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You are here: Home / Council: Front and Center / Council: Front and Center: May 21, 2022

May 21, 2022

Council: Front and Center: May 21, 2022

THE LATEST ON RUSSIAN NUCLEAR THREATS

As the teams here at the Council and at our sister organization, the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, continue to track new developments in Ukraine, the nuclear risks of the current crisis remain top of mind.

The team at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation has continued to update a series of frequently asked questions about the nuclear issues involved in the Ukraine crisis. They answer questions about why Ukraine is so important to Russia, whether Ukraine has the tools to build a nuclear weapon, the likelihood of Russian President Vladimir Putin using a nuclear weapon in Ukraine, and more. This information has been shared widely in Congressional offices and across social media, helping promote informed conversation in a sea of rapidly changing news and misinformation.

We know the news about the ongoing conflict can be overwhelming; here is a selection of several interviews featuring our team members over the past few weeks.

  • How serious is Russia about nuclear war? (May 7; Yahoo! News)
  • What’s the latest on Russia and Ukraine? (April 28; WWL News)
  • Russia’s ‘Satan 2’ missile changes little for U.S., scholars say (April 20; The Washington Post)
  • Five deadly weapons Russia is accused of using in Ukraine (April 18; The Hill)
  • OP-ED: Putin’s horrendous war on Ukraine is no reason to give up on renewing the nuclear deal with Iran (April 18; Business Insider)

NEW PODCAST: THE FUTURE OF NONSTRATEGIC NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Battlefield nuclear weapons — also called tactical or nonstrategic nuclear weapons — are a continuing topic of conversation in the halls of Congress and inside the Pentagon following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But what are they, are they necessary and why do we keep talking about them? Nukes of Hazard podcast host and Center Policy Analyst Geoff Wilson talks with Jane Vaynman, Assistant Professor in Political Science at Temple University, to discuss their role in the U.S. nuclear arsenal, deterrence and more. Listen online or find Nukes of Hazard wherever you get your podcasts

FAQs: IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL  

As negotiations to reinstate the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, better known as the Iran nuclear deal, continue, Center Research Analyst Samuel Hickey has answered some freqently asked questions about the deal, including what it accomplished, how it manages Iran’s missile program, Russia’s involvement in the deal and why various countries support it.

NEW DATE: A CONVERSATION WITH REP. KATIE PORTER
Join Executive Director John Tierney as he sits down one-on-one with California Congresswoman — and 2022 Council endorsee — Katie Porter for a discussion of Rep. Porter’s current work on our issues, nuclear threats past and present, and why it is so essential for people to get involved in policy through politics. The event will take place May 25, 2022 at 7 p.m. ET via Zoom. There will be a chance to ask Rep. Porter your questions — when registering for the event, be sure to note your question. We look forward to seeing you there!

IMPORTANT OPPOSITION TO SUBMARINE-LAUNCHED CRUISE MISSILE

House Strategic Forces Subcommittee Chairman Jim Cooper (D-TN) has strongly backed the Biden administration’s decision to abandon a new nuclear-tipped sea-launched cruise missile. In a May 17 statement, he declared, “I commend the Biden administration for its decision to retire the B-83 gravity bomb and forgo a new nuclear sea-launched cruise missile. Adding a life-extension to the B-83 and developing a new SLCM warhead would further strain a National Nuclear Security Administration complex that is already facing significant challenges.”

Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis also weighed in this week, saying, “on nuclear weapons, I am concerned about the destabilizing effect of lighter, smaller, and less clear-cut systems—such as the sea launch cruise missile tipped with nuclear weapons. Trying to mix-and-match conventional cruise missiles with systems that have nuclear capability generates real uncertainty in the mind of an opponent, who might overreact and escalate to a nuclear scenario. That is a significant worry.”

GOOD EARLY ELECTION RESULTS

Council for a World-endorsed John Fetterman, Pennsylvania’s Lieutenant Governor, easily won his primary for United States Senate 59-26%. Fetterman’s GOP opponent has not yet been decided, and a recount is expected between two hard-right conservatives who were competing for the GOP nomination. The general election contest is considered a tossup. In addition, Council-endorsed former North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Cheri Beasley won an easy primary layup, but faces a tough opponent backed by Donald Trump, in Rep. Ted Budd. This race is also considered a tossup.

ENDORSEE FACES TOUGH PRIMARY RUNOFF TUESDAY

Council-backed Jessica Cisneros faces Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) in a primary runoff tomorrow. Cuellar has been called “Trump’s favorite Democrat” while Cisneros opposes new nuclear weapons, favors reducing unnecessary Pentagon spending and supports returning to the Iran nuclear deal. Support her campaign

NEW VIDEO: 60 YEARS OF THE COUNCIL
Next month, the Council will celebrate its 60th anniversary. To acknowledge all the changes that have taken place since the dawn of the nuclear age and to commemorate all of the Council’s accomplishments, we’ve released a new video that we urge you to share with your network.

YOUR CHANGE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD
Want an easy way to give back to the Council? Round up your change to change the world! Every time you make a purchase on the selected debit/credit card you enroll, the system will round up to the next dollar. The change is then donated to the Council collectively once per month. Enroll on our website: follow the prompts to register the debit/credit card you would like to use to participate.

ENDORSED CANDIDATES

HOUSE

Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX-32)
Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA-08)

Jessica Cisneros (D-TX-28)

Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN-02)

Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37)

Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL-11)

Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA-08)

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06)

Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51)

Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-NY-17)

Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ-03)

Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH-02)

Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM-03)

Rep. Andy Levin (D-MI-11)

Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA-49)

Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ-07)

Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO-02)

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05)

Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA-45)

SENATE

Cheri Beasley (D-NC)

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)

Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH)

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)

John Fetterman (D-PA)

Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT)

Posted in: Council: Front and Center

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