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Power Corrupts

Letters of Last Resort

Power Corrupts

Brian Klaas

News, Politics, 498122

4.82K Ratings

🗓️ 25 July 2019

⏱️ 58 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The UK has a new prime minister. On his first day, Boris Johnson will handwrite four identical letters to the captains of Britain's nuclear submarines. They are one of the most closely guarded secrets of the British government. And those Letters of Last Resort will only be opened if London is wiped out by a nuclear blast. The letters must answer a straightforward but morally complex question: should the UK fire back with nuclear weapons? To deter nuclear attacks, the answer must be yes. But can we stomach that answer, given that nuclear retaliation could endanger the survival of our species?
Support the show on Patreon at Patreon.com/powercorrupts

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Power Corrupts is written and narrated by Brian Klaas. The executive producer and sound editor is George McDonagh.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Thank you for listening to Power Corrupts. We make this show because we think it's important not to make money,

0:05.4

but it does cost money to make episodes. If you want to help us stay editorially independent,

0:10.5

please consider supporting our work in one of two ways.

0:14.0

First, pre-order my new book, Corruptible, Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us,

0:19.0

which comes out on November 9, 2021.

0:22.0

It's an exploration of the bizarre fascinating ways in which humans relate to

0:26.0

power that ranges from everything from corrupt beehives to the time I took a ski lesson with a man who

0:31.8

once ruled Iraq. If you like this

0:34.0

podcast I promise you love the book. Second, join a community of

0:38.4

supporters and get access to exclusive bonus content by going to Patreon.com slash power corrupts.

0:46.0

For just three dollars a month you'll get access to early episodes and at different tiers

0:49.9

you can get bonus content like uncut interviews as well as the possibility of a

0:54.0

Zoom meet and greet with my producer George and myself. If you don't support the

0:58.8

show I'll be forced to bombard you with ads about socks and job recruitment schemes and mortgage websites and nobody wants that.

1:05.0

But seriously, thank you for listening and for your support.

1:10.0

This is the wartime broadcasting service. This country has been attacked with nuclear weapons.

1:16.0

Communications have been severely disrupted and the number of casualties and the extent of the damage are not yet known. We shall bring you further information as soon

1:25.2

as possible. Meanwhile, stay tuned to this wavelength, stay calm, and stay in your own house.

1:33.8

Remember, there's nothing to be gained by trying to get away.

1:37.9

By leaving your homes, you could be exposing yourselves to greater danger.

1:42.3

If you leave, you may find yourselves without food, without

1:45.8

water, without accommodation, and without protection. We shall be on the air every

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