Show overview
Arms Control Wonk has been publishing since 2020, and across the 6 years since has built a catalogue of 107 episodes. That works out to roughly 60 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a monthly cadence.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 28 min and 39 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language News show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 3 weeks ago, with 10 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2021, with 24 episodes published. Published by Jeffrey Lewis.
From the publisher
The nuclear weapons, arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation podcast. Companion to the popular Arms Control Wonk blog (www.armscontrolwonk.com). Hosted by Jeffrey Lewis & Aaron Stein.
Latest Episodes
View all 107 episodesCalculating the Cost of Golden Dome
From Past to Future
JL-3, You know me.
MOU 404
Let the Uploading Begin
From Satan to Sarmat
An Iran War Vibe Check
Conscious Decoupling
U.S. Undersecretary of State Tom DiNanno accused China of conducting decoupled, low-yield nuclear tests including on June 22, 2020. Aaron and Jeffrey talk about seismic monitoring of nuclear tests, the role of hydronuclear testing, and what might be going on. Support us over at Patreon.com/acwpodcast!
(Just Like) New START is Over
The New START treaty has expired leaving the US and Russia without a bilateral limit on offensive strategic arms for the first time in decades. There is reportedly a handshake deal not to do anything drastic for six months while the two sides talk about the outlines of a future deal, but there seems to be little agreement about what such a deal might look like. Aaron and Jeffrey discuss the end of New START, the prospects for and constraints on a looming arms race, and why even bother with arms control treaties at all. Support us over at Patreon.com/acwpodcast!
Oreshnik Again
Russia has deployed the Oreshnik system in Belarus and then, from Russia, conducted another Oreshnik test. Jefffrey and Aaron discuss how the open source team found the deployment site in Belarus before Russia announced it, what they think Oreshnik is, and how Russia managed to violate two arms control treaties with one missile. Support us over at Patreon.com/acwpodcast!
A Pod of Dynamite
Jeffrey and Scott watched the new Kathryn Bigelow movie "House of Dynamite" and they both have opinions. The crew talks through both the artistic choices as well as the wonky details. "House of Dynamite" is an interesting take on missile defense and decisionmaking that doesn't quite commit enough to any philosophical or strategic camp, but ultimately may be the lens through which a lot of non-wonks view or interact with missile defenses, conceptually, as we move towards a potential major expansion of US missile defenses. We should do a watch party. Support us over at Patreon.com/acwpodcast!
A Return to Nuclear Testing
Donald Trump directed "the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis" with other countries. The Department of War doesn't test nuclear weapons, the Department of Energy does all the time in lots of different ways. Some people worried this meant a return to explosive testing, others seemed to think it was about delivery systems. Subsequent statements by the Vice President and the Secretary of Defense didn't clarify things. Aaron and Jeffrey sit down to try to make some sense of it all. Support us over at Patreon.com/acwpodcast!
Pentagon Blocks Ukraine Strikes
Alex Ward and others at the Wall Street Journal reported on the details of a Pentagon review process that has halted Ukraine's ability to conduct long-range strikes into Russia with ATACMs, Storm Shadow and other systems that need US targeting data. Jeffrey and Aaron talk about what we already knew, what we didn't, and what it all mean. Hint: Allies should stand up their own targeting capabilities. Watch the video episode here! Support us over at Patreon.com/acwpodcast!
Fly Burevestnik Fly!
The Slack channel noticed that Russia was gearing up to test the SSC-X-9 Skyfall nuclear-powered cruise missile (aka Burevestnik), which Jeffrey and co. confirmed with satellite images. Reuters picked it up, noting how awkward all this was coming, as it did, just as Putin flew to Alaska to meet with Donald Trump. Aaron and Jeffrey talk about the OSINT and the political implications. Watch the video episode here! Support us over at Patreon.com/acwpodcast!
Iran's Pathway to the Bomb
Aaron and Jeffrey finally deconflict their schedules to talk about the outcome of the Israeli-Iranian war, Iran's pathway back to the bomb, and why they're both irritated with the "fix it or nix it crowd." Support us over at Patreon.com/acwpodcast!
Israel Strikes Iran
Aaron and Jeffrey sat down to discuss the latest new from Iran, where Israel has been launching strike on leadership, nuclear, and missile targets. Support us over at Patreon.com/acwpodcast!
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 this recent flare up. Watch the video pod over on YouTube! Support us over at Patreon.com/acwpodcast!
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 with the return to nuclear negotiations. Watch the video pod over on YouTube! Support us over at Patreon.com/acwpodcast!
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! Support us over at Patreon.com/acwpodcast!
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. Support us over at Patreon.com/acwpodcast!