Hi there. Welcome to Meet the Press Now. I'm Ryan Nobles in Washington where President Trump just returned to the White House after his 5-day visit to Asia, which ended with a meeting with President Xi as the Trump administration looks to ease trade tensions with Beijing.But it's President Trump's announcement just before those highstakes negotiations that sending shock waves with President Trump ordering the Pentagon to start testing nuclear weapons. The president posting on truth social while citing other ...

Policy Shift - The U.S. is opening its Cold War-era stockpile of weapons-grade plutonium to private nuclear energy companies, with the Department of Energy (DOE) accepting applications for approximately 20 metric tons of this material [2][8] - This initiative aims to accelerate the development of advanced nuclear reactors and enhance energy security, stemming from President Trump's May 2025 executive order [2][8] Industry Impact - The program's primary goal is to provide a domestic fuel source for advanced reactor designs, reducing reliance on foreign uranium, especially from Russia, and addressing the increasing electricity demand from sectors like AI data centers [3][8] - Companies such as Oklo Inc. and TerraPower are expected to benefit, with Oklo developing advanced fission power plants and TerraPower working on the Natrium reactor [4][8] Economic Considerations - While the plutonium will be provided at minimal or no cost, participating companies will bear all associated expenses, including transportation, design, and construction of facilities, which could pose significant financial challenges [4][8] - Concerns have been raised regarding the economic viability of processing plutonium for fuel, with some analyses indicating it may be more expensive than current disposal methods [5][8] Criticism and Concerns - The plan has faced criticism from non-proliferation experts and lawmakers, who warn about the risks of nuclear proliferation and the potential misuse of accessible weapons-grade material [5][8] - The technology for utilizing this specific plutonium in advanced reactor designs remains unproven and unlicensed, raising further questions about the initiative's feasibility [5][8] Strategic Shift - This policy marks a significant departure from the U.S.'s historical focus on the dilution and disposal of surplus plutonium, emphasizing a renewed commitment to domestic nuclear energy production and innovation [6][8] - Potential investment opportunities may arise in reprocessing technology and advanced reactor construction, with companies like Cameco Corporation, Uranium Energy Corp, and NuScale Power likely to see indirect benefits from a revitalized domestic nuclear sector [6][8]

80 years ago today, on August 9th, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Nagasaki. Three days earlier, the US had dropped a separate bomb on the city of Hiroshima. These bombs changed the course of history.The two bombs are estimated to have killed roughly 200,000 people in both cities. Half of them died on the first day. Many others died of burns and radiation sickness in the days, the weeks, and the months that followed.The destructive power of this new type of weapon was ...

Geopolitical Analysis - Several countries considered nuclear options during the Cold War [1] - America actively worked to prevent nuclear proliferation [1] - The world is becoming alarming again, necessitating a review of history [1]

Iran said it was suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, leaving it blind for now to any renewed nuclear work that Tehran is able to do https://t.co/xonP9g7xxc ...

Geopolitical Strategy & Alliances - China's support for Iran is primarily rhetorical, lacking substantial assistance or force projection capabilities in the Middle East [1][2] - Russia's focus is on its own needs, particularly drone procurement from Iran for use in Ukraine, potentially impacted by disruptions [3] - Both Moscow and Beijing prioritize their own interests over Tehran's [4] US Response & Deterrence - The US possesses significant force projection capabilities in the Middle East, unlike China [2] - The US is monitoring reports of Iran moving enriched uranium and is prepared to take additional action if necessary [5] - The US President is comfortable with further action if Iran clings to enriched uranium [7] Potential Negotiation & De-escalation - Iran could offer to give up enriched uranium as a gesture of good faith to negotiate and avoid further action [6] - The best path for Iran would be to negotiate and give up enriched uranium [6] Military Action Assessment - US strikes may not have caused as much damage as hoped due to Iran's preparedness [5] - The effectiveness of US strikes is being assessed to determine if Iran's claims are disinformation [5]