Deflating the Nuclear Football

Guest: Tom Collina, Director of Policy, Ploughshares Fund North Korea claims to have tested a nuclear weapon over the weekend and now says it has the ability to launch one aboard a long-range missile that could strike the United States. In response, various US officials have sternly warned North Korea to stop its threats and they’ve not ruled out military action against North Korea. There’s no indication that would include launching a nuclear bomb at North Korea, but if President Trump wanted to, he could do it in the time it takes to send off a tweet. The nuclear codes are always at the President’s fingertips, no questions asked.  As North Korea’s threats intensify the nuclear debate, there are renewed calls to restrict the unilateral power of the US President to launch the world’s deadliest weapon.