Hello there, I'm Chuck Todd and this is the Chuck Todd Cast earlier this week.

Russian President Putin put his country's nuclear deterrence forces on alert as his invasion

of Ukraine continues.

And it got us thinking, what is the state of nuclear deterrence and how much of a risk

does nuclear, Russia's nuclear arsenal really pose to us?

My guest today is former energy secretary Ernest Moni.

He's the co-chair and CEO of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a professor emeritus at MIT

from 2013 to 2017.

He worked on nuclear security and stability as former President Obama's energy secretary.

Mr. Secretary, it's great to have you.

Thanks for doing this.

Thank you, Chuck.

So let me start with that basic premise.

So look, I know that Putin has said what he did with his nuclear forces.

My understanding and my source of saying he actually hasn't done, he actually hasn't

elevated that as far as, it's just words so far.

But what is reassuring me?

What is our defensive abilities when it comes to tactical nukes from Russia?

What do we have in our toolbox?

Well, I think Chuck, first of all, it's good to kind of set the stage by noting that, of

course, the United States and Russia together have about 90% of the world's nuclear weapons.

So there's no doubt that we both have enormous, enormous arsenals.

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