Today in 1961, President John F. Kennedy addressed the United Nations General Assembly and memorably warned, “Every man, woman and child lives under a nuclear sword of Damocles, hanging by the slenderest of threads, capable of being cut at any moment by accident or miscalculation or by madness. ...”

In the Bulletin, I argue that continuing compliance with the central limits of New START for a year, or two, or three, would offer time for exploring what future accords might help avoid the dangers of a three-way nuclear arms competition.

So two things: 1) Maybe Bessent should Google about the one time NATO’s Article V was actually invoked; 2) I’d be happy to spring for a “Alliances: How Do They Work?” tutorial for Bessent.

Before traveling to the Alaska summit, Trump was asked about the pending expiration of New START, and said: “That’s not an agreement you want expiring. We’re starting to work on that.” Let's hope he seizes the opportunity of Putin's offer -- and then uses the time to explore new accords.

Important WaPo story on the challenges of reprocessing, quoting me and others: www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Ukraine’s ability to withstand Russian missile strikes offers crucial lessons for Taiwan as it contends with China’s massive missile arsenal. Joined by Harvard Kennedy School’s Matthew Bunn (@matthew-bunn.bsky.social), we look at Taiwan’s anti-missile defense strategy. 📺 youtu.be/hqKgbqG1h8w

The conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, Houthi strikes on maritime trade and China’s growing arsenal show how missile warfare is reshaping the battlefield. Harvard Kennedy School’s Matthew Bunn (@matthew-bunn.bsky.social) breaks down where missile warfare stands today. 📺 youtu.be/Gicn-GdOAiQ

President Trump should seize the opportunity to maintain nuclear restraint and agree with Russian President Putin's proposal to stay within the New START limits for 1 year, to give time to explore future accords. www.rferl.org/a/russia-nuc...

Proud to be part of the high-level, bipartisan Task Force on Nuclear Proliferation and U.S. National Security, which just released its report, calling for nonproliferation to remain a top U.S. national security priority and offering ideas for a revitalized strategy to counter growing risk.

"It is probable that Putin yawned when, on Friday, Trump said his patience was 'running out fast' and 'we’re going to have to come down very, very strong.'" www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Control: • Executive • Legislature • Courts Modify: election processes, reject losses Dominate: • Media • Big companies • Universities Persecute, intimidate: critics, all who speak out The authoritarian playbook.

"When citizens must think twice about criticizing or opposing the government because they could credibly face government retribution, they no longer live in a full democracy." A thought from months ago seems even more relevant today. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/08/o...

The phrasing in the headline is awkward but this seems more like extended deterrence than nuclear sharing/tech transfer

A house in my neighborhood has dahlias that are dialed up to 11, and I wish I could give them to everyone everywhere.

Of course, this is hardly going to make China more relaxed about U.S. efforts to maintain the capability to threaten its nuclear deterrent.

Are you a recent college or graduate school alum looking to help reduce nuclear threats or resolve global conflicts? Apply to @scovillepf.bsky.social by October 20 for a chance to work for six to nine months in Washington, D.C. ⤵️ scoville.org

Alexandra Petri is relentlessly hilarious and always on point.

Anti-Defamation League report: "The trend in recent years has been for the great majority of extremist-related murders to be connected to some form of right-wing extremism. That is also true for 2024: for the third year in a row, all the murders identified were tied to right-wing extremism."

This is false. For example, the libertarian @cato.org breaks down the numbers, showing about 6 deaths from right-wing politically motivated attackers for every 1 from left-wing attackers. Moreover, the claim that shooters represent anyone other than an unhinged fraction of society is the deeper lie.

When will the left address its political-violence problem?

Jessica Chastain on being a master's student at HKS: “There’s people from all over the world in this program...There’s a lot of future politicians. There’s a lot of politicians from their countries there right now. I’m not there to be a politician. I’m there to fight politicians.”

This is a big deal. Pakistan in effect offering extended deterrence to Saudi Arabia -- which reportedly helped finance Pakistan's nuclear program. Will this reduce Saudi interest in its own nuclear weapons -- or result in assistance? Hard to say.

The last political column I was allowed to write in the @washingtonpost.com was a criticism of Obama. His people took issue with my piece, but we were respectful. Now he is tweeting in support of me. This is how free political speech and respect for debate *actually works*. Or used to work.

RDI Chairman @garrykasparov.bsky.social: "Last night, apropos of nothing at all, I was thinking about how in Russia, you can’t go on television and make fun of the president or his favorites."

Rarely does this regime give such a compliment to the folks fighting back. Please work to make this courage contagious: nokings.org

1/4 Congratulations to Nonproliferation Review McElvany Award winners for their articles! @lydiawachs.bsky.social (grand prize), @karldewey1.bsky.social (runner-up), & Austin Cooper (honorable mention). Links to #openaccess articles in subsequent posts below. nonproliferation.org/article-on-r...

The European Leadership Network provides a quick summary of debates in Iran about what to do about France, Germany, and Britain triggering snapback. Some glimmers that diplomacy may be edging out NPT withdrawal, for now.

Iran and the IAEA have reached a deal for return of inspectors -- but so far without a specific timeline. Grossi says it includes “all facilities and installations in Iran, and it also contemplates the required reporting on all the attacked facilities, including the nuclear material.”

Still the best explanation of Russian tactics and the difficulty of deterrence. From: Yes, Prime Minister.

Striking how far the Russian drones penetrated into Poland. These were no mere trespasses near Polish borders. Map from @thestudyofwar.bsky.social

"I reproduce here Robert F. Kennedy’s remarks in Indianapolis on the evening of April 4, 1968, after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr....While numerous cities experienced riots that night, Indianapolis did not." It is possible to rise above.

Nice to see at least one democracy preserving the rule of law. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

We are horrified to learn of the shooting of Charlie Kirk. Political violence has no place in democracy. The foundation of democracy rests on the principle that differences can be debated vigorously, but peacefully, without intimidation or acts of violence.

A physical attack on someone exercising their constitutional right to speak is an attack on all of us. The content of the speech is irrelevant. This is another sad day for America.

At DOJ, at DOD, at the FBI….literally everywhere, this is what you hear over and over again.

Ha! The poorest 25% of workers LOSE money under this bill while the richest Americans get a $270,000 tax cut. They can rebrand all they want. The facts are the facts. They screwed working people to help their billionaire and corporate donors.

Happy Labor Day! Long-ago ad for unions: Guy in a hammock with a s**t-eating grin, with the caption: "On Labor Day, remember who invented the weekend." For a short book recounting the history of that fight and others, check out: bookshop.org/p/books/from...

The level of stupidity in this Trump post is epic—and tragic, given the consequences. Hope Kristol is right and it’s preparation for swinging to defense of safe and effective vaccines.

“Secretary Kennedy has fired thousands of federal health workers and severely weakened programs designed to protect Americans from cancer, heart attacks, strokes, lead poisoning, injury, violence and more.”

BREAKING: Appeals court rejects Trump’s authority to impose sweeping tariffs under IEEPA. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

Excited to welcome our international students at the Harvard Kennedy School! Looks like almost all of them have decided to, and managed to, come to the United States, despite the obstacles. International students bring different experiences that enrich learning for everyone.

Thoughtful analysis of the perspectives from Europe, Russia, and Iran, and of a narrow potential path to accord from @nicolegrajewski.bsky.social. In addition, she's been posting a number of useful items on action in Iran's parliament, the text of Russia's draft UNSC resolution, etc.

It's amazing that the E3 action to start the 30-day clock on sanctions on Iran has gotten so little attention in the U.S. press. Could lead to an Iranian pullout from the NPT; to further war; to a deal on verification and limits; or to... very little. ACA's Kelsey Davenport covers the specifics.

Heads up, @washingtonpost.com @nytimes.com @latimes.com -- here's how to inform your readers with a headline, and make them want to click for the details. Fist bump to @bostonglobe.com and thanks to @sulliview.bsky.social for spotlighting media normalization of Trump

We know spending time outdoors can restore our focus and renew our energy, but how does that work? Neuroscientist Marc Berman has answers in "Nature and the Mind." It was a pleasure to review this optimistic and highly readable book for @undark.org 🌏🧪 📖 undark.org/2025/08/29/b...

Remarkable nonsense. The FDA decision will mean insurance won't pay for the vaccines for most Americans, which will mean millions won't realistically have access.

BREAKING: Big moment as CDC staff stage a mass walkout. They have lined the street outside its HQ to greet and salute the four top officials who have resigned in protest at RFK Jr’s attack on the agency’s science base. (🎥 AP)

This is interesting. We'll have to see what it says, but if this holds, the differentiation between 1 and 3 strongly implies that they're going to try to "voluntary offer" their way through safeguards, likely to deal with Bushehr and try to manage perceptions. 1/3

Fars News leaks the content of Iran’s NPT withdrawal bill: 1. Exit from the NPT & Additional Protocol 2. No negotiations under any circumstances with the US or E3 3. Suspension of cooperation with the IAEA