The NIDS View

193 - Nuclear Deterrence Isn't Broken - It's Misunderstood and Misapplied

Nuclear deterrence is not failing in Ukraine and Iran - it is being misread. Retired Colonel Kirk Fansher breaks down why some of the loudest anti-nuclear arguments confu

192 - News in Review August 2026: Missiles, Manning, Megawatts, and the Middle East

In this News in Review episode for July, Curtis and Jim examine a series of significant developments shaping the global security environment, from Russia's latest ICBM te

191 - The Summer of Symposiums: Deterrence Thinkers Unite

In this episode of The NIDS View, Curtis and special guest Col (Ret) Kirk Fansher discuss key insights from summer's two biggest deterrence symposiums and explore the cha

190 - Cold War Attitudes Mimic Modern NATO Perspective

What can today's NATO leaders learn from the Cold War? In this episode of The NIDS View, Curtis and Jim compare the enduring issues of deterrence, alliance cohesion, and

189 - China's Newest Warships: Capability or Coercion?

In this episode of The NIDS View, Curtis and Jim examine two of China's newest naval warships and what these developments reveal about Beijing's evolving military strateg

188 - Is America's Nuclear Umbrella Leaking?

Curtis and Jim examine the evolving landscape of allied extended deterrence, credibility, and the U.S. nuclear umbrella. As geopolitical competition intensifies and allie

186 - Europe’s Missile Renaissance and the Future of NATO Deterrence

In this episode of The NIDS View, Curtis and Jim examine Europe's growing drive to strengthen its own deterrent capabilities amid Russia's war in Ukraine and a future NAT

185 - Understanding America’s Nuclear Arsenal: The Story Behind "Learning to Love the Bomb"

In this episode of The NIDS View, NIDS welcomes Curtis McGiffin and Dr. Adam Lowther, co-authors of Learning to Love the Bomb: Understanding the American Nuclear Arsenal,

184 - The Evolution of the B-1 Bomber: A Strategic Perspective with Ken Katz

Jim and Curtis sit down with aerospace engineer Ken Katz to explore the remarkable evolution of the B-1 bomber and what it teaches us about deterrence, innovation, and ad

183 - Resolve, NATO, and Emerging Technology: News in Review – June 2026

In this episode of The NIDS View, Jim and Curtis analyze the June 2026 deterrence and security developments, including Sen. Deb Fischer's call for greater nuclear investm

182 - Dark Eagle and the Future of Hypersonic Deterrence

In this episode of The NIDS View, we examine the strategic implications of emerging hypersonic weapons, focusing on the U.S. Army’s Dark Eagle missile. Joined by missile

181 - The Future of U.S. Bombers: B‑21 Raider and Strategic Deterrence

In this episode, Jim and Curtis examine the strategic role of the U.S. bomber fleet, focusing on the B‑21 Raider and other ongoing bomber modernization. They discuss how

180 - Can Europe Go Nuclear? Five Strategic Paths Forward

In this episode of The NIDS View, Jim sits down with Bill Murphy, Senior Fellow and Cofounder at NIDS, to examine Europe’s evolving approach to nuclear deterrence in an i

179 - Decoding China’s Octagonal Missile Bases: Strategy, Signaling, and Scale

In this episode of The NIDS View, Jim returns to join Curtis as they explore China’s ongoing nuclear buildup, including newly identified octagonal facilities and 80 launc

178 - May 2026 Deterrence News in Review: Strategic Signals and Nuclear Realities

Curtis and Kirk Fansher provide a May 2026 deterrence news roundup on developments shaping strategic stability. They discuss Russia's nuclear exercises in Belarus, its su

177 - The Future of NATO: Stay CALM or Carry On?

What does the future of NATO look like in an era of evolving threats and shifting alliances? In this episode, NIDS Senior Fellow, Kirk Fansher joins Curtis to review and

176 - Turkey’s ICBM Ambitions: A New Strategic Reality?

In this episode of The NIDS View, guest host Kirk Fansher joins Curtis for a timely discussion on Turkey’s emerging intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capability a

175 - Deterrence in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

In this episode of The NIDS View, Jim and Curtis celebrate May 4th and Star Wars Day by exploring the strategic parallels between Star Wars and real‑world debates over de

174 - “Hope Is Not a Strategy”: Facing the Reality of the Iran Conflict

In this episode of The NIDS View, Curtis welcomes Jim Klingmeyer, a former Air Force intelligence officer with extensive Middle East experience, to share his assessment o

173 - April 2026 News in Review: Golden Dome, Missing Scientists, and the Risks Ahead

In this episode of The NIDS View, Jim and Curtis break down their favorite news articles shaping deterrence, national security, and defense innovation. From the troubling