Now is still a time to stay vigilant. Especially when it comes to national security. Ukraine says that Russia has amassed 100,000 troops near their border. Along with tanks, armored personnel vehicles and artillery. NATO has issued a warning. America has issued a warning. And Russia is denying they plan to invade Ukraine. War is very possible.  And you were probably focused instead on Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers lying about being vaccinated. Or maybe, understandably, you were focused on getting your kid a COVID shot or getting yourself a booster. But while you and most of America are focused on all that, the Secretary of Defense, and many others tasked with protecting America have their eyes on Russia. They always have their eyes on Russia. And on North Korea. And on Pakistan. And on China. And on five other countries across the globe. Because of one simple reason: they have nukes.  Nine countries in the world possess nuclear weapons capable of destroying the entire globe. And one of them is Russia. And maybe you forgot about that completely until you read this.  Nuke are THE number one threat to the entire world as we know it. Yeah, pandemics can be globe-killers. And of course, climate change is stripping and burning the world bit by bit. But only nukes could destroy the entire world as we know it in a matter of hours. And THAT is worth your focus. And your attention. And your vigilance.  And it’s the focus of the newest episode of the groundbreaking television mini-series on Vice TV, While The Rest of Us Die. Our host, Paul Rieckhoff, is Consulting Producer and a Contributor. And he and Righteous Media are bringing you this powerful, urgent Season #2 of the series every Thursday this month at 10PM. Produced by Efran Films, Showrunner Anthony Lappé, and narrated by our friend and past guest on this show, Jeffrey Wright, the series is tearing into the scariest, most deadly, most urgent issues facing us all. And in the newest episode, we’re talking nukes. And it features one of the best minds in the world on the issue--and our guest in this pod--Joe Cirincione (@Cirincione). Joe has worked on nuclear weapons policy in Washington for more than 35 years and is one of the top experts in the field. He was the Director for Non-Proliferation at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and author of Deadly Arsenals: Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Threats, and co-author of Universal Compliance: A Strategy for Nuclear Security. He was the president of Ploughshares Fund, a global security foundation. And now teaches at the Georgetown University Graduate School of Foreign Service. He’s one of America’s best known weapons experts, appearing frequently in print and on FOX News, MSNBC, CNN, ABC, NBC, PBS, NPR and occasionally on Comedy Central. He joins us to drop knowledge bombs about nukes. And it’s an episode you don’t want to miss. Hit play now.  You can support this show and join our dynamic community of listeners by joining the IA Patreon community. You’ll get exclusive access to events, guests, merch discounts, and special content. And you’ll help us keep speaking independent truth to power.  You can also WATCH the full conversation in video with Paul and Joe here. Independent Americans is powered by Righteous Media. Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us.    Stay vigilant, America.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices