NUCLEAR INSANITY & THE LAST DAYS OF HUMAN DEPRAVITY . . . ~ LLAW
Dec 17, 2024
LLAW’s NUCLEAR WORLD NEWS TODAY AND THE RISKS & CONSEQUENCES OF TOMORROW
This is a “for the record” purpose, but I couldn’t resist posting this huge piece of journalism asking the critical question that everyone should be asking: “Should Trump have sole authority to order the launch of nuclear weapons in the advent of a nuclear war, which also means could he start a nuclear war. I cannot believe that it is even a question. It’s not “just” because it’s Trump, but also because no individual on planet Earth should have such singular authority.
With 530 incoming new US senators and representatives being asked by the ”New York Times” to answer such a question of individual congressman, you can scroll down to find the answers offered by your own and other new politicians. Although I don’t generally have much faith in politicians’ opinions in general, or for most anything, they are asked to act upon, here are the details, but as I say, it’s just for the record, so you may want to read the articles in a further opinion series referred to as “The Brink” — also linked here for your convenience . . . ~llaw
Kathleen Kingsbury
Should the President Have Nuclear Sole Authority? We Asked 530 Incoming Congress Members.
Dec. 17, 2024, 5:03 a.m. ET
Opinion Editor
“The trust and the temptation would be too great for any one man.”
James Madison, America’s fourth president, offered these words in 1793 to explain why he and his fellow founders issued the sole authority to declare war to Congress, under Article I of the Constitution. “In no part of the Constitution is more wisdom to be found than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace to the legislature, and not to the executive department,” he wrote.
Yet since their invention, nuclear warheads have sat outside that exclusive duty of Congress to declare war. The American president today has full power over the nation’s nuclear arsenal. He can launch a pre-emptive strike any time and at any target on his command alone. A life-altering retaliation and full-fledged nuclear war would be nearly inevitable. Every president has held this power since the days after Harry Truman ordered the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Times Opinion last month surveyed members of the incoming 119th Congress about how they felt about this constitutional contradiction.
We sent a short list of questions to all 530 voting members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives who are expected to serve in the new Congress seated in January. You can read our questions in full below. The main insight from the answers we received: If there is a widespread urgency or willingness in Congress to cooperate on bills that create safeguards around nuclear war, it was not apparent.
This article is part of the Opinion series At the Brink,
about the threat of nuclear weapons in an unstable world. Read the opening story here.
We asked whether they supported the president’s unilateral power to launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike and whether they agreed that the president should be able to respond to an incoming nuclear attack without congressional approval. We also asked them to rate how comfortable they were with Donald Trump, the president-elect, having this authority.
No Republican went on the record to say that presidents should be able to launch pre-emptive strikes without congressional approval. Representative Jefferson Van Drew of New Jersey was among the lawmakers against sole authority, but he was also the only member of the Republican Party to defend Mr. Trump’s having that unilateral power, saying he was “very comfortable” with it.
In the Senate, no Republican explicitly defended sole authority for Mr. Trump or any president.
Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrat of New York, was the only senator who said any president should have this unilateral say. In the House, the Democrats Seth Moulton of Massachusetts and Representative-elect Janelle Bynum of Oregon did. All three, however, said they were not at all comfortable with Mr. Trump’s having unilateral power over the nuclear arsenal.
We went into this exercise knowing we’d probably receive few responses. It was only a few weeks after the election, we were up against the Thanksgiving holiday, and it was not likely that many members had studied this issue in depth. We also knew it was a transition time for Congress, a moment when we might not even have the right press contacts in every office, though we made every effort to ensure we did.
We endeavored nonetheless because there have been legislative proposals that would prohibit any president from launching a nuclear first strike without congressional approval and in our new nuclear age, this could prove an important national security question.
Congress cannot control the tenor of diplomacy among nuclear nations, but protections its members can enact would send an essential signal to the world that the United States believes nuclear policy must be marked by restraint and care.
The Republicans who chose to respond did so either by deflecting or, in a few cases, by taking to social media with snark and evasive criticism.
“For four years, Joe Biden gave the American people every reason to question whether he was physically and mentally capable of being president. Yet The New York Times not once asked whether anyone was ‘comfortable’ with his control of the nuclear arsenal,” Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, for example, replied. “The American people just delivered a mandate to President Trump entrusting him to keep our nation safe. That speaks for itself.”
Mr. Ricketts was incorrect about our coverage. My colleague W.J. Hennigan in March argued that the American public should be uncomfortable with sole authority — regardless of who is president — in a long essay. Our editorial board, which I oversee, was very clear last summer in our concern about President Biden’s physical and mental capacity to do his job if he was elected to a second term. But it is also notable that the senator and many of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle avoided a straightforward question about perhaps the most consequential power the president holds.
Of the dozens who did answer the survey, most were Democrats who acknowledged the growing specter of catastrophe as world leaders turn away from nuclear diplomacy and the American legal framework around sole authority remains stagnant. Many representatives and senators pointed to a need for strong guardrails and clear, nimble communication, no matter who is president. Representative Mark Takano of California expressed a fear of escalation in the absence of active arms control discussions: “I am concerned with the declining communication among the nuclear powers that could lead to a nuclear confrontation.”
Every Democrat who responded to the final question was very uncomfortable with Mr. Trump’s having unilateral power to launch nuclear strikes. Some were not confident in Congress’s ability to be an adequate check on him and felt a reassessment of our nuclear policy was overdue. “It is time for us to reconsider sole authority,” said Representative Dina Titus of Nevada. “History is rife with close calls.”
We allowed members extra time to answer when they requested it. We followed up several times from those we didn’t hear from. We will update these responses if any lawmaker would now like to reply. What follows are the questions we asked and all the answers we received. We asked for yes, no and rating responses, and invited members of Congress to explain their answers; some did. We are publishing everyone’s answers in full. We also list the members of Congress who chose not to respond.
Times Opinion Asked
a. Should any American president be able to launch a pre-emptive nuclear attack without congressional approval?
b. Should any American president be able to launch a nuclear attack without congressional approval in response to an enemy’s incoming nuclear missile attack?
c. Please give us an answer on a scale of 1 to 4: How comfortable are you with the fact that President Trump has this unilateral authority? 1. Very comfortable. 2. Somewhat comfortable. 3. Not too comfortable. 4. Not at all comfortable.
Congress Answered
Republicans who responded:
Senator Katie Britt, Republican of Alabama
President Trump achieved peace through strength his first term, and I’m confident he’ll do it again.
Senator Pete Ricketts, Republican of Nebraska
For four years, Joe Biden gave the American people every reason to question whether he was physically and mentally capable of being president. Yet The New York Times not once asked whether anyone was “comfortable” with his control of the nuclear arsenal. The American people just delivered a mandate to President Trump entrusting him to keep our nation safe. That speaks for itself.
Representative Jefferson Van Drew, Republican of New Jersey
a. A pre-emptive nuclear attack should require congressional approval.
b. Yes, any American president should be able to launch a nuclear attack without congressional approval in response to an enemy’s incoming nuclear missile attack.
c. I am very comfortable that President Trump has this unilateral authority.
Senator Marsha Blackburn, Republican of Tennessee, embedded Senator Mike Lee’s X post in her response.
.@BasedMikeLee completely agree with you.
“Bad-faith fearmongering about a Trump presidency won’t fly.”
Senator Mike Lee, Republican of Utah, posted on X.
Feel free to include this in your reporting: It isn’t 2017 anymore, @nytopinion. Bad-faith fearmongering about a Trump presidency won’t fly.
Mentally unfit Joe Biden commands our nukes NOW. He just authorized American missiles to kill people within Russia, a nuclear superpower.
On a scale of 1-4, how comfortable are you?
Democrats who responded:
Senator Chris Coons, Democrat of Delaware
a. No. There should be statutory limits restricting first-use nuclear strikes.
b. Yes. If the United States ever faces an imminent nuclear attack, time will be of the essence in determining a response. While I’m inclined to provide as much congressional oversight as possible over the use of our nuclear arsenal, it’s not realistic to expect any president to wait for congressional approval in this scenario.
c. Not at all comfortable
Senator Tammy Duckworth, Democrat of Illinois
a. The question of should a commander in chief be able to launch a pre-emptive nuclear attack without congressional approval requires context on the unique facts and circumstances of the situation, including how one defines “pre-emptive” — for example, if an adversary has begun the process of preparing to launch a nuclear weapon, would the United States have to wait until the ballistic missile is in the air or hits its target to enter a period where military action would not be considered “pre-emptive”? This question is extremely important and extremely complicated — and one-word answers fail to reflect that reality.
b. The president’s Article II commander in chief authority authorizes such action — and that constitutional authority does not vary depending on the specific eligible individual the American people duly elect to serve as president.
c. Extremely uncomfortable.
Senator Chris Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland
a. No. A president should be required to get congressional approval before initiating the first use of nuclear weapons.
b. Yes. Deterrence requires that the president should be able use nuclear weapons in response to a verified nuclear attack against the homeland of the United States.
c. Not at all comfortable. I am not at all comfortable giving any president the unilateral authority to start a nuclear war.
Senator Edward J. Markey, Democrat of Massachusetts
a. No. The Constitution grants Congress the sole power to declare war. A first-use nuclear strike would be an act of war and, without congressional approval, would be unconstitutional. Such a strike would be immoral, disproportionate and something our Constitution makes clear no single person should be able to do alone. A no-first-use policy should be the law of the land. Since 2015, Representative Ted Lieu and I have introduced the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act because no American president — or single individual — should have the power to launch a first-use nuclear first strike without explicit congressional approval. Nuclear weapons are an existential threat to humankind, no matter what administration is in the White House.
b. No. It is vital that any U.S. president has clear authority to respond to nuclear attacks on the United States, our forces or our allies. But no president should have the power to launch a nuclear strike on the basis of an attack warning without explicit congressional approval. As we know from past experience, such warnings can be false alarms. Launching nuclear weapons in response to a false alarm would invite a nuclear retaliation against the United States, essentially starting WWIII. The president’s ability to be able to launch a nuclear first strike without congressional approval is the most egregious example of why Congress must wrestle this power from the executive branch. The president has the power to launch a nuclear first strike even if there is no attack on the United States or our allies, an act that can only be construed as tantamount to declaring war. This is unconstitutional, undemocratic and simply unbelievable. In today’s digital age, we need to ensure only humans have the power to command, control and launch nuclear weapons and safeguard the process from any future change in policy where A.I. could lead us to accidental global nuclear war by passing my Autonomous Artificial Intelligence Act.
c. Not at all comfortable. Scared to death. I do not trust Donald Trump with nuclear weapons. He has a record of welcoming a 21st-century nuclear arms race with Russia, while simultaneously tearing down the global arms control regime that has brought stability, transparency and security to the world for decades. He believes that escalation and bullying are acceptable political tactics, and he is known to act impulsively and without consultation with other key decision makers. For example, Donald Trump has said: “[The U.S.] must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability.” “Let it be an arms race. We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all.” And tweeted: “I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!” President Biden must put guardrails on presidential authority to start nuclear war now before Trump takes office. Using a nuclear weapon first is an act that can only be seen as a declaration of war, and there is no going back once it is launched. The Constitution gives Congress the authority to declare war, not the president. In about as long as it takes him to launch a tweet, President Trump could order America’s armed forces to launch a nuclear first strike. We must never again allow Donald Trump to have his finger near the nuclear button.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts
a. No
b. No
c. Not at all comfortable
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrat of New York
a. Yes
b. Yes
c. Not at all comfortable.
Additional response: I have always been deeply concerned with President Trump’s temperament and judgment, particularly as it relates to national security and potential military conflict. However, the president’s authority to order a nuclear attack is important to U.S. national defense policy and to maintaining the doctrine of mutually assured destruction. While paradoxical, in order to prevent nuclear war, it is vital that our adversaries, as well as our allies, know that the U.S. is ready and able to swiftly deploy nuclear weapons. Furthermore, while I understand and share concerns about President Trump possessing this authority, there are significant procedural checks in place to ensure that the president cannot launch an illegal nuclear attack. As a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I have trust in the integrity and professionalism of our military leaders, and I do not believe they would be complicit in carrying out an illegal nuclear strike.
Senator Jeff Merkley, Democrat of Oregon
a. No. I am a co-sponsor of the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act, which would prevent any American president from launching a nuclear strike first without congressional approval.
b. No. While there is a necessity to respond quickly to an incoming nuclear attack, given the irreversible, devastating impact of such a strike, I firmly believe unilateral presidential authority to launch a nuclear attack must be governed by congressional oversight. Considering that several nuclear exchanges were almost initiated due to technological errors and falsely perceived attacks during the Cold War, it is imperative that our nuclear weapons are not used pre-emptively in response to a perceived attack.
c. Not at all comfortable. I am not comfortable with any president having the unilateral authority to launch a nuclear attack, and as co-chair of the Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, I’ll keep pushing for a legislative solution to address this issue once and for all.
Senator Peter Welch, Democrat of Vermont
a. No. No individual should be empowered to make such an apocalyptic decision. The United States should adopt a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons.
b. Yes. If there is insufficient time to consult with Congress and an immediate response is necessary to deter the enemy from launching additional nuclear missiles.
c. Not at all comfortable
Senator Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia
a. No. I have long emphasized that Congress needs to reclaim its sole power to declare war, as laid out in the Constitution, by weighing in on crucial matters of war and peace. That includes authorizing the use of military force.
b. Yes. Article II of the Constitution provides the president with the authority to take self-defensive military action.
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Ami Bera, Democrat of California
a. No. The American president should not be able to launch a pre-emptive nuclear attack without congressional authority.
b. Yes. Provided that the president notifies Congress of this decision and provides proof of the incoming attack to Congress within a reasonable time frame.
c. Not at all comfortable. The United States is the only known nuclear power that has vested this authority in a single person. I believe Congress should explore spreading this authority to ensure consensus is achieved before President Trump or any other president can launch a nuclear strike.
Representative Judy Chu, Democrat of California
a. No. I proudly co-sponsor legislation that would restrict first use of nuclear weapons by the United States because we have an obligation as the global nuclear superpower to promote these weapons as ones of extreme last resort. Congress has the sole authority to declare war, and the decision to commence a nuclear first strike must not be in the hands of one individual, even the president.
b. Yes. Because the president is the commander in chief and Congress has established that the president can respond to a direct attack on our country. However, President-elect Trump is an unstable, impulsive person, so I feel extremely uncomfortable with him having this tremendous responsibility while being unconstrained by Congress or other federal officials.
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Sara Jacobs, Democrat of California
a. No
b. No. Unless the attack is confirmed, verified and not only incoming but imminent. There have been too many close calls and false alarms that warrant being judicious before launching a nuclear attack.
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Ro Khanna, Democrat of California
a. Article I of the Constitution gives Congress the sole authority to declare war. No matter who is in the White House, the president must seek authorization from Congress before launching a pre-emptive nuclear attack. We are inching closer to a nuclear catastrophe and must reduce the risk of nuclear war by re-entering arms control agreements and ensuring diplomacy and statesmanship prevails.
b. The War Powers Resolution gives the president the authority to bypass Congress only in a national emergency when an attack is imminent.
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Mike Levin, Democrat of California
a. No. A nuclear attack would constitute an act of war, and I believe the president has a constitutional responsibility to seek congressional approval.
b. Yes. I believe it’s in the interest of our national security for the president to have the ability to retaliate against an attack on the United States.
c. Not at all comfortable. Trump proved that he is driven by his worst impulses. For example, in his first term, Trump taunted Kim Jong-un with nuclear warfare by tweeting, “My button is bigger than theirs.” He should not have unilateral authority over the nuclear codes.
Representative Ted Lieu, Democrat of California
a. No
b. Yes
c. Not at all comfortable
Additional response: I believe the Constitution prevents the president from launching a nuclear first strike, which can kill millions of people in less than an hour, without congressional approval. The framers would view a nuclear first strike as war, and only Congress can authorize war. That is why I introduced my bill, the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act, in 2016 with Senator Markey and why I have reintroduced it every Congress, regardless of who was in the White House. Our founders could not have imagined nuclear warfare when they created our system of checks and balances, but they were prescient enough to know that Congress is a critical and necessary barrier to preventing all-out war. A president cannot start a war unilaterally, and launching a nuclear first strike is the most obvious act of war there is.
Representative-elect Dave Min, Democrat of California
a. No. No president should have the unilateral authority to launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike without congressional approval. Our Constitution is clear: The power to declare war rests with Congress, reflecting the fundamental principle that such decisions must be made collectively, not by a single individual. A pre-emptive nuclear strike represents the most consequential act of war imaginable, with far-reaching humanitarian and geopolitical consequences. Such a decision demands the deliberation and consent of the people’s representatives. That’s why I fully support legislation like the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act, championed by Congressman Ted Lieu. It would ensure that no president can launch a nuclear first strike without explicit authorization from Congress. This safeguard is essential to maintaining the balance of powers and reducing the risk of unnecessary and catastrophic conflicts.
b. In the case of an incoming nuclear missile attack, the president must retain the authority to respond decisively and immediately to protect the United States and its allies. This is a critical exception to the principle of requiring congressional approval for acts of war. When seconds or minutes could mean the difference between life and death for millions, the president, as commander in chief, must be empowered to act swiftly to neutralize an imminent threat. However, this authority must be paired with rigorous oversight and accountability to ensure it is not misused. While a response to an incoming attack may require immediate action, the use of nuclear weapons in any other context — such as a pre-emptive first strike — must involve congressional authorization.
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Scott Peters, Democrat of California
a. No. A president should not be able to launch a first-use or pre-emptive strike unilaterally. I submitted an amendment to the F.Y. 2025 National Defense Authorization Act that would block any such first-use strike without the consent of the speaker of the House.
b. Yes. The president needs to be able to react quickly to a verified incoming nuclear attack. Our adversaries must know that the president has this power for proper deterrence.
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Linda Sánchez, Democrat of California
a. No
b. Yes
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Mark Takano, Democrat of California
a. No
b. Yes. But I am only comfortable with this position if we can solidify international treaties to restrict nuclear proliferation. Additionally, I am concerned with the declining communication among the nuclear powers that could lead to a nuclear confrontation.
c. Not at all comfortable. My discomfort is rooted in President-elect Trump’s erratic, impulsive and puerile nature. These are traits that would be disqualifying for him to operate a forklift, let alone having his finger on the nuclear button. I remember when then-President Trump tangled with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un early in his term. The president radically escalated his rhetoric in a tit-for-tat exchange. Our allies were unable to read his behavior, and those around the president tried to gloss over this deeply disturbing exchange. They justified Trump’s behavior by comparing him to disgraced President Nixon’s madman theory of international relations. To me, they simply didn’t want to admit that the president was a mercurial, impulsive man holding this awesome and weighty power.
Representative Juan Vargas, Democrat of California
a. No
b. No
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Maxine Waters, Democrat of California
a. No
b. No
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Joe Courtney, Democrat of Connecticut
a. No. As a co-sponsor of the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act, I believe the president must receive congressional approval before conducting a pre-emptive attack.
b. Yes
c. Not at all comfortable. As it pertains to a pre-emptive attack, 4, since I believe no president should have unilateral authority to execute a pre-emptive nuclear attack.
Representative John Larson, Democrat of Connecticut
a. No. The gravity and use pre-emptively of our nuclear capacity, something that could lead to the destruction of the world as we know it, is something no president should unilaterally engage in without congressional approval. I support Ted Lieu’s legislation, the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act, which would require Congress to authorize any pre-emptive nuclear strike, and I will continue to support global disarmament as a central part of our national security strategy.
b. Yes. As commander in chief, every president must have all tools of our arsenal at their disposal to respond to incoming nuclear attacks. Understanding the gravity of the situation calls for all presidents and Congress to prevail upon the goal of disarmament, as outlined in H. Res. 77.
c. Not at all comfortable. I am not comfortable with any president having unilateral authority to bring about the destruction of the globe, and while Trump heightens my concerns around this issue because of his rhetoric, the goal of Congress, current and all future presidential administrations should be the preservation of the planet and mankind.
Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Democrat of Florida
a. No
b. Yes
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Frederica Wilson, Democrat of Florida
a. No. The president should, at a minimum, seek approval from the congressional Gang of Eight — comprising congressional leadership and intelligence leaders from both parties — before launching a pre-emptive nuclear attack.
b. No. The president should, at a minimum, seek approval from the congressional Gang of Eight in response to an incoming nuclear missile attack. This small group of congressional leaders enables the president to respond swiftly to imminent threats without the delays associated with consulting the entire Congress.
c. Not at all comfortable. President Trump has never been fit for the presidency, let alone trusted with nuclear weapons. His vengeful nature and impulsive decision making make him a danger to global safety. A nuclear strike is too big a decision for any one person — especially him
Representative Jill Tokuda, Democrat of Hawaii
a. No. The Constitution vests Congress with the authority to declare war, and we should not allow any president to unilaterally initiate a nuclear conflict.
b. Yes. As commander in chief, the president has a responsibility to defend the homeland against acts of war. The authority to respond to a nuclear attack with our own nuclear arsenal is consistent with that responsibility and ensures that we can deter such aggression.
c. Not at all comfortable. In his first term, we saw President Trump threaten nuclear war with North Korea via tweet. In 2022, he said he would threaten a nuclear attack on Russia. None of us should be comfortable that someone known for his temper tantrums, reckless and erratic behavior and lack of knowledge will have full control over our arsenal. The use of nuclear weapons is a last resort, and any sitting president and their advisers must approach such decisions with the utmost seriousness they command. We should also be concerned by nominees like Pete Hegseth and Tulsi Gabbard whose primary qualifications appear to be sycophancy and whom I doubt will be able to advise and restrain President Trump’s worst impulses.
Representative Sean Casten, Democrat of Illinois
a. No
b. Yes
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Bill Foster, Democrat of Illinois
a. No. Unless there is a specific prior attack that it is responding to, it is hard to imagine a more definitive act of war than a pre-emptive nuclear launch. Under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, Congress is given the explicit responsibility of declaring war. As the president is commander in chief, if Congress has already declared war, then the president should be allowed to pursue that war through all of the tools at their disposal — up to and including nuclear use. However, in times of peace, the president should not be able to unilaterally launch a nuclear strike. A nuclear strike in peacetime would almost certainly upend the delicate balance of deterrence and plunge the world into nuclear war — a war that the president does not, according to our Constitution, have the authority to begin.
b. Yes. Being elected president of the most powerful country in the world comes with immense responsibilities. One of these is ensuring global stability through nuclear deterrence. Established during the Cold War, the principle of mutually assured destruction has, up until now, resulted in no uses of nuclear weapons during war since Nagasaki. That principle relies on the understanding that any nuclear attack on the United States will be met with an attack in kind. As the commander in chief, the president has the responsibility of using every tool at their disposal to keep the citizens of the United States safe. In times where arms control and strategic stability dialogues are becoming rarer and less effective, keeping the principles of deterrence alive can be the difference between life and death around the globe. Deterrence relies on having sane, rational leaders in control of nuclear arsenals. In preparation for the possibility that an unpredictable world leader comes to power, we need to reduce outstanding risk as much as possible. Then there will be much lower risk of false alarms and accidents like the one that Stanislav Petrov saved us from in 1983.
c. Not at all comfortable. President-elect Trump has shown throughout his first term and multiple campaigns that he does not have the rational temperament required to take on the responsibility of the United States’ nuclear arsenal. His inability to understand the technical, political and nonproliferation advantages of the Iran deal and his willingness to listen to advisers pushing the resumption of harmful, unnecessary nuclear testing shows his lack of qualifications. His unpredictability in dealing with both allies and adversaries has shown that he also lacks the personality that would allow me to feel comfortable with him holding the sole authority to launch nuclear weapons.
Representative Jonathan Jackson, Democrat of Illinois
a. The question of whether a president should have the sole authority to launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike is one that weighs heavily on the principles of democracy, accountability and the value of human life. As leaders, we are entrusted with the lives of millions, and such monumental decisions should never rest in the hands of a single individual. Our Constitution is built on the idea of checks and balances. Allowing one person to wield unchecked power over something as catastrophic as a nuclear strike undermines those principles and opens the door to abuse or grave mistakes. A decision this consequential must involve Congress to ensure it reflects the will of the people and safeguards humanity.
b. If our nation faces an imminent nuclear attack, the president must be able to act decisively. Time is of the essence when lives are on the line, and the survival of the country cannot hinge on lengthy deliberations. That said, even in moments of crisis, we need systems in place to provide wise counsel and ensure the decision is justified. History has shown us how easily errors — false alarms or technical glitches — can bring the world to the brink of disaster. As a leader, I believe in the importance of rapid response but also in safeguards that allow for sound judgment in moments of chaos.
c. Not at all comfortable. On a scale of 1 to 4, with 1 being “not comfortable at all,” my answer is 1. The power to unleash nuclear destruction is too immense for any one individual, no matter their political affiliation, to wield without oversight. President Trump’s temperament and decision-making style during his tenure raised serious concerns about his judgment in high-stakes scenarios. This isn’t about partisan politics; it’s about protecting humanity from irreversible consequences. We must establish robust systems that uphold democratic principles and ensure no one leader can act impulsively on a decision that could alter the course of history forever. As a member of Congress, I will continue to advocate for policies that reflect the values of accountability, shared responsibility and global peace. The stakes are too high for us to do anything less.
Representative André Carson, Democrat of Indiana
a. No
b. Yes
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Chellie Pingree, Democrat of Maine
a. No. It should be the policy of the United States that Congress plays a role in approving any initial use of military force — including the pre-emptive use of a nuclear weapon. The fact is, in the unthinkable scenario where nuclear weapons are used by the United States or any global power, we will have given our enemies and adversaries a reason to use them wherever they please. While even the thought of having to make that decision is truly horrifying, the power to release these catastrophic should be a whole-of-government decision, requiring explicate authorization from Congress.
b. Yes. If an adversary were to launch nuclear weapons at the United States, there would not be any practical time for Congress to have a say in how the president chooses to respond. That’s just the sad reality. If we were to ever reach a point where nuclear weapons were fired at United States, regardless of our retaliation, civilizations across the world would collapse from the fallout and aftermath of such a catastrophe. It’s hard to imagine the horror. Which is why it’s so important that the world’s nuclear powers stop with the rhetorical brinksmanship and start working towards a real, binding and mutually beneficial nuclear disarmament.
c. Not at all comfortable. The fact that he’ll once again have access to the nuclear codes should make everyone worried, especially given his extreme rhetoric about pre-emptively attacking other countries — including Iran. He’s unpredictable, he’s made it clear that he will try to consolidate his own power, and he’s shown time and again that he doesn’t have our country’s best interests at heart. This is not someone I am comfortable with at the helm of any nuclear decisions.
Representative Jake Auchincloss, Democrat of Massachusetts
a. No. Congress should codify a procedure that checks and balances the president’s first-strike authority, either by requiring a vote of Congress or by requiring approval from designated officials.
b. Yes
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative James McGovern, Democrat of Massachusetts
a. No
b. Yes. But must seek congressional authorization for anything that comes after that.
c. Not at all comfortable.
Additional response: No person should have the unilateral authority to launch a nuclear first strike and end life on this planet as we know it. This shouldn’t be a radical idea. We live in a democracy, and if the president of the United States wants to use nuclear weapons in a pre-emptive attack, they must obtain approval from Congress.
Nuclear weapons don’t prevent wars — they facilitate threats, coercion and instability. Yet the world stands at the brink of a new nuclear arms race, with no guardrails, as countries like Russia and China expand their arsenals and modernization programs. Today, we see trillions of dollars committed to building and improving nuclear bombs while essential human needs like health care, education and food security go underfunded. Every penny spent on these weapons strengthens the hand of evil and undermines the promise of peace.
As someone who believes there should be no nuclear weapons at all, I have introduced the Hastening Arms Limitation Talks Act to establish a 21st-century freeze on nuclear weapons testing, production and deployment. Additionally, I continue to urge the U.S. to embrace the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which would make disarmament a cornerstone of our national security policy. The bottom line is this: The story of humanity’s relationship with nuclear bombs has an ending, one way or the other. Either we get rid of them, or they get rid of us. The choice is ours to make.
Representative Seth Moulton, Democrat of Massachusetts
a. Yes. Extended deterrence requires that we be credibly willing to use our nuclear weapons to defend NATO and Pacific allies if they face an existential threat. This American promise has ensured NATO’s peace and stability for 75 years without requiring dozens of our allies to have their own nuclear weapons, thus limiting nuclear proliferation throughout the world. Unfortunately, involving Congress in this process would make the U.S. response much less decisive and not guaranteed, so our adversaries like Putin would be emboldened.
b. Yes
c. Not at all comfortable. Trump’s own senior military advisers from his first administration believe he is unfit for command, though anything that would limit the president’s authority to respond quickly and decisively, thus weakening our deterrence, would also make me very uncomfortable.
Representative-elect Wesley Bell, Democrat of Missouri
a. No
b. In the event of an incoming nuclear attack, the United States will have only minutes, much less hours or days, to deter and eliminate that threat. It does not seem feasible to notify and get approval from Congress to respond within that span of time. The president should not have unilateral authority to launch nuclear weapons. There should be a system in place to ensure that the decision to use nuclear weapons is made in consultation with other officials in a timely manner.
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Dina Titus, Democrat of Nevada
a. No. It is time for us to reconsider sole authority — it is dangerous for only the president to have this control. History is rife with close calls and examples for why this authority should no longer be vested with one individual who, for any physical, mental or emotional reason, could be unfit to make that decision.
b. No. No president should be able to unilaterally launch a retaliatory strike. There ought to be some procedure by which the president must seek counsel from others. In a time-sensitive situation such as deciding whether to respond to an incoming missile attack, seeking congressional approval could be problematic. Any procedure we develop should take into account all scenarios so we are completely prepared to respond in an urgent manner. Whether by a formal group of military and security advisers, a specialized unit within the White House or the Gang of Eight, a potential response should be deliberated by more than just one person.
c. Not at all comfortable. One of my greatest national security concerns is Donald Trump occupying the White House.
Representative Donald Norcross, Democrat of New Jersey
Since the dawn of nuclear weapons during the Truman administration, every American president has had the sole authority on the use of nuclear weapons, and so will future presidents.
Representative Frank Pallone, Democrat of New Jersey
a. No
b. Yes
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman, Democrat of New Jersey
a. No
b. No
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Yvette Clarke, Democrat of New York
a. No
b. No
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative-elect John Mannion, Democrat of New York
a. No. The use of nuclear weapons should be avoided at all costs, and the Constitution is clear that Congress decides on whether the U.S. goes to war. Protecting and defending Americans is a sacred duty I take very seriously, and Congress must work with the president to ensure the U.S. engages responsibly and in a way that safeguards American families, our service members and global allies. A pre-emptive nuclear strike should require congressional approval.
b. Yes. The use of nuclear weapons should be avoided at all costs, and the Constitution is clear that Congress decides on whether the U.S. goes to war. Practically, this scenario would constitute an urgent national emergency, and the decision would likely need to be made very quickly to protect American families, our service members and global allies.
c. No response
Representative Valerie Foushee, Democrat of North Carolina
a. No
b. No
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Deborah Ross, Democrat of North Carolina
a. No
b. Yes
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Suzanne Bonamici, Democrat of Oregon
a. No
b. It should not be a unilateral decision by the president.
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative-elect Janelle Bynum, Democrat of Oregon
a. Yes
b. Yes
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative-elect Maxine Dexter, Democrat of Oregon
a. No
b. Yes
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Andrea Salinas, Democrat of Oregon
a. No
b. No
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Christopher Deluzio, Democrat of Pennsylvania
a. Congressional leadership with access to 24/7 communications (like the speaker of the House) should have a role to play in authorizing any pre-emptive nuclear attack.
b. Yes
c. I believe that some form of congressional approval is necessary before any pre-emptive action, and I think that any president needs to have the authority to respond to an incoming nuclear missile attack.
Representative Summer Lee, Democrat of Pennsylvania
a. No
b. No
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Gabe Amo, Democrat of Rhode Island
a. No. H.R. 669 would require congressional approval for pre-emptive strikes.
b. Yes. H.R. 669 would allow the president to take responsive nuclear action without congressional approval.
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Lloyd Doggett, Democrat of Texas
a. No
b. Probably
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative-elect Julie Johnson, Democrat of Texas
a. No. A pre-emptive nuclear attack would be seen as an act of war, and that is a power for Congress.
b. Yes. With the caveat that our House and Senate Intelligence Committees are briefed by intelligence and military leaders beforehand.
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative-elect Sylvester Turner, Democrat of Texas
a. No
b. I believe there should be a protocol that includes the approval of another senior official that is available on a moment’s notice 24/7. I would need more information to decide whether it is logistically possible for that official to be a member of Congress.
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Becca Balint, Democrat of Vermont
a. There must be clear, common-sense safeguards in place to ensure a president cannot order a pre-emptive nuclear strike on a whim or without cause. Congress alone holds the constitutional authority to declare war. The consequences are far too great for one person alone to have the unchecked ability to cause the unspeakable destruction that comes along with the use of a nuclear weapon. It is essential for a president to seek counsel from a diverse team of advisers with extensive experience and moral clarity.
b. Above all, we must work to de-escalate any conflict through diplomacy and to work toward a future without the threat of nuclear war. It’s critical for U.S. security that a president has the ability to defend the country with swift action in the event of an incoming nuclear attack. Given the gridlock in Congress, I’m concerned that the timeline of congressional approval could put Americans’ lives at risk if a threat were imminent. The catastrophic dangers of nuclear war demand urgent de-escalation and limited access and funding for nuclear weapons.
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Donald Beyer, Democrat of Virginia
a. No
b. Yes
c. Not at all comfortable
Representative Gerald Connolly, Democrat of Virginia
a. No
b. In order to deter a nuclear attack by any adversary of the United States, our adversaries must understand that we are capable of responding in equal measure and in real time.
c. Not at all comfortable. I am not at all comfortable with allowing Donald Trump or any president to unilaterally launch nuclear weapons against adversaries that have not launched a nuclear attack against the United States.
The members of Congress who declined to comment:
Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut
Senator Christopher S. Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut
Senator Angus King, independent of Maine
These aren’t binary yes/no issues or questions, I’m afraid.
Representative Jamie Raskin, Democrat of Maryland
Representative Al Green, Democrat of Texas
Representative Chip Roy, Republican of Texas
The members of Congress who did not respond:
Senator Tommy Tuberville, Republican of Alabama
Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska
Senator Daniel S. Sullivan, Republican of Alaska
Senator-elect Ruben Gallego, Democrat of Arizona
Senator Mark Kelly, Democrat of Arizona
Senator John Boozman, Republican of Arkansas
Senator Tom Cotton, Republican of Arkansas
Senator Alex Padilla, Democrat of California
Senator-elect Adam Schiff, Democrat of California
Senator Michael Bennet, Democrat of Colorado
Senator John Hickenlooper, Democrat of Colorado
Senator-elect Lisa Blunt Rochester, Democrat of Delaware
Senator Rick Scott, Republican of Florida
Senator Jon Ossoff, Democrat of Georgia
Senator Raphael Warnock, Democrat of Georgia
Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Democrat of Hawaii
Senator Brian E. Schatz, Democrat of Hawaii
Senator Mike Crapo, Republican of Idaho
Senator Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois
Senator Joni Ernst, Republican of Iowa
Senator Chuck Grassley, Republican of Iowa
Senator-elect Jim Banks, Republican of Indiana
Senator Jim Risch, Republican of Indiana
Senator Todd C. Young, Republican of Indiana
Senator Roger Marshall, Republican of Kansas
Senator Jerry Moran, Republican of Kansas
Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky
Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky
Senator Bill Cassidy, Republican of Louisiana
Senator John Neely Kennedy, Republican of Louisiana
Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine
Senator-elect Angela Alsobrooks, Democrat of Maryland
Senator Gary Peters, Democrat of Michigan
Senator-elect Elissa Slotkin, Democrat of Michigan
Senator Amy Klobuchar, Democrat of Minnesota
Senator Tina Smith, Democrat of Minnesota
Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, Republican of Mississippi
Senator Roger Wicker, Republican of Mississippi
Senator Josh Hawley, Republican of Missouri
Senator Eric Schmitt, Republican of Missouri
Senator Steve Daines, Republican of Montana
Senator-elect Tim Sheehy, Republican of Montana
Senator Deb Fischer, Republican of Nebraska
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Democrat of Nevada
Senator Jacky Rosen, Democrat of Nevada
Senator Maggie Hassan, Democrat of New Hampshire
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire
Senator Cory Booker, Democrat of New Jersey
Senator Andy Kim, Democrat of New Jersey
Senator Martin Heinrich, Democrat of New Mexico
Senator Ben Ray Luján, Democrat of New Mexico
Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York
Senator Ted Budd, Republican of North Carolina
Senator Thom Tillis, Republican of North Carolina
Senator Kevin Cramer, Republican of North Dakota
Senator John Hoeven, Republican of North Dakota
Senator-elect Bernie Moreno, Republican of Ohio
Senator James Lankford, Republican of Oklahoma
Senator Markwayne Mullin, Republican of Oklahoma
Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon
Senator John Fetterman, Democrat of Pennsylvania
Senator-elect Dave McCormick, Republican of Pennsylvania
Senator Jack Reed, Democrat of Rhode Island
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island
Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina
Senator Tim Scott, Republican of South Carolina
Senator Mike Rounds, Republican of South Dakota
Senator John Thune, Republican of South Dakota
Senator Bill Hagerty, Republican of Tennessee
Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas
Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas
Senator-elect John Curtis, Republican of Utah
Senator Bernie Sanders, independent of Vermont
Senator Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia
Senator Maria Cantwell, Democrat of Washington
Senator Patty Murray, Democrat of Washington
Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Republican of West Virginia
Senator-elect Jim Justice, Republican of West Virginia
Senator Tammy Baldwin, Democrat of Wisconsin
Senator Ron Johnson, Republican of Wisconsin
Senator John Barrasso, Republican of Wyoming
Senator Cynthia Lummis, Republican of Wyoming
Representative Robert Aderholt, Republican of Alabama
Representative-elect Shomari Figures, Democrat of Alabama
Representative Barry Moore, Republican of Alabama
Representative Gary Palmer, Republican of Alabama
Representative Mike Rogers, Republican of Alabama
Representative Terri Sewell, Democrat of Alabama
Representative Dale Strong, Republican of Alabama
Representative-elect Nick Begich, Republican of Alaska
Representative-elect Yassamin Ansari, Democrat of Arizona
Representative Andy Biggs, Republican of Arizona
Representative Juan Ciscomani, Republican of Arizona
Representative Eli Crane, Republican of Arizona
Representative Paul Gosar, Republican of Arizona
Representative Raúl Grijalva, Democrat of Arizona
Representative-elect Abe Hamadeh, Republican of Arizona
Representative David Schweikert, Republican of Arizona
Representative Greg Stanton, Democrat of Arizona
Representative Rick Crawford, Republican of Arkansas
Representative French Hill, Republican of Arkansas
Representative Bruce Westerman, Republican of Arkansas
Representative Steve Womack, Republican of Arkansas
Representative Pete Aguilar, Democrat of California
Representative Nanette Barragán, Democrat of California
Representative Julia Brownley, Democrat of California
Representative Ken Calvert, Republican of California
Representative Salud Carbajal, Democrat of California
Representative-elect Gil Cisneros, Democrat of California
Representative Lou Correa, Democrat of California
Representative Jim Costa, Democrat of California
Representative Mark DeSaulnier, Democrat of California
Representative Vince Fong, Republican of California
Representative-elect Laura Friedman, Democrat of California
Representative John Garamendi, Democrat of California
Representative Robert Garcia, Democrat of California
Representative Jimmy Gomez, Democrat of California
Representative-elect Adam Gray, Democrat of California
Representative Darrell Issa, Republican of California
Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Democrat of California
Representative Kevin Kiley, Republican of California
Representative Young Kim, Republican of California
Representative Doug LaMalfa, Republican of California
Representative-elect Sam Liccardo, Democrat of California
Representative Zoe Lofgren, Democrat of California
Representative Josh Harder, Democrat of California
Representative Jared Huffman, Democrat of California
Representative Doris Matsui, Democrat of California
Representative Tom McClintock, Republican of California
Representative Kevin Mullin, Democrat of California
Representative Jay Obernolte, Republican of California
Representative Jimmy Panetta, Democrat of California
Representative Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California
Representative-elect Luz Rivas, Democrat of California
Representative Raul Ruiz, Democrat of California
Representative Brad Sherman, Democrat of California
Representative-elect Lateefah Simon, Democrat of California
Representative Eric Swalwell, Democrat of California
Representative Mike Thompson, Democrat of California
Representative Norma Torres, Democrat of California
Representative-elect Derek Tran, Democrat of California
Representative David Valadao, Republican of California
Representative-elect George Whitesides, Democrat of California
Representative Lauren Boebert, Republican of Colorado
Representative-elect Jeff Crank, Republican of Colorado
Representative Jason Crow, Democrat of Colorado
Representative Diana DeGette, Democrat of Colorado
Representative-elect Gabe Evans, Republican of Colorado
Representative-elect Jeff Hurd, Republican of Colorado
Representative Joe Neguse, Democrat of Colorado
Representative Brittany Pettersen, Democrat of Colorado
Representative Rosa DeLauro, Democrat of Connecticut
Representative Jahana Hayes, Democrat of Connecticut
Representative Jim Himes, Democrat of Connecticut
Representative-elect Sarah McBride, Democrat of Delaware
Representative Aaron Bean, Republican of Florida
Representative Gus Bilirakis, Republican of Florida
Representative Vern Buchanan, Republican of Florida
Representative Kat Cammack, Republican of Florida
Representative Kathy Castor, Democrat of Florida
Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Democrat of Florida
Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, Republican of Florida
Representative Byron Donalds, Republican of Florida
Representative Neal Dunn, Republican of Florida
Representative Lois Frankel, Democrat of Florida
Representative Scott Franklin, Republican of Florida
Representative Maxwell Frost, Democrat of Florida
Representative Carlos Gimenez, Republican of Florida
Representative-elect Mike Haridopolos, Republican of Florida
Representative Laurel Lee, Republican of Florida
Representative Anna Paulina Luna, Republican of Florida
Representative Brian Mast, Republican of Florida
Representative Cory Mills, Republican of Florida
Representative Jared Moskowitz, Democrat of Florida
Representative John Rutherford, Republican of Florida
Representative Maria Elvira Salazar, Republican of Florida
Representative Darren Soto, Democrat of Florida
Representative Greg Steube, Republican of Florida
Representative Daniel Webster, Republican of Florida
Representative Rick Allen, Republican of Georgia
Representative Sanford Bishop, Democrat of Georgia
Representative Buddy Carter, Republican of Georgia
Representative Andrew Clyde, Republican of Georgia
Representative Mike Collins, Republican of Georgia
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republican of Georgia
Representative-elect Brian Jack, Republican of Georgia
Representative Hank Johnson, Democrat of Georgia
Representative Barry Loudermilk, Republican of Georgia
Representative Lucy McBath, Democrat of Georgia
Representative Rich McCormick, Republican of Georgia
Representative Austin Scott, Republican of Georgia
Representative David Scott, Democrat of Georgia
Representative Nikema Williams, Democrat of Georgia
Representative Ed Case, Democrat of Hawaii
Representative Russ Fulcher, Republican of Idaho
Representative Mike Simpson, Republican of Idaho
Representative Mike Bost, Republican of Illinois
Representative Nikki Budzinski, Democrat of Illinois
Representative Danny Davis, Democrat of Illinois
Representative Chuy García, Democrat of Illinois
Representative Robin Kelly, Democrat of Illinois
Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, Democrat of Illinois
Representative Darin LaHood, Republican of Illinois
Representative Mary Miller, Republican of Illinois
Representative Mike Quigley, Democrat of Illinois
Representative Delia Ramirez, Democrat of Illinois
Representative Janice Schakowsky, Democrat of Illinois
Representative Brad Schneider, Democrat of Illinois
Representative Eric Sorensen, Democrat of Illinois
Representative Lauren Underwood, Democrat of Illinois
Representative Jim Baird, Republican of Indiana
Representative Erin Houchin, Republican of Indiana
Representative-elect Mark Messmer, Republican of Indiana
Representative Frank Mrvan, Democrat of Indiana
Representative-elect Jefferson Shreve, Republican of Indiana
Representative Victoria Spartz, Republican of Indiana
Representative-elect Marlin Stutzman, Republican of Indiana
Representative Rudy Yakym, Republican of Indiana
Representative Randy Feenstra, Republican of Iowa
Representative Ashley Hinson, Republican of Iowa
Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Republican of Iowa
Representative Zach Nunn, Republican of Iowa
Representative Sharice Davids, Democrat of Kansas
Representative Ron Estes, Republican of Kansas
Representative Tracey Mann, Republican of Kansas
Representative-elect Derek Schmidt, Republican of Kansas
Representative Andy Barr, Republican of Kentucky
Representative James Comer, Republican of Kentucky
Representative Brett Guthrie, Republican of Kentucky
Representative Thomas Massie, Republican of Kentucky
Representative Morgan McGarvey, Democrat of Kentucky
Representative Hal Rogers, Republican of Kentucky
Representative Troy Carter, Democrat of Louisiana
Representative-elect Cleo Fields, Democrat of Louisiana
Representative Clay Higgins, Republican of Louisiana
Representative Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana
Representative Julia Letlow, Republican of Louisiana
Representative Steve Scalise, Republican of Louisiana
Representative Jared Golden, Democrat of Maine
Representative-elect Sarah Elfreth, Democrat of Maryland
Representative Andy Harris, Republican of Maryland
Representative Steny Hoyer, Democrat of Maryland
Representative Glenn Ivey, Democrat of Maryland
Representative-elect April McClain Delaney, Democrat of Maryland
Representative Kweisi Mfume, Democrat of Maryland
Representative-elect Johnny Olszewski, Democrat of Maryland
Representative Katherine Clark, Democrat of Massachusetts
Representative Bill Keating, Democrat of Massachusetts
Representative Stephen Lynch, Democrat of Massachusetts
Representative Richard Neal, Democrat of Massachusetts
Representative Ayanna Pressley, Democrat of Massachusetts
Representative Lori Trahan, Democrat of Massachusetts
Representative-elect Tom Barrett, Republican of Michigan
Representative Jack Bergman, Republican of Michigan
Representative Debbie Dingell, Democrat of Michigan
Representative Bill Huizenga, Republican of Michigan
Representative John James, Republican of Michigan
Representative-elect Kristen McDonald Rivet, Democrat of Michigan
Representative Lisa McClain, Republican of Michigan
Representative John Moolenaar, Republican of Michigan
Representative Hillary Scholten, Democrat of Michigan
Representative Haley Stevens, Democrat of Michigan
Representative Shri Thanedar, Democrat of Michigan
Representative Rashida Tlaib, Democrat of Michigan
Representative Tim Walberg, Republican of Michigan
Representative Angie Craig, Democrat of Minnesota
Representative Tom Emmer, Republican of Minnesota
Representative Brad Finstad, Republican of Minnesota
Representative Michelle Fischbach, Republican of Minnesota
Representative Betty McCollum, Democrat of Minnesota
Representative-elect Kelly Morrison, Democrat of Minnesota
Representative Ilhan Omar, Democrat of Minnesota
Representative Pete Stauber, Republican of Minnesota
Representative Mike Ezell, Republican of Mississippi
Representative Michael Guest, Republican of Mississippi
Representative Trent Kelly, Republican of Mississippi
Representative Bennie Thompson, Democrat of Mississippi
Representative Mark Alford, Republican of Missouri
Representative Eric Burlison, Republican of Missouri
Representative Emanuel Cleaver, Democrat of Missouri
Representative Sam Graves, Republican of Missouri
Representative-elect Bob Onder, Republican of Missouri
Representative Jason Smith, Republican of Missouri
Representative Ann Wagner, Republican of Missouri
Representative-elect Troy Downing, Republican of Montana
Representative Ryan Zinke, Republican of Montana
Representative Don Bacon, Republican of Nebraska
Representative Mike Flood, Republican of Nebraska
Representative Adrian Smith, Republican of Nebraska
Representative Mark Amodei, Republican of Nevada
Representative Steven Horsford, Democrat of Nevada
Representative Susie Lee, Democrat of Nevada
Representative-elect Maggie Goodlander, Democrat of New Hampshire
Representative Chris Pappas, Democrat of New Hampshire
Representative-elect Herb Conaway Jr., Democrat of New Jersey
Representative Josh Gottheimer, Democrat of New Jersey
Representative Thomas Kean, Republican of New Jersey
Representative LaMonica McIver, Democrat of New Jersey
Representative Robert Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey
Representative-elect Nellie Pou, Democrat of New Jersey
Representative Mikie Sherrill, Democrat of New Jersey
Representative Christopher Smith, Republican of New Jersey
Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez, Democrat of New Mexico
Representative Melanie Stansbury, Democrat of New Mexico
Representative Gabe Vasquez, Democrat of New Mexico
Representative Adriano Espaillat, Democrat of New York
Representative Andrew Garbarino, Republican of New York
Representative-elect Laura Gillen, Democrat of New York
Representative Daniel Goldman, Democrat of New York
Representative Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat of New York
Representative Timothy Kennedy, Democrat of New York
Representative Nick LaLota, Republican of New York
Representative Nicholas Langworthy, Republican of New York
Representative-elect George Latimer, Democrat of New York
Representative Michael Lawler, Republican of New York
Representative Nicole Malliotakis, Republican of New York
Representative Gregory Meeks, Democrat of New York
Representative Grace Meng, Democrat of New York
Representative Joseph Morelle, Democrat of New York
Representative Jerrold Nadler, Democrat of New York
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democrat of New York
Representative-elect Josh Riley, Democrat of New York
Representative Patrick Ryan, Democrat of New York
Representative Tom Suozzi, Democrat of New York
Representative Claudia Tenney, Republican of New York
Representative Paul Tonko, Democrat of New York
Representative Ritchie Torres, Democrat of New York
Representative Nydia Velázquez, Democrat of New York
Representative Alma Adams, Democrat of North Carolina
Representative Donald Davis, Democrat of North Carolina
Representative Chuck Edwards, Republican of North Carolina
Representative Virginia Foxx, Republican of North Carolina
Representative-elect Pat Harrigan, Republican of North Carolina
Representative-elect Mark Harris, Republican of North Carolina
Representative Richard Hudson, Republican of North Carolina
Representative-elect Brad Knott, Republican of North Carolina
Representative-elect Addison McDowell, Republican of North Carolina
Representative-elect Tim Moore, Republican of North Carolina
Representative Gregory Murphy, Republican of North Carolina
Representative David Rouzer, Republican of North Carolina
Representative-elect Julie Fedorchak, Republican of North Dakota
Representative Troy Balderson, Republican of Ohio
Representative Joyce Beatty, Democrat of Ohio
Representative Shontel Brown, Democrat of Ohio
Representative Mike Carey, Republican of Ohio
Representative Warren Davidson, Republican of Ohio
Representative Jim Jordan, Republican of Ohio
Representative David Joyce, Republican of Ohio
Representative Marcy Kaptur, Democrat of Ohio
Representative Greg Landsman, Democrat of Ohio
Representative Robert Latta, Republican of Ohio
Representative Max Miller, Republican of Ohio
Representative Michael Rulli, Republican of Ohio
Representative Emilia Sykes, Democrat of Ohio
Representative-elect Dave Taylor, Republican of Ohio
Representative Michael Turner, Republican of Ohio
Representative Stephanie Bice, Republican of Oklahoma
Representative Josh Brecheen, Republican of Oklahoma
Representative Tom Cole, Republican of Oklahoma
Representative Kevin Hern, Republican of Oklahoma
Representative Frank Lucas, Republican of Oklahoma
Representative Cliff Bentz, Republican of Oregon
Representative Val Hoyle, Democrat of Oregon
Representative Brendan Boyle, Democrat of Pennsylvania
Representative-elect Robert Bresnahan, Republican of Pennsylvania
Representative Madeleine Dean, Democrat of Pennsylvania
Representative Dwight Evans, Democrat of Pennsylvania
Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, Republican of Pennsylvania
Representative Chrissy Houlahan, Democrat of Pennsylvania
Representative John Joyce, Republican of Pennsylvania
Representative Mike Kelly, Republican of Pennsylvania
Representative-elect Ryan Mackenzie, Republican of Pennsylvania
Representative Daniel Meuser, Republican of Pennsylvania
Representative Scott Perry, Republican of Pennsylvania
Representative Guy Reschenthaler, Republican of Pennsylvania
Representative Mary Scanlon, Democrat of Pennsylvania
Representative Lloyd Smucker, Republican of Pennsylvania
Representative Glenn Thompson, Republican of Pennsylvania
Representative Seth Magaziner, Democrat of Rhode Island
Representative-elect Sheri Biggs, Republican of South Carolina
Representative James Clyburn, Democrat of South Carolina
Representative Russell Fry, Republican of South Carolina
Representative Nancy Mace, Republican of South Carolina
Representative Ralph Norman, Republican of South Carolina
Representative William Timmons, Republican of South Carolina
Representative Joe Wilson, Republican of South Carolina
Representative Dusty Johnson, Republican of South Dakota
Representative Tim Burchett, Republican of Tennessee
Representative Steve Cohen, Democrat of Tennessee
Representative Scott DesJarlais, Republican of Tennessee
Representative Charles Fleischmann, Republican of Tennessee
Representative Mark Green, Republican of Tennessee
Representative Diana Harshbarger, Republican of Tennessee
Representative David Kustoff, Republican of Tennessee
Representative Andrew Ogles, Republican of Tennessee
Representative John Rose, Republican of Tennessee
Representative Jodey Arrington, Republican of Texas
Representative Brian Babin, Republican of Texas
Representative John Carter, Republican of Texas
Representative Greg Casar, Democrat of Texas
Representative Joaquin Castro, Democrat of Texas
Representative Michael Cloud, Republican of Texas
Representative Dan Crenshaw, Republican of Texas
Representative Jasmine Crockett, Democrat of Texas
Representative Henry Cuellar, Democrat of Texas
Representative Monica De La Cruz, Republican of Texas
Representative Jake Ellzey, Republican of Texas
Representative Veronica Escobar, Democrat of Texas
Representative Pat Fallon, Republican of Texas
Representative Lizzie Fletcher, Democrat of Texas
Representative Sylvia Garcia, Democrat of Texas
Representative-elect Brandon Gill, Republican of Texas
Representative-elect Craig Goldman, Republican of Texas
Representative Tony Gonzales, Republican of Texas
Representative Vicente Gonzalez, Democrat of Texas
Representative Lance Gooden, Republican of Texas
Representative Wesley Hunt, Republican of Texas
Representative Ronny Jackson, Republican of Texas
Representative Morgan Luttrell, Republican of Texas
Representative Michael McCaul, Republican of Texas
Representative Nathaniel Moran, Republican of Texas
Representative Troy Nehls, Republican of Texas
Representative August Pfluger, Republican of Texas
Representative Keith Self, Republican of Texas
Representative Pete Sessions, Republican of Texas
Representative Beth Van Duyne, Republican of Texas
Representative Marc Veasey, Democrat of Texas
Representative Randy Weber, Republican of Texas
Representative Roger Williams, Republican of Texas
Representative-elect Mike Kennedy, Republican of Utah
Representative Celeste Maloy, Republican of Utah
Representative Blake Moore, Republican of Utah
Representative Burgess Owens, Republican of Utah
Representative Ben Cline, Republican of Virginia
Representative Morgan Griffith, Republican of Virginia
Representative Jennifer Kiggans, Republican of Virginia
Representative Jennifer McClellan, Democrat of Virginia
Representative-elect John McGuire, Republican of Virginia
Representative Robert Scott, Democrat of Virginia
Representative-elect Suhas Subramanyam, Democrat of Virginia
Representative-elect Eugene Vindman, Democrat of Virginia
Representative Robert Wittman, Republican of Virginia
Representative-elect Michael Baumgartner, Republican of Washington
Representative Suzan DelBene, Democrat of Washington
Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Democrat of Washington
Representative Pramila Jayapal, Democrat of Washington
Representative Rick Larsen, Democrat of Washington
Representative Dan Newhouse, Republican of Washington
Representative-elect Emily Randall, Democrat of Washington
Representative Kim Schrier, Democrat of Washington
Representative Adam Smith, Democrat of Washington
Representative Marilyn Strickland, Democrat of Washington
Representative Eleanor Norton, Democrat of Washington, D.C.
Representative Carol Miller, Republican of West Virginia
Representative-elect Riley Moore, Republican of West Virginia
Representative Scott Fitzgerald, Republican of Wisconsin
Representative Glenn Grothman, Republican of Wisconsin
Representative Gwen Moore, Democrat of Wisconsin
Representative Mark Pocan, Democrat of Wisconsin
Representative Bryan Steil, Republican of Wisconsin
Representative Thomas Tiffany, Republican of Wisconsin
Representative Derrick Van Orden, Republican of Wisconsin
Representative-elect Tony Wied, Republican of Wisconsin
Representative Harriet Hageman, Republican of Wyoming
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(Please note that the Sunday and Saturday NUCLEAR WORLD’S NEWS are also added below by category, following Monday’s news posts in order to maintain continuity of nuclear news as well as for research for the overall information provided in “LLAW;s All Things Nuclear”.)
There are 7 categories, with the latest addition, (#7) being a Friday weekly roundup of IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) global nuclear news stories. Also included is a bonus non-nuclear category for news about the Yellowstone caldera and other volcanic and caldera activity around the world that play an important role in humanity’s lives. The feature categories provide articles and information about ‘all things nuclear’ for you to pick from, usually with up to 3 links with headlines concerning the most important media stories in each category, but sometimes fewer and occasionally even none (especially so with the Yellowstone Caldera). The Categories are listed below in their usual order:
- All Things Nuclear
- Nuclear Power
- Nuclear Power Emergencies
- Nuclear War
- Nuclear War Threats
- Yellowstone Caldera (Note: There are two Yellowstone Caldera bonus stories available in today’s Post.)
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Whenever there is an underlined link to a Category media news story, if you press or click on the link provided, you no longer have to cut and paste to your web browser, since this Post’s link will take you directly to the article in your browser.
A current Digest of major nuclear media headlines with automated links is listed below by nuclear Category (in the above listed order). If a Category heading does not appear in the daily news Digest, it means there was no news reported from this Category today. Generally, the three best articles in each Category from around the nuclear world(s) are Posted. Occasionally, if a Post is important enough, it may be listed in multiple Categories.
TODAY’s NUCLEAR WORLD’s NEWS, Tuesday, (12/17/2024)
All Things Nuclear
NEWS
An explosion kills the head of Russia’s nuclear defense forces in Moscow – Little Rock Public Radio
Little Rock Public Radio
A senior Russian general was killed Tuesday by a bomb hidden in a scooter outside his apartment building in Moscow. A Ukrainian official said the …
All Things with Kim Strassel: 2024’s Winners and Losers with Buck Sexton – Opinion: Potomac Watch
WSJ
2024 was the year that saw Donald Trump win, Kamala Harris lose, Joe Biden quit and Elon Musk make his way to Capitol Hill.
A woman was loading 1500 pounds of gravel into her car when a stranger interrupted
WUSF
On this week’s “My Unsung Hero” from Hidden Brain, Caroline Davis was doing a home improvement project that required her to haul about 1500 pound
Nuclear Power
NEWS
Be a Nuclear Family! DC Households May Choose Clean Nuclear Energy with America’s …
Constellation Energy
Constellation Energy Corporation today announced America’s first-ever product allowing consumers to power their homes with 100% clean nuclear …
Segrist: Cooling the Reaction: Nuclear Makes Promising but Slow Comeback | Hart Energy
Hart Energy
Nuclear power is awesome. Nuclear power is also hard—and a long way off from displacing natural gas as the primary source for the electricity the …
Big tech companies hope nuclear power can solve their energy problems. Will it? – NPR
NPR
Tech companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Meta hope nuclear power will offer a climate solution for this massive energy use. Nuclear power …
Nuclear Power Emergencies
NEWS
Romania supports Moldova in weathering the energy state of emergency – ceenergynews
ceenergynews
Nuclearelectrica and Hidroelectrica are collaborating with Energocom to assess Moldova’s electricity supply options, aiming to help the country cover …
Belarus hosting regular scheduled IAEA inspections
BelTA – News from Belarus
The IAEA inspectors have visited the Belarusian nuclear power plant. On … The Emergencies Ministry represented by its Nuclear and Radiation …
Nuclear War
NEWS
Nuclear bunker sales increase, despite expert warnings they aren’t going to provide protection
AP News
Global security leaders are warning nuclear threats are growing as … Mideast Wars Israel-Hamas War Russia-Ukraine War Global Elections ESPAÑOL
Putin’s Chilling Nuclear Threat To U.S. For Mulling Use Of New Missiles – YouTube
YouTube
… WAR | CHANGING WORLD ORDER #TOILive | #TOIVideos Subscribe to the … I’ve studied nuclear war for 35 years — you should be worried. | Brian …
Nuclear bunker sales increase, despite expert warnings they aren’t going to provide protection
ABC News – The Walt Disney Company
Critics warn these bunkers create a false perception that a nuclear war is survivable. They argue that people planning to live through an atomic blast …
Nuclear War Threats
NEWS
Takeaways from the AP’s reporting on nuclear bunkers – ABC News
ABC News – The Walt Disney Company
They argue that people planning to live through an atomic blast aren’t focusing on the real and current dangers posed by nuclear threats, and the …
ISW: Kremlin may seek off-ramp from nuclear threats through Oreshnik missile promotion
Euromaidan Press
ISW: Recent Russian missile strike shows no new nuclear threat · Ukraine eyes THAAD, Patriot enhancements against new Russian threats · Defense …
Opinion | 530 Incoming Congress Members Share Their Thoughts on Nuclear Sole Authority
The New York Times
In his first term, we saw President Trump threaten nuclear war with North Korea via tweet. In 2022, he said he would threaten a nuclear attack on ..
Yellowstone Caldera
NEWS
10 Largest Volcanoes That Could Cover The World in Ash – MSN
MSN
1.Yellowstone Caldera, USA. 2.Lake Toba, Indonesia … What If the Yellowstone Volcano Erupted Tomorrow? 96. 20. Give The Gift Of Hearing This …
Mag. 4.9 earthquake – Coral Sea, 24 km southwest of Efate Island, Shefa, Vanuatu, on …
Volcano Discovery
Latest earthquakes under Yellowstone volcano. List and interactive map of current and past earthquakes near Yellowstone volcano. Volcano Tour.
