AM Nukes Roundup – September 9 – World leaders are losing their terror of nuclear war

[Ellen Thomas]

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PPP floor leader to seek ways to bolster nuclear deterrence against NK threats

PEACE & SECURITY | AM NUKES ROUNDUP News, Analysis & Resources View in browser  September 8, 2026 TOP SIX World leaders are losing their terror of nuclear war The Economist - September 8   PPP floor leader to seek ways to bolster nuclear deterrence against NK threats Yonhap - September 8   UK publishes legislation for tougher sanctions on Iran over nuclear programme Sam Tabahriti, Sam Tobin, Reuters - September 8   Marc Champion: America’s Iran War Forgot About Nukes OPINION: Bloomberg - September 8   Henry Sokolski: War Game: China gets its own Golden Dome, sparking a space arms race OPINION: SpaceNews - September 8   Micah Hanks: The Vela Incident: Did an American satellite detect a secret nuclear test in 1979? OPINION: Space - September 8   MEDIA INTEL Stars and Stripes shows how government‑funded journalism can work — if it’s free to report the truth Stars and Stripes demonstrates that public money can sustain journalism (its Pentagon subsidy covers roughly half its budget) but the model only works if editorial control remains insulated from the funder. For communications strategists, the key distinction is financial support vs. message control. Stripes’ reporters live alongside the communities they cover, enabling firsthand reporting, from the USS Abraham Lincoln to military-family evacuations, that official communications cannot manufacture. As one retired commander put it, credibility comes from readers believing that “when something goes wrong, somebody will tell them.” The Pentagon’s 2026 firings of three senior Stripes employees, followed by a lawsuit alleging retaliation, underscore the reputational risk when a funder appears to influence editorial decisions. Meanwhile, $74 million in state/local public funding for journalism in 2026 shows that public support is expanding but its long-term credibility depends on clear safeguards against political strings. PEACE & SECURITY EDITORIAL CALENDAR September 22: Anniversary of Indian Ocean Nuke Test (1979) September 23: Last US nuclear weapons test (1992) September 24: Anniversary of CTBT (1996) September 26: International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons Click here for our editorial calendar >> AMPLIFY THIS POST NEWS CLIPS KOREA   What North Korea’s new warship reveals about Kim’s moves to secure surrounding waters Park Chan-kyong, South China Morning Post - September 8   PPP floor leader to seek ways to bolster nuclear deterrence against NK threats Yonhap - September 8   US, Japan and South Korea launch drills as North Korea unveils nuclear-capable warship Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes - September 8   IRAN   UK publishes legislation for tougher sanctions on Iran over nuclear programme Sam Tabahriti, Sam Tobin, Reuters - September 8   INTERNATIONAL   World leaders are losing their terror of nuclear war The Economist - September 8   RECA/NUCLEAR WASTE   Utah bone fragment with shocking cesium level is raising new questions about nuclear test harm Wyatt Fischer, The Cool Down - September 8   OPINION & COMMENTARY Marc Champion: America’s Iran War Forgot About Nukes OPINION: Bloomberg - September 8   Justin Fox: Ignoring Nukes and Drones Won’t Make Them Go Away OPINION: Bloomberg - September 8   Henry Sokolski: War Game: China gets its own Golden Dome, sparking a space arms race OPINION: SpaceNews - September 8   Micah Hanks: The Vela Incident: Did an American satellite detect a secret nuclear test in 1979? OPINION: Space - September 8   Email forwarded by a friend? Sign up for the AM Nukes Roundup Get in touch with ReThink's Peace & Security Team COMMUNICATIONS EXPERTISE & CAPACITY, GROUNDED IN MOVEMENT BUILDING 2443 Fillmore Street, PMB 380-7140, San Francisco, CA 94115   This newsletter is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as an endorsement or statement of approval of all articles included.