Skip to main content
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
Season
July 1, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
July 1, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
June 30, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
June 30, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
June 29, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
June 29, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
June 26, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
56:46
June 26, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
June 25, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
June 25, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
June 24, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
June 24, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
June 23, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
June 23, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
June 22, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
June 22, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
June 19, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
June 19, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
June 18, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
56:46
June 18, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
June 17, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
June 17, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
June 16, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
June 16, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
Active loading indicator