Annie Jacobsen: Nuclear War, CIA, KGB, Aliens, Area 51, Roswell & Secrecy | Lex Fridman Podcast

Annie Jacobsen is an investigative journalist and author of "Nuclear War: A Scenario" and many other books on war, weapons, government secrecy, and national security. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
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TRANSCRIPT:
lexfridman.com/annie-jacobsen...
EPISODE LINKS:
Nuclear War: A Scenario (book): amzn.to/3THZHfr
Annie's Twitter: / anniejacobsen
Annie's Website: anniejacobsen.com/
Annie's Books: amzn.to/3TGWyMJ
Annie's Books (audio): adbl.co/49ZnI7c
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: lexfridman.com/podcast
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2lwqZIr
Spotify: spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
RSS: lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/
Full episodes playlist: • Lex Fridman Podcast
Clips playlist: • Lex Fridman Podcast Clips
OUTLINE:
0:00 - Introduction
2:13 - Nuclear war
6:57 - Launch procedure
12:36 - Deterrence
16:09 - Tactical nukes
25:35 - Nuclear submarines
28:35 - Nuclear missiles
35:46 - Nuclear football
44:53 - Missile interceptor system
49:10 - North Korea
55:46 - Nuclear war scenarios
1:04:38 - Warmongers
1:09:06 - President's cognitive ability
1:15:19 - Refusing orders
1:23:17 - Russia and Putin
1:28:23 - Cyberattack
1:29:45 - Ground zero of nuclear war
1:34:24 - Surviving nuclear war
1:38:42 - Nuclear winter
1:49:05 - Alien civilizations
1:54:40 - Extrasensory perception
2:08:25 - Area 51
2:12:23 - UFOs and aliens
2:22:51 - Roswell incident
2:29:30 - CIA assassinations
2:48:23 - Navalny
2:50:48 - KGB
2:57:24 - Hitler and the atomic bomb
3:01:27 - War and human nature
3:04:53 - Hope
SOCIAL:
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- Support on Patreon: / lexfridman

[@lexfridman]

Here are the timestamps. Please check out our sponsors to support this podcast. Transcript: lexfridman.com/annie-jacobsen-transcript 0:00 - Introduction & sponsor mentions: - HiddenLayer: hiddenlayer.com/lex - BetterHelp: betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off - Policygenius: policygenius.com/lex - NetSuite: netsuite.com/lex to get free product tour 2:13 - Nuclear war 6:57 - Launch procedure 12:36 - Deterrence 16:09 - Tactical nukes 25:35 - Nuclear submarines 28:35 - Nuclear missiles 35:46 - Nuclear football 44:53 - Missile interceptor system 49:10 - North Korea 55:46 - Nuclear war scenarios 1:04:38 - Warmongers 1:09:06 - President's cognitive ability 1:15:19 - Refusing orders 1:23:17 - Russia and Putin 1:28:23 - Cyberattack 1:29:45 - Ground zero of nuclear war 1:34:24 - Surviving nuclear war 1:38:42 - Nuclear winter 1:49:05 - Alien civilizations 1:54:40 - Extrasensory perception 2:08:25 - Area 51 2:12:23 - UFOs and aliens 2:22:51 - Roswell incident 2:29:30 - CIA assassinations 2:48:23 - Navalny 2:50:48 - KGB 2:57:24 - Hitler and the atomic bomb 3:01:27 - War and human nature 3:04:53 - Hope

[@secretbassrigs]

Lex, you're a Commie???? GIVE YOUR WATCH BACK TO JOE ROGAN!! 🤣🤣🤣😂😂

[@MrWhite-vr1nq]

DEAR LEX FRIDMAN ! I hope you will see this comment. If we (I hope you too) want to stop the insane anti-Trumpist propaganda and if we all want the victory of Civilization, I kindly ask you to interview Andrei Illarionov - he is the former first deputy director of the Working Center for Economic Reforms under the Government of Russia (1992-1993 ), head of the analysis and planning group under the Chairman of the Russian Government (1993-1994), economic adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin and confidant (Sherpa) of the Russian President in the G8 (2000-2005). It will be a "bomb", I guarantee you, Lex.

[@derekjenkinson5406]

Thanks lex 🙌 love your work my brother ❤️

[@TouYube222]

Thank you! time stamps are so much more convenient in the comments

[@GMrRager]

Great discussion

[@therantingboy]

She's telling us the entire world and human race is minutes away from annihilation, and everyone in comments saying "I love her voice"

[@R4G3FULL]

It’s very concerning

[@sandrawilliams4874]

Pretty sad. 😂

[@vknight7497]

It definitely epitomizes the human race.

[@snowflakemelter7171]

Well most people knew that already so it's not exactly breaking news.

[@vinozarazzi5633]

People are switching focus from the "substance" to the "form" - because they are so weak minded.

[@jimjones9925]

Well this was a lovely uplifting little chat

[@suefleming]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@td4637]

Welcome to the existential nuclear dread of the Cold War. Everyone kinda forgot about it.

[@shawnbruce6934]

LOL.

[@Sunny-wq9ue]

Lol

[@sketchandjam]

lol lifted up right into the cloud.

[@CurryRiceN_Chips]

Tried falling asleep listening to this podcast, not the best choice 🤣 Will finish this tomorrow 😂

[@CryptoPros1]

Same.. last night I started this and realized what a mistake I made. I laid awake for another 30 mins thinking about nuclear war lol

[@Noobsaucer]

Lol same 😀

[@corbean3038]

I did the same thing🤣 usually I can zone out within 10 mins but this one took me a little while lmao and now I've come back to finish it

[@SC-yx7sb]

😂

[@user-gc5kv3cd7j]

I set stop playing after 30 min, and obviously i fell asleep before that

[@spsawyer22]

Episode 420 with Annie Jacobsen is just too much of a sign from the universe to roll one up and enjoy learning

[@oncelercanfly1974]

Holy shit that’s great 😮‍💨

[@samwisethebrave1691]

Listening to this baked, your mind starts to wish everyone was high 😅

[@kschreiber5856]

Horrific subject but so nice to listen to two people who let the other finish their sentences and thoughts. Manners make interviews flow well and easier to absorb.

[@BinKillEthical]

I wish Finkelsteiner and Borreli were on this interview... said no one

[@olivierbolton8683]

true and leaders should be able to do the same...

[@judithwake2757]

It helps straighten out misunderstandings to be polite and to let eachother talk without being interupted too.

[@Shmandalf]

@@BinKillEthicalFunklestain and Borealis

[@JP-ho6zc]

So are you gonna keep playing the STUPID game of giving power, consent, legitimacy, 💵 and weapons to gangsters to dictate how you gonna live and die like a well-trained law obeying slave?? 😂😂

[@imnotsayinitbutaliens6073]

I should not have 420 blazed it for the 420th podcast. This is intense.

[@raging100]

Right there with you brother, lmao.

[@TeacherTom1]

Lex appears to have ignored the significance of this important milestone. Unless you count nuclear war as the ultimate and final blaze-up. A lot of ganja would certainly go up in those mushroom clouds, all those dispensaries... Which American city would have the most THC product in its mushroom cloud do you think? I hope you've recovered from your "420 blazed" experience listening to Annie Jacobsen, although I expect you reconsidered your options soon after posting this comment.

[@willswalkingwest7267]

You went there and I'm glad.

[@allusernamestakenlol]

@@TeacherTom1 World governments are going to nuclear war to get the whole planet high

[@Yakovvandordt]

Brooooo for real😅

[@wellscampbell9858]

This is intense. Frankly it reminds me of my childhood. I'm 52, so 8 years old in 1980... We lived with an awareness of the perilous situation that existed, and hasn't changed, just below the surface. I remember nuclear drills in Elementary school, and the movie The Day After. Many nightmares... What she said about the situation itself was not revealing to me, but what got my attention was the confirmation that we are closer now than we ever were. Combine that with a societal move away from the awareness that was hammered into my generation and you have a widening gulf between our knowledge of and perception of the importance of the nuclear issue, and the reality on the ground. That gulf in my mind increases further the likelihood that we may end up in a situation where, as we wobble around on our way forward, one wobble will take us too close to the edge. Because we forgot how close the edge is. She is reminding us, and I think that what she is doing is of the utmost importance.

[@ChickPeaChannel]

I'm 53, and I remember that time, the movie The day after. Put your bed against the window. Go under the stairs. It was drummed in to us. The fear that came from every plane flying overhead. Is it worth the public knowing all this? We are at the mercy of one mad man.

[@mackjon3z]

I'll be 40 this year & upon hearing

[@pete_blackburn]

The drills in school. The Soviet threat was real then (at least it felt that way) The berlin wall came down when I was in high school. Then when the USSR broke apart it was really iffy not knowing who had what access to nukes. Then was the calm. I was explaining to my kids because this is a new feeling for them but we grew up with it.

[@revmsj]

Well I just want to thank you guys for preventing nuclear holocaust by squatting under those desks so often thereby giving my generation a chance to squander this world for a bit. Here’s to parents getting the world all hot n bothered and then projecting their fears and PTSD onto us kids!👍🏾

[@revmsj]

@@pete_blackburnnot a whole lot has changed. There’s been a period of forced smiles, hand shakes of pageantry, and they adopted western capitalism lite. Make no mistake, they are just as proudly nationalistic, and steeped in their own propaganda as they’ve always been. It would seem now that they just have more money from their brand of capitalism than they might have previously had with which they perhaps can fund more fighting. Also if you put any stock into what Noam Chomsky has to say, refer back to Lex’s interview with him where he insists that the threat from Russia has never been more real than now. At least I think that was Chomsky…🤔

[@kavonnowroozi9650]

Watched the whole thing and couldn’t sleep for several hours….anyone else?😮😮😮

[@tistelnilsson]

Every edicated in physics stoped in the beginning. Low infomation vorers continued.

[@josephinehenry8236]

No because the quantum of conscience channel seems to know how reality really works IMO..

[@Ryla316]

​@@tistelnilssonYou have 3 typos in your comment talking about education and low information lol.

[@RevanKnight327]

I think that people are just so desensitized that they don’t get that reaction that you did

[@truebryantcoaching]

Her voice is amazing.

[@hellraiser666666]

like her skin care? yeah, smokey af - super hot! NOT

[@canadianturtle7240]

her hair is amazing. I don't know what shampoo she uses, but I NEED her hair routine

[@thewhitbyphotographer]

most amazing voice ever

[@Doctaphil64]

She narrated the audiobook version of her books and they're great.

[@secretbassrigs]

You should hear her speak Mandarin! 😂😂😂😂

[@ThatValorguy]

For everyone, she narrates her own books on audible

[@NuYoRicanPapi]

I might buy the audio book just to listen to that sultry voice.

[@Ishbikes]

Now that’s how you sleep!

[@soundfx68]

I’ll buy on Audible, where I read all my books recently. Would be nice to read something other than the magnificence of Skippy the beer can AI 😅 Edit, Skippy is an arsehole, but I’d like him on my side.

[@samanthamartin2418]

I have been wondering if she read her own book! I'm getting audible stat!

[@TheRainDrop7]

Is it just audible that she reads her own or can I get it on other platforms?

[@frjacobsuico]

Today, it has been announced that Denis Villeneuve will direct a film adaptation of Annie Jacobsen's "Nuclear War: A Scenario." I think it is crucial to do all means necessary to have people read the book. Associating Villeneuve to it is already a big step.

[@janebeatty9472]

Can listen to Annie all day. Well researched and delivers calculated punches in the horrifying reality we live alongside of everyday but do not see. We strongly hope we never have to see or experience nuclear war. A dear friend in the Air Force helped set the satellite system up to detect missile launch. He could not tell me much about it. I learned more through this interview. My friend’s work makes him a hero to me. So here’s to you Col. John.

[@ImaginalComponent]

If there’s anyone I want to read me bedtime stories it’s this woman. Please tuck me in Annie.

[@leddielive]

Me first, me first 😂🤣😂

[@VabellaBeauty]

Haha 😂

[@Brazileiro-]

Hell yea

[@julialarsen]

Bedtime story of everyone’s death

[@Dexthesaga]

😂

[@hunahpuyamamoto3964]

Those enamored by Annie’s voice should know that she narrates her own books. I’ve consumed 4 of her collection-all are great, but her narrations make them my top fav audiobooks.

[@mc-lb9dk]

perfect for falling asleep.

[@gerrymcneill735]

Fixations on her voice do her wok and research a disservice.... She is fearless... And undoubtedly brilliant. But add that she narrates her own books and gives interviews like this.... Winner. My favourite research journalist now that the equally brilliant John Pilger has left us. I adored that man. There's an interview of him meeting Donald Feith.....I think he wrote fur Dubya... And Pilger tells him that the USA has been responsible for the over throw of at least 70 Democratically elected governments since the end of WWII. Feith said that's ridiculous...Pilger says to him... No it's not...I got the information from your Congressional library here in Washington.... You want me to show you. Interview ended...🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Pete1987pl]

Its how I read surprise kill vanish. Or she read it to me. Lol

[@Schedule1ne315]

Not my worst fap

[@postalizeMike]

Best and most useful comment ever

[@NoLegalPlunder]

The book and PBS version of Command and Control chilled me to the core. The Damascus Incident still brings the people involved to tears. Some great movies to watch on this topic: Fail-Safe, The Bedford Incident, Threads.

[@glennkernohan772]

Just finished. Enjoyed that. Excellent interview and flowed very well.

[@BillyBoggle]

Lex you’re just on a real tear with the guests lately. Bravo

[@jtrich1975]

Yea, a real journalist. Not a POS hack like Tucker Carlson.

[@chriswright6447]

One of the best interviews I have ever seen. Sadly, such a tragic subject.

[@will201084]

He's admitting he would defying orders of nuclear strikes and openly saying it is suspect af

[@JasonMaly]

This is CIA propaganda to try and get through to putin on the back of the Tucker - Putin interview

[@LowKickMT]

hes just recycling guests from daddy rogan

[@boriskim172]

I have a feeling that i've just watched a documentary. Explanations are so wide and detailed. Thank you Lex, for another great guest! Peace!

[@tistelnilsson]

1:st answer are so stupidly wrong the rest are not worth any human beings time.

[@wrath7879]

@@ed1658 the whole time i was like "yeah like the US government is telling this chick all their classified nucelar weapons info" lmao

[@rarefruit2320]

If she was speaking with a democrat or republican then it’s all lies anyway. And I hated the voice she used for this interview, I’m not a child and don’t care to be spoken to like a child

[@lennyvlaminov9480]

Great episode, had to split it up in two parts but worth every minute.

[@SarasWickedCreations]

YAY! Anne is back with another podcast! I seriously hope she does audio for her books. Anne, I have Operation PaperClip, and your CIA book! I have no words to describe how thoughtful, patient, smart, intriguing, studious… ( having a hard time with more adjectives to describe this amazing woman!)

[@joem8496]

Why is this not the #1 topic of concern for everyone on earth

[@6ftmouse349]

Because there’s a 0% chance of it happening. Everyone knows the outcome of nuclear war, nobody that has access to start a nuclear war is going to start a nuclear war.

[@heereez]

good question

[@je7647]

@@heereez she is a liar trying to sell her book. nuclear war could be done without any fall out and very little of the radiation poisoning these days still scary and very relevant but it just annoys me how shes like "IN MY BOOK" every two seconds.

[@mujde2148]

Because you have no control (not even the illusion of control) at all over it... so what to stress you about it?

[@CyGMotion]

Ignorance is bliss unfortunately

[@ribaldc3998]

This interview should be distributed in every language, on every conceivable channel, internet, television, social media, linked in every newspaper....

[@boost7983]

The betas would cry in the streets. They have no understanding, and would want to disarm. ( Yes, I understand how crazy it all is - M.A.D. ) We'd be at any nuclear power's mercy, if they chose. We would be helpless.

[@numbercruncher6242]

Why? It has too much of a pro US flavor to be of any use. Way too romantic.

[@themapleleafforever1526]

For what reason exactly? What on earth can anyone do about it. These decisions are out of anyone's control. So I am not sure what her messaged is exactly. Fearmongering? Yeah.. no thanks.

[@YaknTackle]

@@themapleleafforever1526 Exactly!!!

[@LordDTwigo]

I mean the first hour is just fear mongering that has been talked about for at least 40 years now. "Deeply classified information", literally every teenage boy in America since the 2000s knows this information XD

[@WhyHowNow]

Listened to her when she was on Rogan. Amazing. So happy to see her on this!

[@OD91MJ]

Everyone needs to listen to this. My hope is that it hopefully makes you want to understand those you would call your enemy.

[@L1ft0ff]

Russia is the aggressor.

[@TipTony]

Such a powerful conversation. I wish this would reach the masses.

[@dees9502]

The masses are too ignorant and preoccupied shopping and fighting over what color their State is to gain anything from this. Let’s just be content knowing SOME Of us are hearing this.

[@MisteryMan2000]

I hope it doesn't. The only stuff she got right was the declassified stuff. Everything else is fiction.

[@JRLNeal]

1.6m have listened so far in just 8 days.

[@JeppeJuhl1]

Dear Lex: Of the many, many truly great interviews I've had the pleasure to watch on your podcast over the years , this is arguably the best for a number of different reasons: 1) The content; 2) the interview itself as conducted by you ; 3) AJ who, apart from being a phenomenal storyteller, comes through as an extremely likeable and trustworthy person and 4) as a reminder of how the mind of a real journalist operates...!

[@sinisaaru5033]

What irks me of this one is her not even question the nuclear war rhetoric itself lately, the strategic impact of DEWs and the nonsense about the North Korea threat narrative. WW1 and 2 were managed events and 3 will be too which instantly changes the playbook. All she does is describing a chaotic nuclear exchange which isn't the most likely outcome.

[@Jm-wt1fs]

@@sinisaaru5033a chaotic nuclear exchange seems like the inevitable and only option, in my understanding. It’s just bc of the logic of the escalation chain. Just think about it - if an enemy has thousands of strategic nuclear weapons and can theoretically disable your deterrent with a first strike, they win if you give them the time to do so. If your policy is anything other than massive retaliation, you automatically lose to whoever decides launch the all out strategic strike first. So you can’t play out the usual escalation chain, you have to jump straight to the end or else you’re vulnerable

[@brittanygardner]

@@sinisaaru5033you seem to not grasp the concept of mutually assured destruction and how that plays out. That’s the point- it cannot be “managed”. It’s a bluffing game that quickly “unravels”.

[@LowKickMT]

wtf? he had really brilliant minds on, then this quack and you think its the best content ever? she has provided zero evidence but makes all the claims in the world you really must be into tiktok conspiracy videos too i guess

[@sinisaaru5033]

@@brittanygardner The issue isn't mutual destruction but if the scenario the public perceives as real isn't actually engineered. Imagine for a moment most nations are controlled by a deep state which is then again managed by secret societies. These secret societies use Hegelian dialectic where they create problems so people accept their solution. Problems like FFs/hoaxes/wars to make money, transform nations/societies/political systems/policies, reset monetary systems or just get rid of people. These people could engineer a WW3 with limited nuclear exchange to manipulate the survivors to accept their global totalitarian governance. Look what they've been trying post 2020 with the WHO take over or the great reset rhetoric coming from the WEF. These agendas require system and economical changes of epic proportions.

[@maryamrashidi2329]

Thank you very much @LexFriedman for this absolutely fascinating interview, fascinating guest, excellent questions, profound insights and fascinating conversation... Unbeatable!

[@Old_Am3rica_S3arching_Studios]

Once again Lex, amazing conversation! Very interesting talk and very critical and important to discuss. I need to look into her books that she has written. Thank you for what you do Lex and for the conversations you make happen.

[@RS-chino]

This was an absolutely incredible podcast and it blows me away once again that these kind of conversations are free to be a part of.

[@KeefeL]

To listen to. Hard to be part of this type of deliberation

[@MisteryMan2000]

As a former USAF nuclear aircrew member, I can 100% verify this woman doesn't know what she's talking about in regards to nuclear weapons, launch times, nuclear warfare, or defense systems. The info she was given is bogus. Some info was accurate, but none of the important stuff was. Think of this as a fiction novel.

[@fcarriedo]

​@@MisteryMan2000please inform us

[@MisteryMan2000]

@@fcarriedo No thanks. I like my freedom.

[@Lancer_0010]

@@MisteryMan2000 figured so. I know a fair amount about nukes and this seemed mighty sus

[@Eliteownage]

I hope we get a 2nd interview soon, I could listen to her for days.

[@wyldfantasies]

Danny Jones podcast, like 2 weeks ago.

[@seriousdon]

2 hours 11 minutes 50 seconds and she talks about lobster dinner on our tax money !!!! yeah okay !!!!! what else is she going to talk about? $50,000 for a hammer ?

[@pakrm2023]

Her books are available on Audible and SHE narrates them.

[@JP-ho6zc]

@@seriousdon how about the $1000 toilet seats?? 😂😂 And how many times did you play the STUPID game of VOTING for gangsters to be your masters?? 😂😂

[@JP-ho6zc]

Do you know how to replay the video?? 😂😂

[@rossbaker9721]

Lex does the best long term interviews. Great work Lex!

[@joshedenfield3761]

Literally watched all of the clips, and then doubled back to listen to the whole conversation. Very insightful, and the combination of Lex and Annie's voices was extremely soothing for such a dreadful topic as nuclear war.

[@bradleyroissetter6796]

Nuclear submarines: "the handmaiden's of the apocalypse " just wow 👌

[@rehdwolfe]

Good name for a band

[@mmac4421]

When yo u see them sail by , in your landscape ( Scotland ) you have no doubt that they are .

[@GenX64]

I heard somewhere they can carry 90 nukes, just to make sure we’re all dead or back to Middle Ages

[@krystekk1]

6minutes? It will take at least 15 minutes to wake Joe up

[@brianclark641]

Joe and his handlers most likely started the war

[@osmanmusa6030]

😂😂

[@jonhaddal]

😂 Funniest comment I've read in 2024 😂

[@BeyondTheTwo]

😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@Alec72HD]

Joe has nothing to live for. He would not hesitate to destroy all of the Northern hemisphere.

[@ic5169]

I love her it’s like listening to Sarah Conner in T2 for three hours 😂

[@philc494]

amazing reference :D

[@GlenCooper-sj4lh]

She'll be back.

[@jackkennaugh1977]

I wish there was another 3hrs of this episode! What a truly fascinating podcast

[@markwhelan6511]

We are in the middle of a psyop her voice is hypnotic..

[@demodiums7216]

lol shut up

[@TheGabrielPT]

Absolute milf as well! What a cutie

[@bullybar4078]

Not sure of a psyop, but definitely hear a malicious and bizarre tone. Equally strange as all of the comments of being lulled by her voice.

[@hauscchildt6418]

MKUltra was childs-play compared to what we have now 💀

[@Dichardsimmons]

What a f'd up way to experience sunday morning at 5:50am

[@Cacophony314]

Omg me too! What a fate.

[@davidr9589]

With truth!

[@ghost9-9ghost]

I'm using this to listen while I sleep at 6am Monday morning.... Luckily, I'm a nocturnal immortal wizard....so hardly matters to me of the Nukes begin a Prowl

[@JP-ho6zc]

Don't you know the biggest nuclear 💣 is the sun that you worship on Sunday?? 😂😂

[@vonfolta]

insufficiently wise ... beautifully spoken. Dear Lex, you have the best interviews. thank you for sharing! and Thank You to Aniie Jacobsen for presenting some perspectives I had suspected and/or not considered. I think communication and trust are key too, but boy do we have to lear a lot in that regard.... continued blessings!

[@trebledog]

One of Lex's most interesting guest and interviews. Only it was too short. I could listen to Annie Jacobson for more hours talk about what she knows from the hundreds of interviews she has done with the most powerful and inferesting people in America.

[@5AXISDLOCKHART]

If anyone is up for a road trip, I would highly recommend the Titan Missile Museum near Tucson AZ. Turning one of the launch keys is a very odd experience. The engineering is also very interesting.

[@PhenoDubs]

I'll have to add that to my travel list! It sounds pretty cool!

[@christhom745]

I live in Tucson. The museum is near Green Valley. But there is a bunch of silos around here that are fenced off, one a half hour away from where I live.

[@5AXISDLOCKHART]

There are youtube vids of the tour. When I went, our guide had been a enlisted missile maintainer stationed at that site. He was full of insight and humor. Sadly, I believe he past away a year or two ago.@@PhenoDubs

[@tuck-brainwks-eutent-hidva1098]

Most interesting day of my adult life was at Los Alamos. Great museum; awesome books.

[@midlifekrisis9060]

Her ability to recall names and organizations with pinpoint accuracy is mind-bending.

[@Decimus-Magnus]

The ability to recall facts and technical information isn't impressive if you simply use that as a way to scare people with literal sensationalism and draw illogical conclusions. She quite literally lives in fantasy land.

[@harrydavey9884]

What are you talking about? I bet that you can probably recite an encyclopedic knowledge on one particular subject. If she were naming 400 Pokémon, would you be equally impressed? This woman is sensationalising and oversimplifying a lot of things and it's VERY clear she's just found an opportunity to sell a poorly researched book.

[@JP-ho6zc]

But how many times did she play the STUPID game of VOTING for gangsters to be her masters then BEG for CHANGE, or cry like a little baby?? 😂😂

[@BoriQ]

and why u mad about it? at least she's doing something and not commenting to someone else work in the comments section of a video@@harrydavey9884

[@theprotagonist8755]

Umm what?​@@lIlIlIlIlIlIIIIIIII

[@nerminsnowhuseinbasic9340]

Lex has the best guests possible, my deepest respect.

[@gregbeck906]

Saving this one for April 20th! 😅

[@smack3313]

Thanks for introducing me to Annie Jacobsen. She is a unique journalist and an example for that industry.

[@WaxPaper]

Not the vibes I wanted for episode 420, but sure... I guess I'll help myself to a heaping scoop of existential terror.

[@TeacherTom1]

It's quite fitting really, everything up in smoke...

[@rarefruit2320]

@@TeacherTom1😂👍

[@mateotiscornia7057]

One of my favorite podcast I've listened to. Insightful

[@magnoliamagpie]

Lex, thank you so very much for having Annie on your podcast. I really wish everyone could hear and ⚠️LISTEN⚠️ to the message she is conveying, she is educated/ informed, articulate, and an absolute professional. 🌏😴🫣

[@MediaHouseAgency1]

I grew up in Santa Fe, NM. I worked at LANL briefly but both my parents and my grandfather worked and retired from there. On of my classmates was Oppenheimer’s grandson who is now a film producer. I also have been to the atomic bomb museum as a school kid. Nuclear war is a very real thing. I have been waiting for Annie’s new book to be released. Always have loved her work.

[@johnman559]

👍Hopefully we can develop a counter weapon like a laser that will nullify nuclear weapons👍

[@macabo]

​@@johnman559any counter measure can always be overwhelmed by new tech or numbers. The Strategic Defense Initiative program was a failure and currently with hypersonic cruise missiles and Russia's doomsday torpedo there are too many other vectors to expect a space laser to be able to take out missiles in a long ballistic arc. Also prob one of the first things done in a real war would be nukes in low Earth orbit destroying and disrupting satellites.

[@notnuff2264]

They may not take out our defense systems. In preparation for war, if possible they will have hacked into them. After assuming control they could use our defense to take out our own offense.

[@MrX-zz2vk]

​@macabo Israel's "Iron Dome" missile defense system, while not batting 1000, is still pretty good, and I'd take that over nothing at all. Especially against nukes.

[@unclefester831]

​@@macaboGod forbid a nuclear exchange between the 2 big dogs but if it did happen, do people living far away in the southern hemisphere i.e. Chile, Sub-Saharan Africa, India, Australia, New Zealand have a much higher chance of survival? I mean the nations with the most nukes are all in the north.

[@batitsogtsaikhan469]

The questions Lex asked to guide the conversation are honestly next-level as an interviewer. The answers were even more interesting and terrifying at the same time. We were hooked from beginning to end

[@blessnorthamerica7919]

Really ? It sounds like a good propaganda

[@user-qi4gy9tt1e]

How I wish it were propaganda. How I wish it were propaganda that Mike Johnson didn't accept money from the Russians to allow them to keep killing Ukrainians and not release their aid. May God have mercy on their souls. My suggestion.to the doubters: BUY.A BOOK AND READ READ AND READ. NOT HEADLINES...A BOOK. AND NOT VIDEOS AND HEADLINES. PLEASE. IT MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE.

[@NotAnonymousNo80014]

Her: How do we know Russian subs are coming close to our shores? People asking for money from congress told us!!! Is everyone falling for this scare tactic lately? Russian subs threat also worked to scare liberal Swedes into joining a militaristic alliance. Sad yet funny.

[@zix_zix_zix]

Lex is obviously a incredibly talented interviewer but his real strength is in science-related interviews!

[@will201084]

Lex is a Russia prop I am sure of it now. Defy nuclear orders and saying it to put that in people's head is treasonous and pathetic

[@NumberedMonk]

This was an excellent podcast. I bought her book and read it in a single sitting. It was a very engaging and thought-provoking read. One part that stuck with me was when she was discussing how its not just the buildings and structures that are destroyed in a nuclear attack, but everything inside of them as well. Patently obvious, of course, but not something you really spend a lot of time thinking about until its brought up. Museums and all of their displays, libraries, the collected works of humanity... all lost. The museums would be particularly heart breaking because even if humanity recovered and civilization rebounded in 200, 300, 1000 years... there are things in museums that would simply be lost forever. Some extinct species, for example, are identified from a single specimen and would be erased in nuclear fire. It's not just human history that would be erased, but planetary history, biological history... gone.

[@johnbwill]

Annie is a true gem. Thanks again Lex, for the passion you bring to your craft. Better and better.

[@tylerdebo2467]

I could listen to Annie talk about this stuff all day long

[@jesus_rojo111]

You only need a satellite with a lasser to stop nuclear weapons.

[@hotrox2150]

​@@jesus_rojo111 "Maui Strong"...

[@bobmcnabney5934]

She voices her books on audible! They're great!

[@edwardkantowicz4707]

I could listen to Annie read the phone book all day long....

[@engjds]

You sound the life of the party!

[@kilozulu9990]

And one demented octogenarian is the person who would decide the faith of the planet in this scenario. That's just... awesome.

[@jlynnc9559]

His puppet👺 master.

[@brianmucha6426]

So...don't vote for Dump. No, he's not quite an octogenarian, but he's absolutely insane.

[@user-zy1pc5jw3l]

Yeah, so much more reassuring with someone who openly talks about retribution upon taking office and establishing a dictatorship "for a period of time" 🙄 0 faith in either candidates with this responsibility.

[@JP-ho6zc]

You think Joey is in charge of the RACKET?? 😂😂

[@JP-ho6zc]

@@brianmucha6426 how about those well-trained law obeying slaves that keep playing the STUPID game of VOTING for gangsters to be their masters then BEG for CHANGE?? 😂😂

[@nessa1605]

This is in my top 3 of all time. Her ability to reel off accurate information is astounding

[@tonyjustiniano2868]

This interview was great, I listened twice already. Her voice is so soothing and breathtaking. She is so knowledgeable and incredible. She has a new fan. I’m gonna look into her books. 📚

[@tistelnilsson]

I guess you vote DNC

[@EziekKiel]

This is amazing! Thank you Annie and Lex for this awesome interview!

[@jasoncreamer5747]

Oh my word, I love this woman's voice.

[@philp7884]

Listen to her audio books..great

[@camlop8635]

Weird bro

[@brandonp8198]

@@camlop8635 In what conceivable way is that weird?

[@Jbd99]

What, why?

[@dylananddaddy1138]

so does she

[@GSC_Hydro]

Lex you are doing such a great job! Don't let the haters bring down your message of love and empathy. It may be boring to people, but when someone is at their lowest and are shown love that they know they don't deserve, it's life changing. Keep at man!

[@kelreneegranger]

I’ve loved Annie’s work for years. So glad you had her on! This was such a great episode, Lex!

[@tistelnilsson]

Low information conspiracy voter. You must be brainwashed DNC voter with no stem education.

[@caleblummer7720]

Whats really amazing is watching Lex's caffeine intake over a 3 hour time lapse...

[@theswede5402]

One of the most important talks and information in a long time! One does not simply begin to imagine what a nuclear war would be like...

[@jesetfreesince9317]

Lex…I’ve got to tell you the truth. I love the way that you hold your interviews, but this has to be the best yet. This woman is very well informed. PLEASE bring more guests like this on. 10+ ⭐️

[@Cocomixermachine]

Absolutely!

[@frankwhite1816]

Thank you Lex! One of the best conversations you've ever done. So important, so fascinating. Everyone needs to hear this.

[@tistelnilsson]

Low information DNC voter?

[@aricohen616]

Fascinating. Just bought the book to learn more.

[@angelmujahid2233]

This is one of the best episodes on any podcast I have heard in a very long time.

[@user-rv2zj8zu5b]

We have become so accustomed to nuclear war that we don’t even think about it. We’ve become acclimated to the risk, Back in the 50s nuclear war was front and center and people were terrified of it and yet the danger is higher now than ever.

[@shizzmcdizzle4828]

that's what I wrote basically I agree though

[@franciscoreyes7370]

Normalcy bias.

[@themapleleafforever1526]

Because there is really nothing to talk about. Because there is nothing we can do about it anyway. She is just a fearmonger.

[@user-rv2zj8zu5b]

@@themapleleafforever1526 not true. Anti- Nuclear activism can have a role in disarmament. But if you are a fatalist who believes that humans cannot control their destiny then you are right.You might as well stick your head in the sand.

[@themapleleafforever1526]

@@user-rv2zj8zu5b Anti-Nuclear activism is stupid. Let's say the US gets rid of their nukes. That doesn't make the world safer, all that means is Russia would have a massive advantage over the US. Whether you like it or not nukes are here to stay. Not to mention the fact that MAD (mutually assured destruction) has kept the world safe for 75 years. Even when we've come close to nuclear war, we never pushed the button. Why? because no one man has the power to launch nukes. People following orders launch nukes. Therefore, all of you are just fearmongering.

[@BoT-mr8rw]

Awesome!!!! Wow, that was soooo interesting. I’m buying her book. ❤

[@TheMighty_T]

"Threads", a film from 1984 written by Barry Hines, should be in all school curriculum. It was in mine and it gave me a lifelong respect and concern over the civilization ending threat we have all lived under since the end of WW2.

[@tomasfischer5391]

We need more postcasts out there like this!!!

[@themapleleafforever1526]

No.. We really don't. This is just fearmongering.

[@MultiChrisjb]

@@themapleleafforever1526 Well honestly, if it's to do with nuclear war people should be afraid of it... I'm not sure what your point is, should they be saying how nuclear war really isn't that bad? and how the human race might survive it? Tell lies about how Russia's old nuclear arsenal will malfunction because of rust? Like how Ukraine is winning the war? Or are you like the mainstream media and trying to normalize the idea of nuclear war?

[@themapleleafforever1526]

@@MultiChrisjb Likewise, I'm not sure what your point is with spreading fear. Yes nuclear war is scary. No, there isn't anything we can do about it. So why make people panic? And quite honestly, her ideas are childishly naïve kumbaya nonsense that is devoid of geopolitics, history and basic common sense. "Oh let's just get rid of nuclear weapons". Please be serious. Also, yes we absolutely should help Ukraine and cowering to Putin because he threatens us is unacceptable. A world where countries can take land by threatening the use of nuclear weapons is scarier than nuclear war.

[@emmanelsonhomiah]

Annie‘s research is super interesting!! I read her book Operation Paperclip, which is so well written. She‘s done some amazing research and investigative work, very insightful and really opened my eyes

[@GreenHornet1962]

I'm reading Operation Paperclip right now. It's chilling.

[@PremjitTalwar]

One of the most down to earth, unpretentious, and superb conversations. To me this is one of the best interviews by Lex. Thank you.

[@MisteryMan2000]

Too bad most of her info was BS.

[@stewpiddonkey4668]

You’re welcome.

[@dcworld4349]

@@MisteryMan2000 Phew that's a relief, the amount of research you have done must be astounding, please share with us some of the knowledge you have accumulated rather than this fear mongering.

[@killjoy117007]

@@MisteryMan2000whats bs?😂

[@MisteryMan2000]

@@killjoy117007 Everything that is declassified is pretty accurate, everything else is BS. She is so far off on some of the things she claimed that I actually laughed!

[@LLOriginal]

I'm literally only putting this on because I want to listen to her voice as I fall asleep.

[@TripRide675]

Every time she says "right?" It makes me think of that scene in Commando when Arnold says "WRONG!" and blows the guy away

[@wes11bravo]

"Remember how I said I was going to kill you last?" Yeah! You DID say that! "I lied."

[@roystonevans2223]

​@@wes11bravowhat did you do with Sally? I LET HIM GO 🤣

[@LowKickMT]

i would have loved for lex pushing back more and questioning her anecdotal hearsay evidence myriad

[@surrealistidealist]

Everyone needs to see the 1984 movie, "Threads".

[@simpsthreedee3818]

Do a Threads and The Day After double feature.

[@perfectfutures]

I think you should warn what a terrifying and existential experience that movie is. I’ve never had anything like that from anything else. Important, but certainly not to be taken lightly or confused with a regular film.

[@troy5758]

Great interview - I had to watch it twice

[@_Nomadstoner_103]

This conversation was top tier , and the closing words impactful as ever. Thank you Lex!

[@Avesevenfold]

So glad I took the time to listen to this. Thanks for your long form conversations and leading great discussions

[@swingshift.]

Her episodes on JRE are 2 of my favorite out of his 2000 and she wrote some amazing books operation paper clip!

[@Love_N_Let_Live]

Oooh nice. I'm going to have to look for those operation paperclip books.

[@Billfish57]

It's the voice.

[@reggie933]

Yeah that's my favourite I've audiobooked twice.

[@dalermehndi4663]

Her books are so good! I especially loved, "The Pentagon's Brain: An Uncensored History of DARPA". I'm about to start reading "Suprise, Kill, Vanish", and I've heard the Operation Paper Clip book is great too.

[@sean9854]

Why would anyone want to read her books when she doesn’t believe in aliens with all the proof

[@rossbaker9721]

Line of the episode. “No matter how nuclear war starts we all end up dead” Pretty daunting.

[@Vironman88]

I’m surprised to see her pop up. Back in like 2012 I went on vacation to Florida and the place we were staying in had her book Area 51 and I found it so fascinating. I ended up buying it and it’s definitely worth getting.

[@JRed914]

I could listen to Annie speak all day. She’s super informed, researched, knowledgeable and entertaining. I’m a huge fan of her work and can’t wait to read her new book tomorrow. Lex did a fantastic job of laying back when needed and keeping the flow of conversation moving. Amazing interview!

[@rarefruit2320]

What kinds of things would someone like yourself be looking to buy in the near future? I’m in sales and looking for a new market

[@anneteller3128]

@@rarefruit2320 She has always had access to high level people in intel like other journalists only dream of; makes you wonder if she's one of them. Either way, I'd like to ask if she can tell us who the good guys are and who the bad guys are because there seems to be some bad guys inside the gate doing some not so nice things to the citizens of this country. I'd like to know who is fighting who inside the country, with the funky fires, numerous food production factories on fire, trains with toxic chemicals derailing, viruses, now an entire bridge falling down on a main Interstate corridor on the Eastern seaboard. All the young men of military age flowing over our borders in untold numbers. And, all this is before the bombs are a flying. How about a book answering these questions?

[@cspaliwal_]

Just imagine someone who sleeps while listening to podcasts they probably slept to this podcast too to her soothing voice talking about end of humanity😃

[@sophielegacy1648]

It's my third trial.

[@mausmadchenx1245]

Exactly my thought.

[@susankohi1992]

Um...she had something to say. Did it register at all?

[@Addiezmom]

@@susankohi1992 and this effects you how?

[@matthewsutphin7508]

​@@sophielegacy1648I'm thinking many triials

[@rossbaker9721]

Her book on nuclear war is incredible. Why these weapons still exist is mind boggling.

[@happyfacethrillahsfacestat242]

Thank You Ms. Jacobsen for including all the foot notes. I am a Bibliophile especially when it comes to non-fiction, US, World History and love to know how to check sources and in turn always find more books, articles and Docs to buy or print for my home reference library. My takes up 3 rooms in my house. My wife hates it but I can fact check anything on my own and share the source thanks to writers like you. Thanks Lex, A long with Elon and the debate last week and a few others this is one of your best shows ever. I download a lot of your shows as reference material as well thanks. This information will give us all nightmares but maybe those nightmares will finally wake everyone up screaming what the hell are we thinking. Sincerely, Chis the Muslim in Orlando

[@conraddgg6800]

Wow, Lex. This might be the culmination of your work. A complete long form story; the story of people, their inner and outter conflicts, and the rammifications of their decisions onto themselves, others and those who are of yet to be born. Truly a story that unwinds what it means to be human. To create such massive substrates for war, security, ideology - in the name of love or hate of an ideology - just for the people to have worked on it to come full circle and realize what really matters. To understand the great "Why?" - both within and outward. What it truly means to be human. Love and Communication. Thank you for sharing this to the world, especially, for making it free. And to those who have taken the time to read this comment, thank you.

[@Addiezmom]

You’re welcome!

[@juancarlosmartinez3621]

Thank you 😊. Brilliant.and chilling.

[@SarasWickedCreations]

6 mins means so much more to me now

[@matthewsutphin7508]

She makes me want to cry myself asleep in laughter. 3%truth

[@andrewt6295]

I often don’t listen all of these because of the sheer length, made it through this whole podcast and I loved it.

[@Planck944]

Are you not scared mate?

[@andrewt6295]

@@Planck944 in the scheme of things there is nothing I can do to prevent or stop it from happening and if it is to happen there’s nothing I can do either. I’m going to live my life and when my time comes then all I can say is I lived a good life.

[@Planck944]

@@andrewt6295 true. Thanks.

[@marksw5499]

Absolutely amazing! Definitely one of the best podcasts I've ever seen.

[@kitrit8445]

That was a nice decompression experience. Thank you for that conversation, much love from "that country"

[@noisackda2564]

I could have listened to this forever!

[@JED254]

Stanislav Petrov refused the order, Vasili Arkhipov refused the order

[@joanmavima5423]

Glad you mentioned both of them.

[@raging100]

wait wait wait what? from what?

[@imCurveee]

Were those orders from the President though? (Or whatever the equivalent was in the USSR). My understanding is no, those were different

[@dolphin069]

Did anyone remember the chiefs of staff calmly explain away refusing orders if a certain President got carried away?

[@joanmavima5423]

@@raging100 Look up both names on Wikipedia.

[@andreaspipis3162]

Thanks for all your podcasts lex, you are literally becoming a national treasure

[@ekagurgenashvili7310]

One of the most compelling interviews you must watch is with Annie; I absolutely adore her. It's essential for everyone to view this interview, contemplate deeply on the terrifying reality of nuclear winter, and strive to prevent it at all costs.

[@tdungpfiev]

Hi Lex, can you add transcription in Spotify?

[@crispchaos]

This is probably my favorite Lex interview yet. She talked about allot of things I'm also interested in. Thanks Lex!

[@harrydavey9884]

The majority of what she did was very dishonest. She'd take technical information to give the appearance of some sort of expertise, then she'd just throw in utter conjecture that she was completely incapable of backing up. This is a woman who's profiting off of your fear and nothing more. I'll give you an analogy of what she's doing. Let's say I spent the next year or my life learning everything I could about cancer, all the facts out there now and the names of all the world's leading cancer experts. Then I decided to postulate based on that, that actually Cancer is about to get worse and wipe out 90% of humanity, And instead of providing any sort of evidence for this, I just throw out the names of many experts and prove that I know lots more than the average person on the topic. This woman is not an expert at all and she doesn't understand psychology even slightly it seems. The nuclear stalemate has remained a stalemate for an obvious reason. Mutually assured destruction. This will NEVER happen. She's selling her book and nothing more.

[@DavidRandallCurtis]

Just finished her new book. Incredible!!!