Hello and welcome to Background Briefing, available 24-7 at Background Briefing.org.

I'm Ian Masters, and today we'll examine a number of stories and issues in the news.

We'll begin with more questions arising about Trump's mental health following his surprise announcement

that the U.S. will resume nuclear testing, which he based upon dangerously deficient evidence

and deep ignorance, particularly when you consider that Trump has at his fingertips the power

to destroy the world in 30 minutes. Joining us is Joseph Sorincioni, Vice Chair of the Board of the

Center for International Policy and a National Security analyst and author with over 35 years of

experience working in Washington, D.C. He's the author, editor of seven books,

including nuclear nightmares, securing the world before it's too late, and bomb scare the history

and future of nuclear weapons. He previously served as president of the Plowshares Fund,

a global security foundation, and director for nonproliferation at the Carnegie Endermott for

International Peace,

among other positions. He also worked for over nine years on the professional staff of the

Armed Services Committee and the Government Operations Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives.

He writes the substack page Strategy and History, where his latest article is Donald Trump's deep nuclear confusion.

Then we'll look into how the top priority for dictators is to close down their legislature,

which Hitler did in 1933, using the Reichstag fire as an excuse.

But Trump needs no such false flag operation.

He has Speaker Mike Johnson closing down the Congress for him

with the House of Representatives that has only convened for 12 days in the last three months

and appears ready to shut down indefinitely so that their dear leader can rule by decree.

Joining us is Will Bunch, National Opinion columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer,

...