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Oct 15, 2017

Tom Nichols is the guest on this week's episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show. He is a professor of national security affairs at the United States Naval War College and also teaches at the Harvard Extension School. He is the author of seven books including "No Use: Nuclear Weapons and U.S. National Security" and “The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why It Matters.”

This is the second time that Dr. Nichols has been a guest on the show.

During this week's episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show, Tom and Chauncey discuss Donald Trump's nuclear saber-rattling, "the madman theory", what would happen if a mentally unhinged president tried to launch America's nuclear weapons, and the likelihood that the United States goes to war with either Iran or North Korea. Dr. Nichols also highlights some frightening moments when the United States and the former Soviet Union almost attacked each other with nuclear weapons during the Cold War. 

Writer and podcaster Alasdair Stuart also sits down at the virtual bar and salon to share his thoughts about Blade Runner 2049. Alasdair and Chauncey critique the film, reflect on the many ways that it can be interpreted, and ponder Blade Runner 2049's likely sequels--and if they are indeed necessary. Alasdair also tries to convince Chauncey to give the horrible Star Trek: Discovery a second chance.

In this week's episode, Chauncey DeVega has the cooties and explores the science which justifies wearing an acifidity bag and also shares some insights about Trump's cult of political personality and how the Great Leader uses empathy to manipulate his sad and dangerous human deplorable foot soldiers. And at the end of this week's podcast, Chauncey shares three positive and uplifting stories about people having good fortune, children finding a forever family, and human heroes who save their animal friends.   


Robb G
six and a half years ago

Good Day Chauncey: I am of the hopes that you read this. If there is anyway possible for you to avail yourself again of Thom Hartmann, and Papintonio, and Chris Hedges if there is any way all of you can get together for a few hours, off the record, on whatever may strike your fancy, I have noticed you all coming to similar conclusions concerning the phenomenon of undying support for Trump,it's effects on the emotional psychology of his Supporters, and the nation at large, as well as the portents for the future on our social fabric, safety and well-being as a democracy. I keep seeing these threads being drawn but never quite connected and I feel as though you are all tugging at the same tangled skein but never quite connecting to each-other, and you are all brilliant in your analysis, but I honestly feel that you might be personally gratified or better served if you compliment eachother's knowledge and insight base to come to a better understanding that you are all talking about the same things from diametrically opposed perspectives. This phenomenon isn't unique to Trump supporters, but it's effects are widely felt, but instead of it being a uniformly uniting force against the better interests of his supporters it affects those who find it abhorrent in a predictably negative PTSD and chronic stress and hyper vigilance fatigue symptomology. I feel like we can't adequately fight this, without fighting it's affect on ourselves, we need to figure out how to rise above the controlled chaos and shock doctrine constant psychological warefare being waged on our minds, bodies and futures. Please try to reach out to them, I've tried, and it's fairly impossible but I know you read your comments, and I feel like it would be a wonderful exercise for you guys, if nothing else something that gives you all a sense of purpose with the individual pieces you all hold to this puzzle.