How a nuclear war starts: Second-by-second timeline | Annie Jacobsen and Lex Fridman

[@LexClips]

Full podcast episode: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYnKeIVugN15l9E Lex Fridman podcast channel: kzbin.info Guest bio: 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.

[@407chip]

Aaaaa

[@Macfromwales]

Nice it's launch on sight if they see something when they admit there's uap's flying about. Sweet dreams guys

[@Gglsucksbigballz]

What kind of Meditation involves contemplating? Meditation is the science of clearing your mind and withdrawing from the senses.

[@Gglsucksbigballz]

@@MacfromwalesUAP don’t give the signature that a ICBM does (Burning Fuel). Unless you know something about UAPs I don’t.

[@laurencek.1580]

There was another pod cast or interview on this matter but the pentagon guest wouldn't disclose or elude to classified technology that would be able to block part or mitigate most nuclear strikes. The pentagon's UAP or ARV tech is another reason for nondisclosure.

[@michaellowe3665]

6 minutes, that's barely enough time for congress to get their stock trades done.

[@johnjacobjingle846]

Please, they made those trades days ago ;)

[@rickb06]

6 minutes, wonderful! That should give Biden enough time to piss twice, mention something unfathomable, inappropriate, creepy and/or unrelated to whatever is going on, so we MIGHT fire back, but the inbound missiles would be overhead by that time. I imagine though, if Biden gave the military ANY issues returning fire, someone would cap him and do it themselves, prior to forcibly acquiring his codes.

[@crocop6873]

😂😂😂😂

[@Macfromwales]

It's automatic launch on site at the same time they tell us "There's uap doing hypersonic speeds in our atmosphere" guys. Sweet dreams 😂

[@Theodorus5]

@@johnjacobjingle846 lol so correct :)

[@Matty94]

We're all fucked, buy My book

[@niallkennedy23]

Nah, life is good dude! I get what you're saying, but fuck it my man. Keep on keeping on live life. Watch a neil breen film and have few beers.

[@crocop6873]

😂😂😂

[@Matthew.33.]

Nailed.

[@Macfromwales]

​@@niallkennedy23it's launch on site when they tell us "There's uap doing hypersonic speeds in our atmosphere" so he's right

[@Dogatemyhomework927]

@@niallkennedy23I’m right there with you.. living life afraid is no life at all

[@creatyve]

She even sounds like Sarah Connor

[@SquishMonster]

Omg she does!!!😂

[@Ridiculousman3]

Damn bro I can't unhear it now😅

[@jedeckert8912]

No Fate

[@DeepFinger-UA]

“If you can hear this message, you are the resistance”

[@MrJdc30]

Truth! 😂

[@Oozy9Millimeetah]

"Anybody not wearing two million sunblock is gonna have a real bad day" - Annie Jacobsen

[@lorigarza9971]

Clearly, she likes the Terminator movies.

[@infiniteIntellectInferior]

It happens!!! it happens!!!

[@bretkindell6887]

100 % lol

[@TheZowwee]

@@infiniteIntellectInferior YOU, ME, HIM we're dead, were all DEAD, cuz I know it happens, IT HAPPENS!!! Model patient. thanks for trading dialog, damn it, now I wanna watch T2

[@JiuJitsuM4]

Dreams Sarah, these are just dream!

[@Shaun-EZX]

this video is 34 mins long and its crazy to think the world could be over in the short time it took to watch

[@ronjon7942]

Ohhh. Ok, that's an interesting way to make it a little more real.

[@brobinson8614]

I live in New Zealand. So will be eating popcorn while you lot fry. It maybe radioactive popcorn but I'll survive several years longer as have a doomsday bunker

[@tomaszgolebiowski5321]

​@@brobinson8614 Enjoy 😂😂

[@DougPaulley]

​@@brobinson8614did you ever watch "on the beach"?

[@Greenlandshark77]

Hahahahahaha

[@MikeJohnson-de3zf]

1980s: Nuclear war must be avoided at all cost. 2020s: Meh

[@markoadamovic4442]

Its just a nuke bro

[@JeffreySmith7777]

Jokin Cannibals Biden: My uncle Bozo suffered from cannibalism in the Civil War!! The Jokin Joey Biden Administration, the Greatest Comedy Show in the history of mankind!

[@lobstersexmachine]

Literally sleepwalking us into conflict. Thanks Joe!

[@2CabrasLocas]

The value of society has lowered THAT much.

[@ChatGPT1111]

And really, it's just been since Biden took office. When Trump was in, there was zero talk about a nuclear war. We were friends with China, Russia and North Korea. Now in 3 short years, they all are unified against us and we have two regional wars with a third on the horizon that could set everything in motion.

[@Springbok295]

September 26, 1983 is a very good example of a likely scenario. Had Colonel Petrov been sick that night world history might've been different.

[@robinreiley1828]

If anyone else had been in that bunker, they would not have taken the time to check to see if other chess pieces had moved on the strategic chessboard.

[@robinreiley1828]

All it will take, is a Leader to be facing arrest or even their own Death from Natural Causes and be enough of a Narcissist to want to take the World with themselves. Way too many Leaders fit the Profile

[@pandurlolgg5780]

Imagine they guy only going to toilet and someone else had to take his job for a couple of minutes.

[@jonhart7630]

I think Moscow double-checked any early warning signs just to make sure.

[@elessartelcontar9415]

No longer existing until we relearn how to write again.

[@Odyssey-y3s]

It doesn’t matter how it starts. What matters is how not to start it.

[@thomastruong8382]

It takes a lot of foolishness from someone to launch a first nuclear strike. Someone like Annie Jacobsen maybe

[@KrispySolar]

@@thomastruong8382Look who the United States president is, anything can happen.

[@mdg3234]

Now you know why the elites want to colonize mars?

[@SilkSonic-c9z]

​@@thomastruong8382tbh war brings equality That's why the boomers enjoyed so much The time after war is the best time for ppl and countries to thrive Coz there's no corruption

[@oSiiKModding]

@@SilkSonic-c9zdon’t think that one applies to thermo nuclear war

[@camuscolorado]

Her voice is so soothing I fell asleep to a nuclear nightmare description.

[@glennharmes1629]

Personally I kind of like her hair😅

[@RobertEMason]

😂😂🤯

[@youpedia4614]

Lol

[@NWonderWhy]

😂😂

[@Boobashoob]

Same

[@frederick97]

Humanity has been diligently working on destroying itself from the beginning of man. One day we will succeed.

[@donkeyearrs]

The sad part if that we're going to take the wild kingdom with us when we go. In video's like this you never hear about what the cost of nuclear war would have on the Earth's other living beings. We're all about "us".

[@ChatGPT1111]

@@donkeyearrsI was just going to respond the same way (a day later than you). We have to be the most selfish inconsiderate species in the history of the world. Just imagine thousands of animals writhing and screaming in agony on every acre in every country throughout the entire planet, for hours upon hours after these bombs drop.

[@omarlfacio]

humanity only survived this long because of that same nature; remember that there were also other species of human that went extinct. We are a living catch-22.

[@ChatGPT1111]

@@omarlfacio exactly, how many bullets can a species dodge? All those nuclear close-calls we've had where basically one guy (usually Russian) decides to question authority or his radar screen.

[@elessartelcontar9415]

The human race will end when the last 2 humans murder one another over some trivial difference of a religious or political opinion.

[@Fraiserson]

I’m not afraid of death but watching my family die slowly from radiation poisoning is terrifying.

[@jedeckert8912]

You're afraid of death and a liar

[@moshebenamram6020]

*BS''D it wont happen, BS''D don't worry*

[@retributionangel5078]

Most people will die from 3rd degree burns The rest will die of starvation caus the cant eat radioactiv food. Any survivors will die in the civil war for resources/food after the apocalyps If your not in a large Goverment Bunker Complex you cant make it. The earth will turn freezing cold for 3 years or decades. No food will grow. No Animals you can hunt.

[@ricktrent275]

Especially when you know your hands are tied. What can you tell the loved ones.

[@j.dunlop8295]

Definitely, the billionaire's building luxury Bunker's, is definitely an example of rich people not understanding the aftermath! MY dad loaded nuclear bombs and missiles on aircraft in the 1960s, (Cuban missile crisis!) Then my brother worked Boomer's (nuclear missile subs) 1980s then spent 30 yrs testing them DARPA! Few military or scientists even know if most of these weapons will blow! 😅 💥🚀

[@thestrokes4789]

Her voice is always so captivating. If she has books on tape and reads them too, I'm getting them all. She's a brilliant person.

[@kristinegallagher6437]

There is an audiobook and SHE does narrate.

[@Mrsumone12]

Get the audio book on audible. I fall asleep to it on a timer every night.

[@rankalot]

To think we could go from everything being ok to the world completely destroyed in an hour is terrifying.

[@AwesomeBlackDude]

It only takes two people from opposite sides to unalives a billion more people.

[@jeroenradboudvanemmerik]

It happened before.

[@planetvegan7843]

We are not ok.

[@johnkelly3886]

@rankalot Everything is not ok.

[@rankalot]

@@johnkelly3886 Sure it is. Relative to nuclear destruction things are fantastic!

[@akirsonmusic]

"The Day After" 1983 and even better movie "Threads" 1984 shows most of what comes along with and after nuclear war. The second mentioned has a textual ending disclaimer before the end credits: "The film is fictional. The real-life outcome of a nuclear war would be much worse than the events portrayed onscreen".

[@philgiglio7922]

Try finding the 2 season CBS series JERICHO

[@angelab4652]

Yes and did a good job of creating fear.

[@kopperbird6665]

I’ve seen both and Threads terrified me more. I had nightmares for years afterwards!

[@Minednam]

I think about Threads every day now.

[@Ok-551]

We need a re make, right now.

[@BENNY_MAC]

Who else loves her voice? Very soothing and relaxing.

[@winstonchurchill3597]

I like Kamala's laugh.

[@Skaggy2012]

I like her voice but what she says is not relaxing its .. Well..terrifying 😂

[@BENNY_MAC]

@@Skaggy2012 🤣🤣 for real! It's extremely terrifying!

[@zugang7248]

Nah actually the exact opposite for me it annoys me

[@Gods-bad-boy]

I think God made her voice so pleasant that it would catch the ear of all of us so we listen. And listen good!!!

[@alpha_echo]

I don’t know why this guest is getting dragged so hard in the chat. she has approached this issue earnestly and with great intellectual curiosity, and reported the results of her investigations and interviews with a great degree of journalistic integrity. thank you annie for a fascinating discussion.

[@CantFly_FPV]

Aside from the obvious answer (she is shedding light on a subject most people have no control over and would rather not think about if they can help it). I think the reason she rubs me the wrong way (and I only speak for myself) She seems to be using sensationalism to drive book sales. An example is when she contradcits herself by saying these nuclear submarines are virtually indetectable, yet she found documents mapping the locations of foreign nations subs off our coasts. All in order to illustrate how scary the subject is and how little control anyone has to prevent it. Just my $0.02

[@chriskerwin3904]

She's generally full of shit and presents things without context that makes the topic seem far more grave and less calculated than it actually is...

[@Rico-oy3dc]

It lacks scientific merit.

[@akhiltrc9708]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKDFdp2qp9ecjrcsi=bJrqppleUlXvcCl8

[@ngannon80]

The answer to why anyone drags anyone online is usually the same all around.

[@patrickreilly7256]

The absolute beauty of being over 70yrs is six min, one hr, 30 days... I know I'm gonna die anyways. So don't shit me, don't threaten me, don't even try to scare me. Life is precious, down to the last moment. Live it!♡

[@gamanshoo]

you are 70+ ! If I were 70 I would also think like you! A lot of the world is younger…has little kids…try to think outside of your own “lived” 70+ year mind.

[@JohnLoogleman]

Thanks for your kind thought about younger generations… And you wonder why people rag on boomers… You probably expected the world to shut down for you during covid I suppose…

[@Yo_Chino]

How do you make that heart 💙 in your comment? In that font

[@FortniteGamerRyan]

It’s a crazy thought. As I see it for the old timers, you guys have seen the rise and fall of humanity, more so than anyone else in all of history. Boomers are truly a remarkable generation. And they currently hold all the control over civilization, and the future of it.

[@hugh6948]

Everyone in the comments saying she's too animated in her speaking delivery can suck my bollocks, the importance of this conversation couldn't be more overstated, people should be appreciative that there are people out there keeping us in the know. Great podcast.

[@glib4233]

Read a book. There's nothing new here.

[@sasquatch2753]

@@glib4233 agreed there is nothing new here. However, millennials and gen z 'rs are mostly post modernist. Even Tim Pool and his like, think you can survive nuclear war. Joe Rogan has also stated similar sentiments. He even stated, modern nukes don't leave fallout or radiate the land. Its indicative of modern day ignorance. Listen to Lex in the full podcast, he is surprised by all this info, which used to be common knowledge since the 60's.

[@HumanBeingsRThinkingBeings]

Mind Begs the Question: - If those who defend Apartheid - Possess Nukes,AI,Digital Money - Police of World or Threat to World?

[@acm4147]

The people complaining about her voice took the time to listen.

[@josephgee2515]

They're just hating on her. Nothing new but, its great to get the message out to as many as we can who wouldnt otherwise know. That being said, she knows her shiet.

[@jfeltman11]

They call me a minute man as well, but for a totally diffrent reason

[@lesharris9560]

Fellt,you are awful.

[@DogBeast221]

It’s the thought that counts.

[@mohaosman1473]

😂😂😂

[@stephenthorpe3591]

Must be because you write down what is said in meetings! :)

[@coolstuffifound9896]

Wikiwikiwow bamanabamanao

[@JasonPatience-t2b]

I can barely decide what to order on Uber Eats in 6 minutes.

[@jackmeyhoffer5107]

All you have to do is crawl under a desk and you’ll be fine. That’s what they told us in school about 55 years ago.

[@micharenrew6070]

xD xD . . . good Joke xD

[@DogBeast221]

Ah, the magical school desks. We used the drills to have farting contests. Good times.

[@fs3579]

plastic and duct tape.

[@Kurac12]

They don’t make those desks like they used too , so does that still qualify

[@cattymajiv]

Yup, I remember! I also remember how Reagan nearly started the nuclear war with a "joke" he thought was funny because his Alzheimer's was so advanced, and he scared the pants off the Russians. Yet the USA has learned nothing, and still sends madmen and aging infirm people with Alzhiemers to the Presidency.

[@GrantvsMaximvs]

It's literally designed to be this way. You are supposed to be absolutely terrified of it. That's the whole point.

[@Qwijebo]

Didn't Helen Caldicott do the same narrative back in the 80's?

[@bo1341]

Yup it a classic narrative, she’s not the first to claim detaining the truth about Nuclear warfare to sell books and speeches.

[@ChatGPT1111]

@@bo1341your denial of basic facts has to make you a psyop operative. You can't be this naive.

[@stevengill1736]

I realized recently that some of the nightmares I had as a child were cold war related. Strange to think about it all these years later.. S.

[@johnnymitnick]

@@stevengill1736your comments makes me wonder how much of this stuff stays in our subconscious, we all know about nuclear weapons growing up. Best not to think about it too much i guess

[@petercoates2882]

My parents were prominent early futurists. We lived in Washington DC in the early 1960's, and at the time my father was with Institute for Defense Analysis. So they were well informed. My mother died recently at 92, and we had some interesting talks about this in her last year or so. All five of us kids were in elementary school or younger in 1963. I guess I was 9. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, they sat down and talked about whether they should load us all into a car and flee DC. Everyone in DC who knew anything thought nuclear war was imminent and all but certain. They decided, no, they wouldn't. It was their considered opinion that surviving the first strike would be worse than being killed. So we all stayed in town, and to the surprise of many, it blew over. In the words of Herman Khan, another futurist of the time, after a nuclear war "the living would envy the dead."

[@Lunar_Films]

Ok that’s enough internet for today 😮

[@james6401]

Welcome to the 1980s

[@szlpharmacology1330]

time for SpongeBob now 😂

[@swede910]

😂😂😂

[@theelephantintheroom69]

Hate to burst your bubble but this is not confined to the internet

[@jackreacher8858]

Yesterday too !

[@NoLegalPlunder]

The book, Command and Control, is a must read that covers near disasters with nukes. The Damascus incident alone is the stuff of nightmares. The guys involved still break out into tears when they try to talk about it.

[@ebenezer6844]

The Damascus incident???

[@chrisstrawn4108]

@@ebenezer6844 1980. A group of Titan II missile techs dropped a $6.00 spanner that bounced against and ruptured the missile case as it fell all the way to the bottom of the silo 50-60' below. The missile fuel oxidized as it contacted the atmosphere which in turn started a fire. Every nuclear bomb -- including thermonuclear ones -- start with a conventional explosion that "primes" the initial reaction. At a certain temperature the conventional explosive component of a nuke will cook off. So it was a horse race: would the conventional part of the Titan warheads blow up, thereby igniting all the thermonuclear warheads on the Titan? Or would the propellant explode first? Fortunately, the propellant in the Titan II ignited completely first. This blasted the heavily armored lid off the silo and scattered the Titan's MIRV warheads over several miles of Damascus, AR. We could have had a "dirty" bomb disaster or a multi-megaton thermonuclear detonation(s). Think about how close to a gigantic, god-awful tragedy we came-- over a $6 wrench that was accidentally dropped.

[@Muschelschubs3r]

@@ebenezer6844 1980, Damascus/Arkansas: Explosion of a Titan III ICBM thanks to dumbassery while handling its fuel. The missile was armed with a 9 megaton nuclear warhead.

[@rsrrohit]

Bioweapon was used in Syria (Damascus is the capital) by its own dictator President to kill an uprising, not too long ago.

[@FG-fc1yz]

Please further elaborate on that

[@Domzdream]

It’s scary to know how many insane people there are in this world.

[@XavierAndFriendsOfficalChannel]

…and they’re running the world! 😮😢

[@teenlaqueepha]

What's worse, is that these same crazy people are the only ones that are breeding at an alarming rate. Those crazy people are multiplying by the millions. That's a scary thought, right? Unfortunately we're pretty much doomed.

[@johnlevison9552]

At least we aint got no "MEAN TWEETS"

[@SilkSonic-c9z]

​@@johnlevison9552he's also a Cia puppet . Soon u all will understand

[@Martin-qm2lg]

Let’s hope and pray it never happens, but the way things are going it wouldn’t be surprising

[@TheFlippy1]

Sorry bro, but these weapons are destined to be used. They were made, and we're all fools. There is no other conclusion.

[@danielmoksmann5654]

This woman could voice an audiobook about nuclear war for children.

[@User-jr7vf]

Children do not have the necessary abstract concepts formed in their mind, nor do they have the mathematical knowledge to comprehend the numbers involved in this discussion, so there's no point in writing a book for them.

[@jesusguerrero6679]

@@User-jr7vfhey buddy, shut up

[@tommacdonald_official]

😂

[@tommacdonald_official]

​​@User-jr7vf are you trying to Rick Roll the rickroll? 😂😂😂

[@Brukky1_]

🤣🤣🤣

[@jaydenp4975]

I’ve had dreams/nightmares of being in a nuclear blast. Panic and screaming and then see huge flash of light and then feel tremendous heat envelope and lift my body, then flying through the air, weightless and looking all around me at grey matter and rising up. Felt calm and no pain. So bizarre.

[@lucian-alinsbiera6934]

I had the same kind of dream last year. Wtf. I was walking on a sunny day nd then all of sudden a flash nd it all goes black grey. And I could feel the same pressure on my body as I was I a fighter jet pulling 25+g like

[@PhilWilliam-hx6xh]

Yes so have I exactly the same. I have lived through really close calls especially in the 80’s they were issuing leaflets in the UK about “protect and survive” being nuclear war. I would dream of the missiles launching. Horrifying.

[@richardlawson6787]

You may be a reincarnated japanese experiencing a past life memory

[@juliadixon8465]

I had the same dream in 1985.

[@maryreardon6512]

So many people had similar dreams. Maybe there's something out there manifesting in dreams!

[@_Feyd-Rautha]

I love how lex "clips" are longer than most KZbin videos 😂

[@gmcintyre1917]

Her books must be like a set of Encyclopedia Britannica's. From 1983.

[@Amo86962]

Underrated coment 😂

[@DW-dd4iw]

They are both speaking sooo slowly, I'm not surprised this 'clip' is very long.

[@radiotvgod]

@@DW-dd4iw Normal… calm down

[@waynejones7825]

It's hard to sum up wisdom in clip form. Most KZbin channels are intellectually challenged, so you can't expect much. If I've learned anything in my short 40 years, it's that the human condition is always disappointing! If for nothing else than the fact that we fall so short of what we are capable of!

[@loslaynes]

That's a scary interview. I grew up and served 20-years USAF during and just after the Cold War. I was interested in that stuff to the point that I wish I didn't know what I know. Nothing classified, all the material available at the library or bookstore. The true realization I got was when I was stationed at Vandenberg AFB ( now SFB), CA and saw some missle launches. Wow!

[@PamelaKay-b2v]

Read her book yesterday. Chilling update to information I already had learned. At 71 I realized we have little hope at this time of our civilization of continuing humankind.

[@darrenscrowston9386]

Yes but look at humankind. Look at the actual state of it. Look at the idiots in the street with the false lip implants and the eyelashes, ti the idiots in charge of the world governments. Look at the conflicts going on due to individual mad men. It’s actually time to press the button. All hope is lost.

[@Ok-551]

I agree. 99% of people are walking around clueless. 30 yrs ago, at least everyone was aware. Now I’m told Russian rockets won’t fly straight. This is how it ends.

[@vandal1764]

Is that really such a bad thing? We are the only animal on earth that is actually cruel... No other animal acts like us

[@darrenscrowston9386]

@@vandal1764tell that to the fox in the hen coup, or the cat and her regular doorstep offerings. Or the dogs that run off lead to disappear down badger dens. Don’t be fooled by the left id3ology that tells you humans are bad, humans are canc3r. Were no worse or better than the rest of nature.

[@alexxxXXXrus]

Capitalism

[@KEVINLTINWAN]

Big fan of Lex, always calm and chilled, asking honored guests, poignant questions, rendering them with ample mental space to elaborate; thoughtful, yet simple questions, no less shinier than the answers; his clips are like full episodes, for others; to top it off with burning passion and unwavering stamina!

[@alerotyafamily302]

Yes, he talks like a sloth walks - slowly, hand then leg and after some lengthy pause, another hand or leg but never both. Just one slow-moving limb after the other. It's incredible he has an audience. Perhaps they are bots or severe insomniacs... 🦥💤💤

[@rare6499]

@@alerotyafamily302or perhaps, adults

[@nugget7865]

@@rare6499 More so pretentious adults that conflates unnecessary dramatic pauses with gravitas

[@Johnsmith-p1v]

Nothing fails to stop wars like deterrence.

[@annrogers8129]

I along with everyone else of my generation have lived with this nightmare for 71 years. One my earliest memories is of our family evacuating due to a nuclear attack, fortunately this was a horrible dream. We lived 30 miles southeast of London, England. We only get a 4 minute warning there. Insane the whole thing, just insane.

[@Jake-777-7]

No, no, no. In the event of a SARMAT 2 being launched, you have about 30 seconds before impact. You will not even have enough time to sound the alarms.

[@Jake-777-7]

The USA has five minutes because of the Atlantic Ocean IF you are in DC. Canada has less.

[@ruserious5598]

What if the satellite glitches a fake warning?

[@kzm1934]

That actually happened once in the Soviet union. 1983 iirc. Nearly ended the world.

[@Mike-x9h5f]

it has many times

[@bartpinielectrician7564]

99 luft ballons,Nina I had a teen crush on her.

[@olafstelling1752]

This is why you have secondary confirmation, and that is why it is so incredibly dangerous for Ukraine to attack these early warning sites as they have in the last few days.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@olafstelling1752 Ukraine is attacking satellites?

[@GeorgePrice003]

That's why there are underground cities with railway systems packed with food and air supplies and even capable food growth in most countries....But even though there are a lot of uncertainties with all that....Nuclear war would be hell on earth.

[@bigchickn-jw4wc]

Dying in the immediate isn’t the scariest part it’s the surviving that’s terrifying.

[@micharenrew6070]

Dying yes . . . and many People are NOT prepared. God will forgive all our Sins.

[@cattymajiv]

@@micharenrew6070 What a delusion! Actually believing in fairy tales is crazy.

[@GlasgowCelticforever1888]

@@micharenrew6070once again somebody makes reference to that mythical creature called god.

[@daryldaryl913]

One man can give the command to launch Nuclear weapons. Think of the countries with Nuclear weapons that have a mad man in charge.

[@thomasvleminckx]

or a doddering old fool who doesn't know where to walk half the time, and can't talk without a teleprompter

[@jamjardj1974]

They’re all nuts.

[@blackieblack]

Or a dementia patient

[@justarandomname420]

Sounds like America. Men in dresses decorated as 4 star generals.

[@charminbaer2323]

There's really only. one country with a mad man in charge, North Korea. Every other nuclear power has too much to lose.

[@voylerutledge5017]

It is important to realize that the flight paths are over the polar caps, North and South, not across the ocean East/West. That is why the time is less than a half hour.

[@RobertojavierSilvaharth-ub3pz]

Geez mate, the beef is between USSR and USSR, I mean Russia. The United States SOCIALIST REPUBLIC and Russia. Who will shoot accross the southern ocean? The Northern Hemisphere Will be fucked, bit not the whole globe Unless people like you want to below up the whole world!!

[@rainbowseeker5930]

The extraterrestrial beings stationed in Antartica - on the surface and beneath - might not like at all being disturbed by hundreds of ICBMs flying past in both directions and could neutralize all of them in an eye's wink...! Why not ?

[@anibaldamiao]

It depends if it’s shot by submarines

[@52frj]

The issue with the 6 minute warning is the American people would never be informed or warned.

[@killman369547]

Exactly. The people find out when bombs start detonating.

[@Dontdothat5300]

Yep - unless you live near a launch site, you’ll know when you phone stops working from the EMP

[@DogBeast221]

Ergo, don’t put off enjoying that great microbrew.

[@James-oo1yq]

My father-in-law died of cancer a year ago. After watching him suffer, and hearing him say “I wish I could take a pill and it was all over” I got scared about my kids or my family or myself having to go through this horrible experience. The nurses who came to his house to medicate him left two 500mls bottles of morphine after he died. Those bottles are my way of a painless exit at my doing. Not only are they a comfort in a cancer event, but in the event of nuclear war. 30 minutes after drinking 250mls (less than a cup) it’s all over. After living through the 60s 70s 80s, I think it won’t be something we see coming, it’ll come out of the blue by some madman. V P

[@redgrant4897]

That is private man. You don't share stuff like this on the Internet.

[@JacknJillest2012]

Wonderful episode to view before bed!?! Pray we can all coexist in a positive and peaceful manner

[@maxg8815]

Interesting how difficult eye contact is while discussing such a subject.

[@GeorgeDole]

Lex, many thanks for this guest. I'm in Moscow now but returning to LA next month as an Emergency Math teacher of Algebra1 which is the foundation course for all subsequent college math and science courses that AI & Nuclear Engineering students need to understand and use correctly. CA allows K-12 retesting(unpaid for) but very few teachers want to spend 8 to 10 unpaid hours to regrade objective Unit retests like math & science or even more time for subjective Unit tests like history and English literature. I was told about this CA policy by our LA - MS White 7th Grade Guidance Counselor, not my other 3 unionized 8th Grade Algebra-1 teachers or our GC. My goal is no Fs for my Sept to June cohort, my school, and eventually all LAUSD Algebra1 classes by example and with adament parental support to demand retests at quartely PTA meetings. Bravo !

[@chazmichaelmichaels88]

Okay, bot.

[@illarraza]

I've seen two road mobile ICBMs in the United States. The first was a train traveling on a rural train track along the Delaware river near Hancock New York about 30 years ago. The second was October first 2001, after 911. We were driving cross country from Long Island near the Pocono mountains on the Pennsylvania turnpike. The giant semi-truck had the end of a large diameter tube on top.

[@nubnooblet]

if lex and annie had a kid, that kid would have the most soothing voice of all time and certainly make billions in the audiobook reader industry 😂

[@funkenstien1155]

It wouldn't cry, it would sigh.

[@ACGreviews]

I heard just the audio first and I swear I thought it was Linda Hamilton.

[@beskararmor7966]

The sad truth is that the best outcome would be not to retaliate.

[@Riqq44]

And that would never happen

[@PaperosMaperos]

And then ? Eat it up and pretend it never happened? How do you imagine that?

[@mbuskilla]

I’m not so sure that’s accurate. If several dozen ( much less several hundred) nukes head our way then the world is screwed whether we send back dozens of our own or not.

[@frankgallagur2045]

​@@PaperosMaperoscrazy how the point of the comment went over your head

[@stephensmith7293]

That's what I say. If I were president, and the enemy missiles were incoming, I wouldn't order a launch. What would be the point ? The only thing a retaliatory strike will accomplish, is more death and destruction, of another billion innocent people, with nothing to gain.

[@Ok-551]

I was an 80’s kid, very interested in history and war. The last two yrs have taught me that very few in the west have spent anytime thinking about the risks. At least lately. This yr. I took the winter off and skied. We’ve never been closer to ending it all, and I’m told Russian rockets won’t fly straight. This is how it ends.

[@kiekabilli3529]

To have the discussion that no one wants to have is brave and commendable. I salute you!

[@Martinsamuelsson-s5y]

brave? lol

[@hardboiledaleks9012]

The conversation has been had since the cold war. If it was news to you that nuclear war meant everyone = fucked, you can't be saved from yourself let alone a nuke

[@Danni-j3x]

Annie has such a soft and calming voice, it’s such a dichotomy to the subject she is discussing!

[@joansolomon1194]

What's Really irritating is, the rats have their plush bunkers stocked and ready for use. You'll know its coming when your "betters" suddenly all go on "vacation ".

[@davidwatts5876]

I was in the Army Engineers. All bunkers can and will be breached.

[@OloRishaCreole504]

Yeess..I know ppl from here in Louisiana, went to Minnesota its a big group of ppl having bunkers built close to Canada's border

[@nevink4717]

Even those bunkers have a limited supply of food and water. Once they run out, they’ll die too bc everything on the surface will be a wasteland because of the nuclear winter.

[@Rykiz_Vidz]

​@@nevink4717Not as long as they develop their Vaults and maintain a sustainable life within the vaults like vault 66 👍

[@danielcarson4122]

Been sticking up on the goods underground bunkers so if we on the surface that’s l we all know where the food and water will be huh?..all you in your bunkers will need to be coming out sometime we will be waiting

[@colincreath4695]

There is no possible way that nations haven't gotten together at some point in the past 30 years, and discussed de-escalation in the case of an accidental or limited nuclear launch.

[@RiggyRonnie]

Good to know how we’re going out, thanks Lex 😊

[@Tirra227]

Go to the islands😮

[@MikeDeacon76]

As crazy as it may sound to some, not launching on warning greatly reduces the opportunity for reponse and this policy creates a strong deterrent

[@leebonifay5767]

Do I see a miniature version of Dimebag Darrell's guitar on a shelf in the background? Very cool.

[@ShannonNunn-s6f]

Don't let politics divide you... Divided we fall... The world needs good people to unite for good, planning and responding

[@ravurmovie]

Sarah Connor once said. 3 billion human lives ended on August 29, 1997. The survivors of the nuclear fire called the war Judgment Day!

[@User-jr7vf]

If the Bible says the world will come to an end (Armageddon) then what's the point of avoiding a nuclear war at all costs? To me a nuclear war sounds just like the prophecy being fulfilled.

[@49558201]

2019 , past or future . P.K.D.

[@giacomoneri1782]

The lesson is, Never delegate nuclear deterrence to AI.

[@eamoc]

We're not gonna make it are we?

[@User-jr7vf]

@@eamoc we will

[@ministryoftruth8588]

I find this discussion very relaxing.

[@joannadziaduch2138]

I lived through this in 80’s when we had drills at school hiding under desks - honestly did not think I will hear it all again. Those drills and propaganda with graphic photos never left my mind.

[@bendredge6947]

May be that should show it to the neocons.

[@DogBeast221]

In the ‘50s, we used the time beneath our magical school desks to have farting contests. Good times. “This is a test. This is only a test…”

[@juliadixon8465]

That didn't happen in America

[@PatrickCrossfire.]

Under the desk drills in the 80's? Where did you grow up? Those stopped in the mid 60's.

[@DogBeast221]

@@joannadziaduch2138 those were in the 1950’s and ‘60’s. We used the drills as an opportunity to have farting contests. Good times.

[@NoLegalPlunder]

It seems like a wild nightmare that we actually live in a world where our state has, and can, use these weapons. How on earth did we allow them to get away with it?

[@duanenicpon8024]

Stop the controllers....but most can't see them..

[@hansolo1571]

It did not happen overnight. US and Nato have been expanding toward Russia for decades all the way to their borders. As well as making bases in Asia, where it could antagonize China. Fate will decide what will happen, but in war with weapons like these i think a lot of innocents would die everywhere.

[@kidkique]

bigger question is how could we ever have stopped them, and how we ever will?

[@501sqn3]

......Get away with what?? 🤷

[@NoLegalPlunder]

@@501sqn3 see 1st sentence

[@josh4048]

So what’s the point of having a bunker if you will have no warning, and only 26 ish min to get together and get to it?

[@thespecialant8092]

they will know a few days before they launch the nukes... its been all planned a long time ago!

[@nemo6282]

don't think anyone is going to have a bunker that is close to a target site

[@dangerman01582]

No point having a bunker unless you have an underground warehouse full of food and water and a way of purifying the water

[@Becky_Davis]

A bunker will not save you from a nuclear explosion. That is why the government has their safety nets thousand of feet under mountains. Each branch of government has there own place to go to. They are scattered across the nation.

[@Becky_Davis]

A bunker won't save you from a nuclear explosion. That is why the government has their hideaways hundreds of feet below the ground, some under mountains. Each branch of the government has there own and they are spread across the country.

[@joyalways1179]

If you read the book of revelation, it is very clear what happens. But you must be a bond-servant of Jesus to really understand it all, because that is who it is written for. Find Jesus before it is too late.

[@ShaWal-iq6he]

Yikes

[@Overwatch9]

I don't get the idea that all it takes is one man. It also takes a whole chain of personell to authenticate, confirm targets and actually launch the damn thing.

[@IZn0g0uDatAll]

All those people are not supposed to decide anything.

[@Overwatch9]

@@IZn0g0uDatAll I get that, but every person decides for themselves at the end of the day.

[@andrewnicholas9079]

There's history on this scenario and one man broke command.

[@BrianMarcus-nz7cs]

Already targeted m8 🎉

[@intentzzshortz]

What a great read! This is the kind of book you can't put down. The book takes you through every horrifying moment of nuclear war. She is right in saying it's insane

[@FelonyVideos]

Lex has consistently fabulous audio quality. Can anyone help me know what rig he uses? Mics? Mixers? Amps? Sampling rates? Anything information at all would be appreciated.

[@garnetnard4284]

Really good ones

[@Louisthefur]

Those are shure sm7b mics

[@paulwood4142]

They look like Shure sm7b mics to me.

[@matiusclicarelli700]

There's no point. We're all going to die

[@gurujot951]

I just listened to the book, and i do recommend it. It goes into so much terrifying detail that it leaves quite an impression.

[@Tirra227]

😮

[@lovezitxx]

which book did you read

[@haystackhider7158]

Its gonna be weird just standing there seeing the nuke blast and feeling the heatwave coming

[@lnewton3677]

Don’t stand by a window 😂

[@cantgitrite8576]

If you can see the light and you're within the thermal radius, you're fucked. It's gonna be a very short weird time.

[@Wickwok]

Dont worry it’s not gonna happen. People have been worried about this for many decades.

[@Greenlandshark77]

When? Who would ACTUALLY launch a nuke? What nation? You are stuck in a Cold War mindset. Things have changed. People don’t even want to fight each other head on in Ukraine, it’s drone age.

[@james6401]

Get into the nearest fridge

[@Ellie.the.killer]

It doesn't matter if it start nuclear war, for surely my boss definitely ask me to come to work 😂

[@theravenousrabbit3671]

"Why aren't you at work?" "Literal Armageddon" "You kids are so lazy..."

[@Ellie.the.killer]

@@theravenousrabbit3671 Exactly🤣

[@key948]

What happens if the secretary of defence is in hospital and hasnt told anyone? Like last month

[@chugzie9415]

Joint Chiefs....

[@BryonLetterman]

What happens if the President of the United States has vascular dementia?

[@mocashtoday2903]

They will send him an official letter to notify him later on 😂

[@TomHlavac]

They left Big Fred, the alcoholic but good guy Chief Petty Officer, with both launch keys and said if you don't hear from us in an hours, turn them both to the right.

[@CoopaCoop]

That's kind of the point of nuclear weapons. So crazy and destructive that no one will ever press the button first.

[@ogaitu5661]

It is because of that thought that it will happen. Sooner than you think. At any moment now either NATO or Russia will do it. Noone cares about peace anymore.

[@rainbowseeker5930]

except a madman ! like North Korea's fatso or sinister Putin !

[@Bushcamper4Sale]

Wanna bet? The ruling strata think climate change and population size is a greater threat.

[@williamback6154]

There are people that are destructive and crazy enough.

[@Bocsaphoto]

The issue is not that anyone’s crazy enough to launch them first, but the fact that there have been, and will continue to have close calls in terms of falsely detecting an enemy launch. All it takes is one person that misunderstands a falsely detected launch; it’s an issue of human error.

[@Team_Leader1]

Don't be afraid. We're all in this together.

[@BryonLetterman]

There's no reason to be afraid because there's absolutely nothing the average person can do about it.

[@Theman3806]

An interesting question that never seems to come up in these interviews is how readily deployable are these weapons? Many of them have been around since the Cold War and are of various ages. I'm sure we spend undisclosed amounts of money to maintain them but we've seen some pretty shoddy equipment being fielded by Russia in the last two years. Ground equipment and a nuclear arsenal certainly aren't synonymous however it makes me wonder how much effort is being put into making these weapons deployable in the aforementioned period of time. It's certainly a flex to state how many installations you have and how many missiles you have, but how many will actually go boom if that button is pressed?

[@michaelhyde9070]

Hay I grew up in the 80s and this was on my door step. I read the book, Domain. I watched wargames and Threads and the day after and when the wind blows, I remember the coup in Russia in 91 and thought there could be a Nuclear war 😮 I could sit down with this lady and talk about it 🎉.

[@stuartsharman3055]

"DOMAIN" was the third book in the late Novelists rats series of novels. Domain is Threads in literary form. Probably the finest, terrifying novel ever written about nuclear war and its aftermath. James Herbert was a bit of an enigma. He wrote possibly the worst, poibtless, badly written novel ever, "Once..." Then wrote the best ever, "Domain." Read it once. Then twice. Then read it a third time. It grips everytime. Truly unforgettable, trUmatic reading experience!😢

[@jaimeroman2406]

What an incredible reality. Amazing the times we live in and the horror of man’s nature. Phenomenal interview. Thank you.

[@blujay9191]

A terrific movie Failsafe. Worth a watch.

[@jeffcharlton9660]

Absolutely. Gut wrenching ending.

[@blujay9191]

While we're at it: she mentions military guys back in the 50s and 60s thinking nuclear was is winnable. George C. Scott's eccentric, brilliant performance in Dr. Strangelove comes to mind. "I'm not saying we wouldn't get our hair mussed but 10 to 20 million dead, depending on the breaks."

[@blujay9191]

@@jeffcharlton9660 .. Some great performances, too. Henry Fonda, Walter Matthau, Dan O'Herlihy, Larry Harman., others.

[@takek9215]

A nuclear test was conducted in a populated city. Not just once, but twice, using different types of nuclear bombs. Astonishingly, such a country still exists today. Due to the influence of education, its citizens believe it was the right choice, but the global perspective differs. If Russia made the 'right' choice in the same way, would it receive the same support?

[@freyathor3267]

I listened to this book in two days in audible. I felt physically sick to my stimach through alot of it. To think how easily and quickly this could happen and end our world..and the government wont warn us or help us during or after. Terrifying

[@joshbell8596]

But they have a plan to collect taxes

[@TheLineCutter]

it's actually the only defense against such devastation. the knowledge from the attacking side that your target will know that you are about to obliterate them within a second that you decide to attack. and that this will mean that you will be obliterated all the same. so now that button means: self-destruction. but it can take one lunatic to press that button. insane.

[@elmerkilred159]

Nuclear autumn is beautiful, tho.

[@misterfister7262]

Nuclear spring is really pretty, too

[@MrGyptron]

Love to watch the leaves change

[@nemeczek67]

@@MrGyptron glow

[@andyhekkandi1785]

Hahaha

[@Theodorus5]

@@nemeczek67 lol

[@linajiao9211]

I just realized that if this happens when my child is at school I won’t even be able to get there in 6 minutes and hug her that one last time

[@User-jr7vf]

Well, the 6 minutes frame is for the President to decide on whether or not to retaliate. For the average person, it is not like the first few nukes will hit your city/town and destroy everything around you immediately. So you might still be able to hug your children, if that helps :)

[@9karot]

Always keep that in mind everytime you hug your kids goodbye because a lot more could happen in 6min or less , don't take any moment for granted

[@purewaterswva.5409]

26 to 32 minutes

[@DogBeast221]

Perhaps therein lies yet another reason to never skip saying, “I love you.”

[@nemo6282]

@@purewaterswva.5409 the average person won't get that sort of warning or ANY

[@MarcoPolo-hq1il]

this vision shakes me to the core...

[@ClashOfGamesV1]

All the millionaires and billionaires are building bunkers for this exact reason

[@stevek8]

Tactical nukes aren't "strategic" nukes so they don't really fall within the confines of the air, land and sea nuclear triad. Although, they can be launched from these platforms, they are more localized battlefield weapons.

[@onlyhereforddebob8978]

“Most people didn’t think about nuclear war on a daily basis” Should I see a doctor?

[@billdailey6315]

He’ll take your guns away.

[@larry7397]

Dr Strangelove is taking appointments. 👍😎🌞

[@onlyhereforddebob8978]

@billdailey6315 I live in Scotland Nate unfortunately I don’t havs any guns to take 🙁

[@hardboiledaleks9012]

Her problem is that you haven't bought her book

[@gimpee8113]

@@hardboiledaleks9012 don hv to buy the book, if it happened it happened. Even we can recite the book, is there any help? Is the last book i will buy.

[@bearsmith3655]

I lived through the Cold War. The threat of nuclear war is much higher now than it ever was in my opinion.

[@RW4X4X3006]

Down at my work, the kids (young employees) were joking about how safe we would all be if there was a nuclear war. I'm a veteran of the Cold War and beyond, in the sand box. I shut them all up with the reality "There's a Boeing plant across the street. Preferably, we'll all be vaporized within minutes." The o'l man spoke - they all went back to work, quietly.

[@easterworshipper5579]

had a similar conversation at work. i remined them there is a huge BAE shipyard a couple kilometers away.

[@RW4X4X3006]

@@easterworshipper5579 Boom! No doubt

[@DogBeast221]

All I get in retort is “OK, Boomer!”

[@DogBeast221]

@@LLUN-i5ucats are known for their skepticism.

[@RW4X4X3006]

@@DogBeast221 Fk 'em

[@Matt-yy8tl]

31:04 Making those treaty-accountable asset reports that eventually channeled up to DTRA and on to Russia used to be part of my job. We always did so accurately.

[@toofyus]

Missiles can absolutely be tracked in intermediate phase. We track every object in orbit now.

[@PearlOfTheQuarter23]

Destruction became inevitable once the weapon was created

[@Macfromwales]

Bingo friend. It's launch on site when they tell us "There's uap doing hypersonic speeds in our atmosphere"

[@michaelboskovich6948]

The elite have DUMBS bases all underground they will survive this - they literally have cities underground 7 - 8 miles deep Deep Underground Military Bases all these people who start the war will be safe and sound 8 miles deep in their Bunkers

[@TBone2000Man]

They should have never created this weapon know countries should have them

[@raymondwalsh7520]

We will destroy ourselves. Its just when.

[@ChatGPT1111]

Exactly. The risk keeps growing and compound time with more players and faster weapons increases both likelihood and consequence. There is a threshold where any alarm can no longer be treated as a potential false alarm.

[@patrickmchenry2217]

I think I learned all I know about nuclear war from watching Spies Like Us.😂

[@rickbrenner3]

Talk about a “Blast From My Past”😊. Good movie:)

[@brianpeterson9290]

Source programmable guidance!!

[@D...Charger]

In the 1980's in the UK ,we had leaflets posted though our door .One of the things it told you to do was brick up your windows!.I've never laid a single brick in my life,and they expect me to brick up all my windows 😮

[@andrewshore2898]

I don’t know why, but I’m 100% certain that I am going nowhere for sometime, and if I am going nowhere, then you’re going nowhere too.

[@adzaladd2387]

You never know what tomorrow brings. Don’t be so naive

[@NikoNoxious]

the only way you'd be so certain is if you were holding yourself to such a notion

[@ginamuscolino9219]

This brought me some peace and for that I thank you

[@VictoriaWonders]

its just depressiojn

[@Buyinscratchcardtilliwinlotery]

With what's going on in Israel with Iran and them drone attack might not be far off

[@PAUL-em4tj]

Fantastic interview. It kept my interest. Not boring. 👍

[@stt5v2002]

It is very unlikely that Russia or anyone else would launch a thousand warheads, forcing a massive counterattack. I don’t know why this is always the scenario that is discussed. This is not the only option. A step wise escalation from a conventional conflict is far more likely. And the triggering event would probably be a conventional military disaster that caused one side to panic. Even then, it wouldn’t likely be a massive, sudden strike. Russia and everyone else knows that that would leave the United States with only one possible response, total commitment to a massive counter attack. What if Russia launched 8 warheads and an EMP strike, and said “don’t respond, just take the damage and we will stop. If you launch anything at us, we will hit you with 1000 more.” It gets complicated fast. In theory, a symmetrical response is correct. If they launch 10, we launch 10. Maybe just 9. But the risk of misunderstanding and error is enormous when everyone is under max pressure and terrified. Would they mistake a 10 warhead counterstrike for a massive one? Ate they sincere and would really respond massively? That is completely irrational. But After all, they were irrational enough to start this thing.

[@mark_2]

The most likely reason would be a mistake or a misunderstanding. That's why you want more than the seconds to react you now got because you insisted that shoving missiles up in the face of your nuclear rival is "non negotiable".

[@FedericoPalma]

No band of apes throwing stones at each others ever took time to agree on a balanced exchange... Anyway, I believe your perception is right... that probably would drag for weeks. Tit for tat. Probably the big guys will accept the "usual expendables" in Eastern Europe to take the damage and all be set.

[@BrandonLeech]

Once they launch they cannot be recalled either. I suppose a B2 bomber could be called off but not anything launch from a sub or silo. As weaponry goes they are very crude and ridiculous in their extremity. The goal is to render them obsolete and totally ineffective from the defensive side. Nobody would even try launching one if they knew it would be immediately swatted out of the air by a space laser or some such. (Then we could just point the space lasers at each other)

[@marcusrichardson3800]

Launch on Warning…… huh? How does the satellite differentiate between satellite launch ( friendly) from another country) or “Space X” launch, or North Korea test launch ( they do quite frequently)? Will the “ real” attack ICBM please identify yourself…. Before you arrive on target”!

[@markgruchy727]

You are absolutely correct. A step by step escalation initiated by a conventional opponent facing defeat is the true danger. I firmly believe it will not be a mass strike... but a ramping up process from tactical to strategic featuring essentially all commentators saying "Don't worry. This will stop soon." until it is over. I think they will say that because we are fixated on the abrupt mass strike scenario.

[@victorbloom8286]

I served in a Pershing 1A Detatchment in Germany from 1980-1982. Alot of Us thought it was Lunacy. But still did our Duty .

[@alanpengo3335]

I grew up in the 70s and 80s it was like this every week. Films, documentaries and plays showing how awful it would be.

[@scetchport]

Preconditioning.

[@Ok-551]

I heard a MIT guy explain how when we stopped testing, the world forgot.

[@jackmeyhoffer5107]

Comforting to know that we have that clear headed thinker, Joe Biden, as commander in chief who can decide to launch the missiles, isn’t it? You can tell from his speeches how “with it” Biden is. LOL!

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

@@scetchport What are you talking about.

[@zacktoby]

Tasmania and New Zealand are looking like a good bet.

[@mariannemilles6199]

I love being 42 degrees south but the outfall likely poison for the planet😮

[@Bahnz1985]

Even assuming a nuclear winter doesn't disrupt agriculture in the Southern Hemisphere, New Zealand and Australia are both totally dependent on international supply chains. You might not see a total collapse of civilization, but within a few years society will almost certainly decline back to pre-industrial levels of sophistication.

[@zacktoby]

@Bahnz1985 NZ has 25 million sheep and 5 million people. The half life of civilised behaviour is three days without food or water. NZ has lots of mutton and fresh water.

[@matiusclicarelli700]

Can't escape nuclear winter friend.

[@zacktoby]

@@matiusclicarelli700 That's where the wool comes in handy - sheep the complete package. Oh yeah and Tasmania has more hydroelectricity than they know what to do with.

[@djart4866]

Everybody thinks they know what the answers are and what is happening but there is only one who truly knows