Risk of nuclear catastrophe is worse than ever. We can change that

Salon | Troy Farah

The risk of global catastrophe, particularly nuclear war, is escalating, with the Doomsday Clock set at 85 seconds to midnight in January 2026, the closest ever to zero hour. John Mecklin, editor-in-chief of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, highlights that nine countries now possess approximately 12,187 nuclear warheads and are expanding their arsenals.

Last year, these nations collectively spent $119 billion on nuclear weapons, with the U.S. contributing $69 billion. Efforts to prevent proliferation are weakening, and arms control treaties are expiring, leading to a renewed arms race among major powers like the U.S., China, and Russia, exacerbated by a lack of leadership from figures such as Trump, Xi Jinping, and Putin. The Bulletin's mission has broadened to include climate change and disruptive technologies like AI and biotechnology, all posing civilization-ending threats. Mecklin criticizes wasteful defense spending, such as billions on unnecessary plutonium pits, and calls for improved media attention, activist engagement, and political action to counter these dangers.

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