Arms Control Wonk

Episode28 min

The Pahalgam Panic

In what seems like clockwork, India and Pakistan fought an “almost war” recently, prompting concerns about the risk of nuclear war. Aaron and Jeffrey sat down to talk about the crisis, the meaning of deterrence, and how it worked during…

Article

Iran’s (Not So) Integrated Air Defenses at Natanz

Jeffrey and I recently had a story with Aaron Mehta in Breaking Defense on Iran’s air defenses around Natanz: Aaron Mehta, “Iran’s air defenses around nuclear site more ‘brittle’ than expected: Exclusive analysis,” Breaking Defense, May 15, 2025, https://breakingdefense.com/2025/05/irans-air-defenses-around-nuclear-site-more-brittle-than-expected-exclusive-analysis/ Since…

Episode31 min

Don’t Say JCPOA

The Trump administration appears to be willing to return to the JCPOA, so long as you do not call it the JCPOA. Aaron and Jeffrey sat down to discuss the latest back and forth with Iran and what’s at stake…

Episode36 min

Brilliant Swarms

Aaron and Jeffrey sat down for their first video podcast to discuss the cost of Brilliant Swarm, the name du moment of Brilliant Pebbles, aka space based missile defense.  Watch the video pod over on YouTube!

Episode29 min

Orbital Collisions

Aaron and Jeffrey sat down to discuss the latest news about anti-satellite warfare and why bumping and grinding in the cosmos is back en vogue.  

Episode42 min

Tusk Muses About France’s Force De Frappe

Donald Tusk — not the indulgent follow up to the perfect Fleetwood Mac Album Rumours — mused recently about the future of deterrence in Europe. The discussion reminds of the challenges of extended deterrence, the oh so very French debate…

Article

Kim Jong Un’s Early Valentine’s Day Present

Looks like Valentine’s Day came early this winter for Kim Jong Un. The North Koreans are significantly expanding the February 11 Plant (Feb 11) outside of Hamhung. We think we have identified a new missile assembly building under construction, an…

Article

IAEA Safeguards and Nuclear Disarmament Verification

Last month I published a journal article on this subject, part of a long-term policy research project to explore the concept of irreversibility in nuclear disarmament as called for under, inter alia, the 2000 NPT Review Conference Final Document. This…

Episode30 min

The Oreshnik IRBM

Russia launched an experimental, offensive missile into Ukraine, aimed at the PA Pivdenmash (former Yuzhmash) factory. This is a new world of missile combat, as this looks to be the first use of an IRBM (though not at IRBM ranges)…

Episode32 min

Fred Kaplan and A Capital Calamity

The legendary Fred Kaplan joins Jeffrey to talk about his brand new novel, A Capital Calamity.  Fred and Jeffrey talk through the Fred’s experiences in nuclear strategy and the influences on his new novel, A Capital Calamity, from JFK’s EXCOMM…