Ankit Panda
@nktpnd.bsky.social
Stanton Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Author of ‘THE NEW NUCLEAR AGE’ (Polity) & ‘KIM JONG UN AND THE BOMB’ (Hurst/Oxford)
Subscribe to my newsletter (Nukesletter): https://panda.substack.com/
Subscribe to my newsletter (Nukesletter): https://panda.substack.com/
Pinned
Ankit Panda
@nktpnd.bsky.social
· May 21
Introducing Nukesletter
...a place for my ruminations on the new nuclear age.
panda.substack.com
Folks, I'm taking another stab at a newsletter: introducing Nukesletter (a revamp of my old newsletter from a couple years ago). Brief takes (longer form than what I'll share here) on my work, thinking, and interests. Take a look and subscribe here: panda.substack.com/p/introducin...
More evidence of the United States in the transnational repression business.
NEWS --> BBC confirms to me that they did edit a line out of historian @rutgerbregman.com's speech. It called Trump "the most openly corrupt president in US history."
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Trump’s Fury at BBC Gets Unnerving Results with Pro-MAGA Edit Stunner
First, British Broadcasting Corporation execs resigned after Trump complained about a segment. Now the BBC edited out a line from a historian that was critical of Trump. Where does this end?
newrepublic.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:08 PM
More evidence of the United States in the transnational repression business.
"Acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim and Admiral Daryl Caudle publicly linked the ROK’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines to countering China this week" koreapro.org/2025/11/nucl...
Nuclear submarines force issue of how far Seoul publicly aligns with US goals - Korea Pro
Acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim and Admiral Daryl Caudle publicly linked the ROK’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines to countering China this week, explicitly setting expectations…
koreapro.org
November 25, 2025 at 5:29 PM
"Acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim and Admiral Daryl Caudle publicly linked the ROK’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines to countering China this week" koreapro.org/2025/11/nucl...
Quite enjoyed this chat with Nick about his new book on neuroscience and war.
Nicholas Wright sits down with @nktpnd.bsky.social to discuss why understanding human cognition is key to navigating nuclear escalation (Members Only)
Listen here: warontherocks.com/ep...
Listen here: warontherocks.com/ep...
November 24, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Quite enjoyed this chat with Nick about his new book on neuroscience and war.
Missile defence in focus as China, Russia generals pledge deeper cooperation www.scmp.com/news/china/m...
Missile defence in focus as China, Russia generals pledge deeper cooperation
Zhang Youxia and Russian counterpart discuss collaboration ‘blueprint’ in Moscow as US pushes Golden Dome, nuclear weapons testing.
www.scmp.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Missile defence in focus as China, Russia generals pledge deeper cooperation www.scmp.com/news/china/m...
Reposted by Ankit Panda
Can South Korea afford the many costs of nuclear-powered submarines? My latest for @foreignpolicy.com: foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/19/t...
Can South Korea Afford the Many Costs of Nuclear-Powered Submarines?
A Trumpian promise may be hard to deliver.
foreignpolicy.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Can South Korea afford the many costs of nuclear-powered submarines? My latest for @foreignpolicy.com: foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/19/t...
Sector-specific export collapse presented as good news.
The White House just blasted this out under the headline "Good News You May Have Missed"
November 19, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Sector-specific export collapse presented as good news.
Reposted by Ankit Panda
Today in 1952, the Boston Globe published an article by science writer Michael Amrine sharing the news that the hydrogen bomb—successfully tested for the first time 18 days earlier but not yet deployed—would enable the United States to conduct mass slaughter for the low, low cost of $1 per person.
November 19, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Today in 1952, the Boston Globe published an article by science writer Michael Amrine sharing the news that the hydrogen bomb—successfully tested for the first time 18 days earlier but not yet deployed—would enable the United States to conduct mass slaughter for the low, low cost of $1 per person.
Now reading: @wellerstein.bsky.social's new book!
November 19, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Now reading: @wellerstein.bsky.social's new book!
Reposted by Ankit Panda
It was awesome to sit down with @nktpnd.bsky.social on the reemergence of tactical nuclear weapons and the various scenarios I worry are becoming more likely. Listen in and check out more from his excellent show!
What Would Constitute Nuclear Use? The State of Tactical Nuclear Weapons Today - War on the Rocks
warontherocks.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:51 PM
It was awesome to sit down with @nktpnd.bsky.social on the reemergence of tactical nuclear weapons and the various scenarios I worry are becoming more likely. Listen in and check out more from his excellent show!
Reposted by Ankit Panda
New book from @wellerstein.bsky.social , the foremost historian of the nuclear age. (Also, one of my favorite people.)
www.harpercollins.com/products/the...
www.harpercollins.com/products/the...
The Most Awful Responsibility
\"I thought I knew the story but learned much that I didn’t know. Outstanding!\"— Richard Rhodes
“This is historical research at its best.” — Dan ...
www.harpercollins.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:41 AM
New book from @wellerstein.bsky.social , the foremost historian of the nuclear age. (Also, one of my favorite people.)
www.harpercollins.com/products/the...
www.harpercollins.com/products/the...
Convenient if you're Anthropic, in a way.
"The company said human operators accounted for 10 to 20 percent of the work required to conduct the operation." www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/b...
Anthropic Says Chinese Hackers Used Its A.I. in Online Attack
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Convenient if you're Anthropic, in a way.
"The company said human operators accounted for 10 to 20 percent of the work required to conduct the operation." www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/b...
Anthropic Says Chinese Hackers Used Its A.I. in Online Attack
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:49 PM
"The company said human operators accounted for 10 to 20 percent of the work required to conduct the operation." www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/b...
"The United States has given approval for the ROK to build nuclear-powered attack submarines. The United States will work closely with the ROK to advance requirements for this shipbuilding project, including avenues to source fuel." www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/...
Joint Fact Sheet on President Donald J. Trump’s Meeting with President Lee Jae Myung
President Lee Jae Myung of the Republic of Korea (ROK) welcomed President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America (United States or U.S.) for a
www.whitehouse.gov
November 14, 2025 at 2:08 AM
"The United States has given approval for the ROK to build nuclear-powered attack submarines. The United States will work closely with the ROK to advance requirements for this shipbuilding project, including avenues to source fuel." www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/...
“...real-world presidents are probably unprepared for the burden imposed by their sole authority to order a nuclear strike.” foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/13/n...
The U.S. President Should Practice for a Nuclear Crisis
The commander in chief gets almost no preparation for the ultimate decision. That needs to change.
foreignpolicy.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:16 PM
“...real-world presidents are probably unprepared for the burden imposed by their sole authority to order a nuclear strike.” foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/13/n...
Have had a post in Substack drafts now for months that I need to finish on why SBIs invite a world of fast-ascending (think Sprint ABM), nuclear-tipped DA-ASAT weapons.
SBIs will require defensive capabilities to help protect them from adversary ASATS -- and that is a cost factor/tech challenge that is not often included in ongoing discussions about investment requirements. breakingdefense.com/2025/11/gold...
Golden Dome SBIs will need to be defended from adversary attack: Experts - Breaking Defense
The satellites will need to be defended "not only from adversary kinetic or local orbital issues, but also from cyber attacks, electronic jamming and laser attacks," said Patrick Binning, a professor ...
breakingdefense.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Have had a post in Substack drafts now for months that I need to finish on why SBIs invite a world of fast-ascending (think Sprint ABM), nuclear-tipped DA-ASAT weapons.
Trump's deal with South Korea bogged down in details over submarine www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...
www.reuters.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Trump's deal with South Korea bogged down in details over submarine www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...
Pakistan’s Army Chief Is Granted Sweeping Authority Over All Military Branches www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/w...
Pakistan’s Army Chief Is Granted Sweeping Authority Over All Military Branches
A constitutional amendment in the nuclear-armed country extends the chief’s power over all the military and brings Pakistan’s highest court under tighter political control.
www.nytimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Pakistan’s Army Chief Is Granted Sweeping Authority Over All Military Branches www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/w...
Big kulaks hoarding grain energy here.
November 7, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Big kulaks hoarding grain energy here.
Reposted by Ankit Panda
Reposted by Ankit Panda
The more important question is why Democrats everywhere are responsible for whatever happens in San Francisco or New York but Republicans don't have to spend huge amounts of time weighing in on the Texas GOP party platform.
November 4, 2025 at 4:38 PM
The more important question is why Democrats everywhere are responsible for whatever happens in San Francisco or New York but Republicans don't have to spend huge amounts of time weighing in on the Texas GOP party platform.
Many people are very annoyed that this is true. (Including me!)
Dick Cheney, among other things, directed the single largest drawdown of nuclear weapons in US history at the end of the Cold War www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/D...
November 4, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Many people are very annoyed that this is true. (Including me!)
I miss living in Astoria (and Jackson Heights).
It’s unfortunate that Bushwick has become such a metonym for the Mamdani campaign. Astoria — where he lives and represents, and which has a (frankly very Reddit-coded) mix of earnest lib professionals and high-striving immigrant entrepreneurs — captures better the sensibility that he ran on.
On this beautiful morning in Astoria, I cast my ballot for our city and our future.
I hope you will too.
I hope you will too.
November 4, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I miss living in Astoria (and Jackson Heights).
Dick Cheney, among other things, directed the single largest drawdown of nuclear weapons in US history at the end of the Cold War www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/D...
November 4, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Dick Cheney, among other things, directed the single largest drawdown of nuclear weapons in US history at the end of the Cold War www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/D...
Reposted by Ankit Panda
All nuclear explosions are supercritical. He probably means “hydronuclear” — slightly supercritical with insignificant fission release (<1 lb). The US conducted ~35 during the 1958-1961 test moratorium. As a Harvard-educated lawyer, he can understand this—if it’s to his benefit.
November 4, 2025 at 12:42 AM
All nuclear explosions are supercritical. He probably means “hydronuclear” — slightly supercritical with insignificant fission release (<1 lb). The US conducted ~35 during the 1958-1961 test moratorium. As a Harvard-educated lawyer, he can understand this—if it’s to his benefit.