Jim and Curtis break down the U.S. Intelligence Community’s 2026 Annual Threat Assessment, examining what it reveals about today’s most pressing security challenges. The discussion explores nuclear deterrence, missile proliferation, space‑based threats, and escalating geopolitical risks—from China and Taiwan to Iran, Russia, and the Arctic. The conversation dives into deterrence theory, contrasting punishment versus denial, and assesses how emerging technologies—anti‑satellite weapons, space‑based nuclear risks, and expanding missile arsenals—are reshaping strategic stability. This episode offers a clear-eyed look at how global threats are evolving and what they mean for deterrence strategy in an increasingly contested security environment.

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