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A House of Dynamite’ Puts Missile Defense and Nuclear Policy Under the Microscope

The film’s success has turned a technical dispute over interceptor reliability into a broader policy fight.

Overview

  • Kathryn Bigelow’s real-time thriller surged to the top of Netflix, elevating a national conversation about nuclear risk and presidential decision-making.
  • An internal Missile Defense Agency memo reported by Bloomberg challenged the movie’s depiction of failed intercepts, citing a stronger test record.
  • The Washington Examiner notes missile defense experts pointing to four successful GBI tests since 2017, while outside analysts question real-world effectiveness.
  • President Donald Trump told CBS’s 60 Minutes the U.S. should resume nuclear testing, arguing tests are needed to ensure weapons work.
  • In an op-ed, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists leaders Jerry Brown and Alexandra Bell call for renewed diplomacy and public engagement and caution against overreliance on proposed ‘Golden Dome’ defenses.