meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Today, Explained

AI and nuclear doomsday

Today, Explained

Vox

Daily News, Politics, News

4.49.5K Ratings

🗓️ 3 November 2025

⏱️ 29 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

AI is in everything these days. But should it be in our nuclear arsenal? This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Laura Bullard and Avishay Artsy, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Adriene Lilly, and hosted by Noel King. A screen grab image shows Russia conducting large-scale nuclear exercises last month. Photo by Russian Defense Ministry/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

To watch the new Catherine Bigelow movie, A House of Dynamite on Netflix,

0:04.5

is to immediately start freaking out about a nuclear war.

0:08.7

We've already lost one American city today.

0:12.0

How many more do you want to risk?

0:13.4

What kind of fucking question is that?

0:15.7

Some enemy, it could be Russia, it could be North Korea,

0:18.8

launches a nuclear warhead at Chicago from the Pacific Ocean.

0:24.1

It's okay.

0:25.1

The U.S. has interceptors.

0:27.0

They blast up into the air and they knock the nukes out.

0:30.4

That is actually true in real life.

0:32.7

That's our nuclear defense system.

0:35.0

Except in the movie, the interceptors fail.

0:38.8

Except, it's just a movie.

0:40.6

Except, a few days before it came out on Netflix, the Pentagon started freaking out and

0:46.0

talking internally about how to calm people down.

0:50.0

Coming up on today, explained from AI to Golden Dome to Netflix's new hit, why everybody is suddenly talking about nuclear war.

0:59.8

Support for Today Explained comes from BetterHelp.

1:03.0

BetterHelp says it's winter, and winter is often depressing.

1:06.9

Instead of getting depressed, BetterHelp wants to encourage you to reach out to someone, perhaps get coffee with an old friend, perhaps write a letter to a family member, perhaps connect with a licensed therapist using BetterHelp. This month, don't wait to reach out, says BetterHelp, whether you're checking in on a friend or reaching out to a therapist yourself. BetterHelp makes it easier to take that first step says BetterHelp.

1:29.3

You can get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com slash explained.

1:33.1

That's BetterH-E-L-P.com slash explained.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Vox, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Vox and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.