Stephen Young
@atomicwonk.bsky.social
Advocate for more sensible nuclear weapons policies, firm believer that we should not live in a world where hundreds of millions could be dead in an hour. Associate Director for Government Affairs, Global Security Program, Union of Concerned Scientists
Reposted by Stephen Young
This is a community that cares deeply, spreads kindness, and seeks to build a better world.
Today we remembered the lives lost at the hands of ICE. Tomorrow we continue our work to peacefully build safer communities for all.
Today we remembered the lives lost at the hands of ICE. Tomorrow we continue our work to peacefully build safer communities for all.
January 11, 2026 at 6:18 PM
This is a community that cares deeply, spreads kindness, and seeks to build a better world.
Today we remembered the lives lost at the hands of ICE. Tomorrow we continue our work to peacefully build safer communities for all.
Today we remembered the lives lost at the hands of ICE. Tomorrow we continue our work to peacefully build safer communities for all.
Reposted by Stephen Young
they want you to think minneapolis is dangerous. more of brass solidarity band performing today at powderhorn park at the anti ICE protest after their agent killed renee good. the band is made up of community members around george floyd square and they bring joy to every action they appear at
January 11, 2026 at 2:29 AM
they want you to think minneapolis is dangerous. more of brass solidarity band performing today at powderhorn park at the anti ICE protest after their agent killed renee good. the band is made up of community members around george floyd square and they bring joy to every action they appear at
Reposted by Stephen Young
I can't believe I'm posting this video - but we actually have to have a conversation about the real world implications of America going to war over Greenland.
Let me walk you through it. It doesn't turn out well for us.
Let me walk you through it. It doesn't turn out well for us.
January 11, 2026 at 2:44 AM
I can't believe I'm posting this video - but we actually have to have a conversation about the real world implications of America going to war over Greenland.
Let me walk you through it. It doesn't turn out well for us.
Let me walk you through it. It doesn't turn out well for us.
Reposted by Stephen Young
Today in 1984, security officers at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, hurriedly parked a large armored vehicle over the 110-ton door of a Minuteman III ICBM silo after electronic sensors gave launch officers alarming (but ultimately false) indications that the missile’s firing sequence had begun.
Armored Car Use to Block Missile Told
The Air Force said Wednesday it was only as "an added precaution" that an armored car was hurriedly parked atop a Minuteman 3 silo after the nuclear missile inside gave off false signals suggesting it...
www.latimes.com
January 10, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Today in 1984, security officers at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, hurriedly parked a large armored vehicle over the 110-ton door of a Minuteman III ICBM silo after electronic sensors gave launch officers alarming (but ultimately false) indications that the missile’s firing sequence had begun.
Reposted by Stephen Young
The authoritarian, violent, and anti-science actions of the Trump admin over the past week show clear contempt for democracy and the public good, endangering people in the US and around the world.
Congress must uphold its constitutional responsibility and hold the administration accountable.
Congress must uphold its constitutional responsibility and hold the administration accountable.
January 9, 2026 at 4:25 PM
The authoritarian, violent, and anti-science actions of the Trump admin over the past week show clear contempt for democracy and the public good, endangering people in the US and around the world.
Congress must uphold its constitutional responsibility and hold the administration accountable.
Congress must uphold its constitutional responsibility and hold the administration accountable.
Reposted by Stephen Young
It's completely understandable to be irritated that larger accounts are sharing screenshots of you to direct harassment except, wait a minute, you have three times the number of followers than Sky, and you also said that Sky should fear for their safety in public and have their address doxxed.
January 5, 2026 at 3:10 AM
It's completely understandable to be irritated that larger accounts are sharing screenshots of you to direct harassment except, wait a minute, you have three times the number of followers than Sky, and you also said that Sky should fear for their safety in public and have their address doxxed.
Not legal expert but this seems reasonable to me EXCEPT the fact that Trump said the US will run Venezuela does NOT mean the US will run Venezuela.
Jack Goldsmith on the legality of the Venezuela operation: open.substack.com/pub/executiv...
On the Legality of the Venezuela Invasion
Executive branch precedents can be garnered to support the action—which does not, of course, mean that it is lawful.
open.substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 4:10 AM
Not legal expert but this seems reasonable to me EXCEPT the fact that Trump said the US will run Venezuela does NOT mean the US will run Venezuela.
Reposted by Stephen Young
I actually ended up getting some #DissertationWriting today.
I do, once again, recommend reading Hugh Gusterson’s “Nuclear Weapons and the “Other” in the Western Imagination.”
In any case I did the meme along those lines:
In any case I did the meme along those lines:
December 28, 2025 at 12:39 AM
I actually ended up getting some #DissertationWriting today.
Reposted by Stephen Young
Today in 1964, Rod Serling’s “Carol for Another Christmas,” one of the most unusual versions of Charles Dickens’ classic story ever shown on television, was broadcast for the first and only time on ABC, the first in a series of programs fully underwritten by Xerox to support the United Nations.
December 28, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Today in 1964, Rod Serling’s “Carol for Another Christmas,” one of the most unusual versions of Charles Dickens’ classic story ever shown on television, was broadcast for the first and only time on ABC, the first in a series of programs fully underwritten by Xerox to support the United Nations.
Reposted by Stephen Young
"The United States is currently undergoing a “once in a generation” nuclear modernization program that will cost nearly $2 trillion over its lifetime and, ironically, take multiple generations to complete due to delays."
Excited to announce that my @ucs.org colleague and @scovillepf.bsky.social fellow Sean Manning has his first piece on the UCS blog. He provides a critical analysis of rising military spending & the expanding influence of the military-industrial complex. Take a look: blog.ucs.org/sean-manning...
The Exploding Scope of the Military-Industrial Complex
Members of both major political parties have begun to question ballooning defense expenditures, which have almost tripled since the 1990s.
blog.ucs.org
December 23, 2025 at 9:10 PM
"The United States is currently undergoing a “once in a generation” nuclear modernization program that will cost nearly $2 trillion over its lifetime and, ironically, take multiple generations to complete due to delays."
In a hugely insightful piece on #AHouseofDynamite in @thebulletin.org, Scott Sagan & Shreya Lad include a great tidbit: the SecDef who commits suicide is a throwback to Truman's former SecDef James Forrestal, who killed himself in the same fashion. @nytimes.com: www.nytimes.com/1949/05/23/a...
FORRESTAL KILLED IN 13-STORY LEAP; U. S. MOURNING SET; NATION IS SHOCKED He Was a War Casualty as if He Died at Front, President Declares COPIED A POEM ON DEATH Had Seemed to Be Improving in the Naval...
www.nytimes.com
December 20, 2025 at 11:05 PM
In a hugely insightful piece on #AHouseofDynamite in @thebulletin.org, Scott Sagan & Shreya Lad include a great tidbit: the SecDef who commits suicide is a throwback to Truman's former SecDef James Forrestal, who killed himself in the same fashion. @nytimes.com: www.nytimes.com/1949/05/23/a...
Reposted by Stephen Young
CIA Realizes It’s Been Using Black Highlighters All These Year
theonion.com/cia-realizes...
theonion.com/cia-realizes...
December 19, 2025 at 9:27 PM
CIA Realizes It’s Been Using Black Highlighters All These Year
theonion.com/cia-realizes...
theonion.com/cia-realizes...
Reposted by Stephen Young
Yesterday, Rep. @joeneguse.bsky.social joined us via Zoom at #AGU25 to reject the Trump admin’s proposal to dismantle the Ntl. Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), one of the US’ leading weather & climate research institutions.
Urge Congress to halt this dangerous action: act.ucsusa.org/4oWtCwz
Urge Congress to halt this dangerous action: act.ucsusa.org/4oWtCwz
December 18, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Yesterday, Rep. @joeneguse.bsky.social joined us via Zoom at #AGU25 to reject the Trump admin’s proposal to dismantle the Ntl. Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), one of the US’ leading weather & climate research institutions.
Urge Congress to halt this dangerous action: act.ucsusa.org/4oWtCwz
Urge Congress to halt this dangerous action: act.ucsusa.org/4oWtCwz
Reposted by Stephen Young
“The research done at NCAR is an investment by every single tax-paying citizen in the United States, and it benefits all of us,” said UCS's @marc-alessi.bsky.social. “We are able to predict the weather days in advance, giving warning for hurricanes, extreme precipitation events, and droughts.”
We're all at risk if Trump dismantles this legendary lab
Breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research would be a "genuinely shocking self-inflicted wound."
grist.org
December 18, 2025 at 9:09 PM
“The research done at NCAR is an investment by every single tax-paying citizen in the United States, and it benefits all of us,” said UCS's @marc-alessi.bsky.social. “We are able to predict the weather days in advance, giving warning for hurricanes, extreme precipitation events, and droughts.”
Reposted by Stephen Young
The Vanity Fair photographer from the Susie Wiles story.
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
December 17, 2025 at 8:34 PM
The Vanity Fair photographer from the Susie Wiles story.
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
Excited to announce that my @ucs.org colleague and @scovillepf.bsky.social fellow Sean Manning has his first piece on the UCS blog. He provides a critical analysis of rising military spending & the expanding influence of the military-industrial complex. Take a look: blog.ucs.org/sean-manning...
The Exploding Scope of the Military-Industrial Complex
Members of both major political parties have begun to question ballooning defense expenditures, which have almost tripled since the 1990s.
blog.ucs.org
December 16, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Excited to announce that my @ucs.org colleague and @scovillepf.bsky.social fellow Sean Manning has his first piece on the UCS blog. He provides a critical analysis of rising military spending & the expanding influence of the military-industrial complex. Take a look: blog.ucs.org/sean-manning...
Reposted by Stephen Young
I gave a more accurate comparison here: “We would need to deploy more than 24,700 Iron Dome batteries to defend the 3.7 million square miles of the continental United States. At $100 million per battery, that would be approximately $2,470,000,000,000.” www.defenseone.com/ideas/2024/0...
Can Donald Trump really build an Iron Dome over America?
In a word, no. The president-turned-candidate is still selling the same old missile-defense snake oil.
www.defenseone.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:27 PM
I gave a more accurate comparison here: “We would need to deploy more than 24,700 Iron Dome batteries to defend the 3.7 million square miles of the continental United States. At $100 million per battery, that would be approximately $2,470,000,000,000.” www.defenseone.com/ideas/2024/0...
Reposted by Stephen Young
Authoritarianism 101: Punish people and institutions who speak out against the regime. A chilling @reuters.com analysis documents the administration’s ongoing efforts to suppress dissent and identifies at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership.
Trump’s campaign of retribution: At least 470 targets and counting
A Reuters investigation documents at least 470 acts of retribution under Trump’s leadership.
www.reuters.com
December 11, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Authoritarianism 101: Punish people and institutions who speak out against the regime. A chilling @reuters.com analysis documents the administration’s ongoing efforts to suppress dissent and identifies at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership.
Reposted by Stephen Young
Climate litigation brought some big moments in 2025. Courts stepped in where political systems faltered as judges restored funding, protected rights, and kept the door open for climate accountability. UCS's Delta Merner recaps some of the biggest climate wins of the year:
The Courts Delivered Important Climate Wins in 2025
In case after case, communities and states have secured real victories.
blog.ucs.org
December 10, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Climate litigation brought some big moments in 2025. Courts stepped in where political systems faltered as judges restored funding, protected rights, and kept the door open for climate accountability. UCS's Delta Merner recaps some of the biggest climate wins of the year:
A retired general argued that the fool's Golden Dome is feasible using an image stating the US system would defend an area 16 times larger than Iron Dome does for Israel. As the map shows, the US is in fact over 450 times larger. Expect more of this type of analysis from Golden Dome supporters.
December 11, 2025 at 7:12 PM
A retired general argued that the fool's Golden Dome is feasible using an image stating the US system would defend an area 16 times larger than Iron Dome does for Israel. As the map shows, the US is in fact over 450 times larger. Expect more of this type of analysis from Golden Dome supporters.
Reposted by Stephen Young
My blog on China's new arms control white paper. Short on arsenal details, long on sticking to the same nuclear thinking. Interesting bits include focus on developing countries' right to emerging tech for development and risk reduction with Chinese characteristics. blog.ucs.org/robert-rust/...
How Should We Read China’s First White Paper on Arms Control in 20 Years?
China's government says it remains open to arms control, characterizing the expansion of its nuclear arsenal as consistent with a defensive military posture.
blog.ucs.org
December 11, 2025 at 7:45 AM
My blog on China's new arms control white paper. Short on arsenal details, long on sticking to the same nuclear thinking. Interesting bits include focus on developing countries' right to emerging tech for development and risk reduction with Chinese characteristics. blog.ucs.org/robert-rust/...
Reposted by Stephen Young
A reminder that he has virtually unrestricted nuclear launch authority as you watch all the unhinged, racist, and sexist shit that Trump is spewing.
December 10, 2025 at 12:54 AM
A reminder that he has virtually unrestricted nuclear launch authority as you watch all the unhinged, racist, and sexist shit that Trump is spewing.
For your consideration:
In World War II, about 70 million people were killed in a conflict lasting 6 years.
Today, the US could kill 70 million people in less than an hour using roughly one-tenth of its deployed nuclear arsenal.
It would have another 1400 nuclear weapons.
In World War II, about 70 million people were killed in a conflict lasting 6 years.
Today, the US could kill 70 million people in less than an hour using roughly one-tenth of its deployed nuclear arsenal.
It would have another 1400 nuclear weapons.
December 10, 2025 at 3:37 AM
For your consideration:
In World War II, about 70 million people were killed in a conflict lasting 6 years.
Today, the US could kill 70 million people in less than an hour using roughly one-tenth of its deployed nuclear arsenal.
It would have another 1400 nuclear weapons.
In World War II, about 70 million people were killed in a conflict lasting 6 years.
Today, the US could kill 70 million people in less than an hour using roughly one-tenth of its deployed nuclear arsenal.
It would have another 1400 nuclear weapons.
First DOGE shuts down the US Institute of Peace, and now Trump has the empty building with no staff renamed for himself.
Words fail.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/u...
Words fail.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/u...
Trump Renames Institute of Peace for Himself
www.nytimes.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:27 PM
First DOGE shuts down the US Institute of Peace, and now Trump has the empty building with no staff renamed for himself.
Words fail.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/u...
Words fail.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/u...
My super smart @ucs.org colleague @lauraegrego.bsky.social answers a ton of questions generated around #AHouseofDynamite, including #nuclear weapons, missile defense, who controls US nukes, and more. Give it a look!
"A House of Dynamite:" UCS Expert Q&A
YouTube video by Union of Concerned Scientists
www.youtube.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:25 PM
My super smart @ucs.org colleague @lauraegrego.bsky.social answers a ton of questions generated around #AHouseofDynamite, including #nuclear weapons, missile defense, who controls US nukes, and more. Give it a look!