403. The Unimaginable: Will Nuclear Weapons Be Used Again in Our Lifetime?
From Battleground by Goalhanger
May 26, 2026 · 60 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the current threat of nuclear escalation in the context of the Ukraine conflict, featuring insights from nuclear expert Matt Korda.
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a chilling question has continuously loomed over the international community: how real is the threat of a nuclear escalation? While the nuclear dimension has historically overshadowed the conflict, the rules of engagement and atomic posturing are constantly shifting. In this episode, host Roger Moorhouse sits down with one of the world's leading nuclear experts, Matt Korda, to pull back the curtain on the subtle, dangerous games of atomic signalling being played by both sides. Korda breaks down the stark contrast between Vladimir Putin’s aggressive public rhetoric and NATO’s quieter, tactical show of force—from Cold War-style bomber flights along borders to the rare surfacing of a US ballistic missile submarine off the coast of Norway. Together, they explore: The Art of Moving Goalposts: How NATO successfully calling Putin’s bluffs on supposed "red lines" (like sending tanks and aircraft) has redefined the perceived limits of nuclear deterrence. Russia's Evolving Nuclear Doctrine: An inside look at the text of Moscow's updated criteria for nuclear deployment, including its expansive shift toward countering conventional threats. The…
People in this episode
Host: Roger Moorhouse
Guest: Matt Korda
Topics covered
- nuclear weapons
- international relations
- nuclear deterrence
- Russia
- NATO
- Ukraine conflict
- atomic signalling
Keywords
- nuclear escalation
- Putin
- NATO
- deterrence
- Belarus
- Ukraine
- nuclear doctrine
- atomic signalling
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: NATO
Places: Belarus, Norway
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- 405. Escalation, Ambiguity, and the Ghost of Katyn · May 28, 2026 · 33 min
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