Up Next
Back to Show
PBS News Hour
Should U.S. president be authorized to launch nuclear bomb?
On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the first atomic weapon on Hiroshima, Japan. Seventy-five years later, the NewsHour revisits how the president became the sole authority on when nuclear weapons are used. Nick Schifrin reports and talks to former Secretary of Defense William Perry, co-author of "The Button: The New Nuclear Arms Race and Presidential Power from Truman to Trump."
Support Provided By
57:46
January 1, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
December 31, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
December 30, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
December 29, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
26:45
December 28, 2025 - PBS News Weekend full episode
26:45
December 27, 2025 - PBS News Weekend full episode
57:46
December 26, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
December 25, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
December 24, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
December 23, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
December 22, 2025 - PBS News Hour full episode
26:45
December 21, 2025 - PBS News Weekend full episode