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AirTalk

Politics roundup: Trump’s new trade council and the year-end defense bill that could kickstart a new space and nuclear arms race

By AirTalk Staff
Published Dec 22, 2016
PYEONGTAEK, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 17: Four U.S. F-22 stealth fighters fly over Osan Air Base on February 17, 2016 in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. U.S. military has deployed four F-22 stealth fighter jets to the Korean Peninsula as another response to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. (Photo by Jeon Heon-Kyun-Pool/Getty Images)
U.S. military has deployed four F-22 stealth fighter jets to the Korean Peninsula as another response to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.
(
Pool/Getty Images
)
Listen 17:41
Politics roundup: Trump’s new trade council and the year-end defense bill that could kickstart a new space and nuclear arms race

President-elect Trump tweeted this morning that the US must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability.

That closely followed Russian President Putin's similar comments about his country's nuclear weapons needs. President Obama's also considering a defense bill that would emphasize space-based nuclear defense systems.

Are we on the verge of a new nuclear arms race?

Guests:

David Willman, investigative reporter, Los Angeles Times; Willman wrote: Congress scrapped this one word from the law, shaking up nuclear defense policy and opening the door to a space arms race

Nick Timiraos, national economics correspondent for The Wall Street Journal