Six Easy Steps to Nuclear War

The podcast examines the process and potential dangers of the United States' nuclear launch system. It highlights the surprising lack of safeguards and the immense power vested in the U.S. President, who can order a nuclear attack with minimal consultation. The discussion covers the "nuclear football" and the "biscuit," a laminated card with authentication codes, essential for verifying the president's orders. Bruce Blair, a researcher at Princeton and former launch control officer, explains the rote nature of the launch checklist and the limited checks on presidential authority. The podcast also recounts historical close calls, such as a B-52 bomber incident in North Carolina and a Soviet lieutenant colonel's gut decision that averted a potential nuclear disaster, underscoring the system's reliance on human judgment and the potential for catastrophic errors.