aspect of a retaliatory nuclear strike.

Soviet leader who, with Ronald Reagan, agreed in 1986 that a nuclear war can never be won and must never be fought, leading to a shared understanding and the INF Treaty.

The US President who made the decision to drop the atomic bombs on Japan, later framed the decision as a necessity to save lives.

Russian president who has made references and threats with nuclear weapons during the Ukraine War, manipulating risk.

The central figure of the film Oppenheimer, whose perspective largely frames the narrative, and who was opposed to the development of the H-bomb.

Cuban leader who wrote to Khrushchev encouraging the use of nuclear weapons against the United States during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

US President who, along with Mikhail Gorbachev, agreed in 1986 that a nuclear war can never be won and must never be fought, leading to de-escalation.

A veteran nuclear launch officer and expert in nuclear command and control, seen as a hero for exposing dangers in the nuclear enterprise.

The director of the film Oppenheimer, whose work is lauded for making the problem of nuclear weapons unignorable to millions of people.

Host of the Making Sense podcast, discussing nuclear risk with Carl Robichaud.

A dangerous nuclear system in development, deemed escalatory due to its target and payload ambiguity, as Congress put money back into its development.

An arms control treaty for which Rose Gottemoeller was the chief negotiator, with civil society playing a crucial role in its passage through Congress.

An arms control agreement that limited some of the most destabilizing weapons in Europe, resulting from the shared understanding between Reagan and Gorbachev.

The secret research and development undertaking by the United States with the support of the United Kingdom and Canada during World War II that produced the first nuclear weapons. 90% of its budget went to producing fissile material.

Discussed as a new technology with parallels to nuclear weapons, with concerns about its role in nuclear command and control and the potential for machines to make decisions.

Making efforts to limit the role of AI in nuclear decision-making, and has put money back into development of the sea-launched cruise missile.

An organization founded by Andrew Carnegie, also mentioned as working on inadvertent nuclear escalation and technological entanglement.

An international organization that reflects Oppenheimer's vision of international control over the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, helping to regulate nuclear weapons.

A foundation that will be contributing to Longview Philanthropy's nuclear weapons policy fund.

The US presidential administration during which war games were conducted over a fictitious scenario of an invasion of the Baltics and nuclear weapons use.

An organization where Carl Robichaud previously worked, focusing on arms control, international security policy, and non-proliferation.

The advisory body to the President on national security and foreign policy matters, which recommended invading Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

A group looking at dangerous nuclear systems in development, such as the sea-launched cruise missile.

An intergovernmental military alliance whose deterrence element is a reason why Russia has not used nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

An organization where Rose Gottemoeller built expertise later helpful in her role as chief negotiator for the New START Treaty.

An organization working in nuclear risk reduction that Sam Harris has supported financially.

The largest funder in the nuclear security space, which chose to exit the field in 2020.

A tiny think tank based in New York where Carl Robichaud previously worked, involved in editing volumes and preparing events on counter-terrorism, Afghanistan, and Iran's nuclear program.

An organization that Carl Robichaud works with, leading their nuclear weapons policy program and co-managing a fund.

A grant-making foundation where Carl Robichaud previously led grant-making in nuclear security for over a decade, established by Andrew Carnegie.

A film referenced at the beginning of the podcast as a masterpiece that benefits from being seen on the big screen, serving as a backdrop for the discussion on nuclear weapons.

A film referenced to describe the impractical and insane machinations of nuclear war and continuity of government plans.

A book by Eric Schlosser detailing the preparations for continuity of government in the event of a full-scale nuclear exchange, highlighting its impracticality and insanity.

A book by Fred Kaplan, mentioned as a 'national treasure', describing war games and exercises conducted during the Obama Administration.

John Hersey's small book, adapted from his New Yorker articles, detailing the human experience of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and revealing radiation sickness.

A book by Jonathan Schell that was instrumental in Sam Harris becoming aware of the nuclear issue.