Skip to content
TrackPodcasts
newsJan 24, 201723:34pending

How do you launch a nuclear missile?

The Inquiry

About this episode

'Do we want his finger anywhere near the button?' Hillary Clinton asked during the US election campaign, referring to Mr Trump and the nuclear arsenal. But how close is an American president's finger to 'the button'? How close is anyone’s? We explain how the nuclear weapons systems of the US, Russia, Britain and China work – and how much power any one individual has over them.

(Photo: A Trident Ii, Or D-5 Missile, Is Launched From An Ohio-Class Submarine. Credit: Getty Images)

Get every episode summarized

Each time The Inquiry publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.

Email me new episodes

Free for 3 shows. No card needed.

No transcript yet

This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.

How do you launch a nuclear missile?

The Inquiry

0:00
23:34

More episodes

More from The Inquiry

View all episodes →