NucleCast

In this episode of NucleCast, Guest Host, Manolis Priniotakis, sits down with JC Btaiche, CEO and Founder of Fuse, to discuss his path into the fusion industry and how his company is taking a pragmatic approach to advancing fusion technology. Rather than waiting decades for commercial fusion power, Fuse is focused on developing interim capabilities that address urgent national security, space, and defense needs today.
JC explains how Fuse is leveraging public-private partnerships, including its Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Nevada National Security Site, to accelerate innovation and expand radiation effects testing capabilities. The conversation explores the importance of radiation testing for spacecraft and defense systems, the growing role of industry in national security missions, and how a strong ecosystem of government, academic, and private-sector partners is helping drive the next era of nuclear innovation.
They also discuss the broader nuclear renaissance underway in the United States, the challenges of building talent and supply chains, and Fuse's vision of making "fusion as a service" a reality for government and industry customers.
Fuse is a U.S.-based company accelerating the world’s transition to fusion energy while safeguarding humankind. On the pathway to fusion, JC and the Fuse team are ensuring U.S. and Allied competitiveness through nuclear and radiation effects testing with their pulsed power machines in operation today.
Originally from Lebanon, JC began research while in high school at one of the most prominent plasma physics and fluid dynamics labs in the Middle East based on his interest in space and energy. In lieu of going to university, JC built Fuse, bringing together top leaders in fusion and pulsed power from the U.S. Department of Energy, Defense, the National Labs, and the Intelligence Community.
Fuse built the world’s first, most efficient, and highest power (1 TW) fusion driver of its kind — TITAN — and the most efficient pulsed neutron source — FAETON. The experimental results and Fuse’s machines have been peer reviewed and published by Nature Scientific Reports. The company has secured ongoing contracts and agreements with the U.S. Government and commercial entities for nuclear & radiation effects testing. Fuse has official partnerships with Los Alamos, Sandia National Labs and NNSS.
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As the global security environment grows more complex, how can the United States maintain a safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrent without returning to nuclear testing? In this episode of NucleCast, Manolis sits down with Don Cook, former Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), to discuss the evolving challenges facing the U.S. nuclear weapons enterprise.
Drawing on decades of experience, Cook examines how the strategic assumptions that shaped nuclear policy in the early 2010s have been upended by renewed great power competition, Russia's aggression, and China's military modernization. He explains the critical role of the Stockpile Stewardship Program, the remarkable advances in simulation and modeling technologies, and how scientists continue to certify the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile without explosive testing.
The conversation also explores the importance of legacy underground test data, the challenges of pit production, aging infrastructure, workforce development, and the investments needed to modernize the nation's nuclear enterprise for the decades ahead. Cook offers a candid assessment of where the U.S. stands today and what priorities should guide future leaders responsible for sustaining the deterrent.
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As competition in space intensifies, how can the United States deter aggression and defend its vital space assets? In this episode of NucleCast, Chris Stone explores the evolving role of deception in space warfare and its potential to transform space deterrence strategies.
Drawing on lessons from military history and current geopolitical realities, Stone examines why understanding an adversary's strategic culture and worldview is essential for effective deterrence. He discusses the growing challenges of protecting satellites, the vulnerabilities of space systems, and how innovative approaches such as decoys, fake satellites, and maneuver warfare could complicate enemy targeting and strengthen U.S. space security.
The conversation also dives into Chinese and Russian approaches to space conflict, the future of space defense operations, and why active defense and deception may become indispensable tools for maintaining strategic advantage in an increasingly contested domain.
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In this episode, Lindell Lucy shares his recent experiences traveling across Ukraine, insights on life during wartime, and explores the complex topic of nuclear deterrence and Ukraine's potential nuclear future.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Background
01:00 Lindell Lucy's Trip Across Ukraine
02:53 Lessons Learned from Ukraine Trip
04:02 Life in Ukraine During War
06:54 Ukrainian Perspectives on NATO and Support
09:01 Nuclear Deterrence Ideas and Strategies
14:51 Front Lines and Battlefield Conditions
20:07 Personal Encounters and Human Stories
24:58 Three Wishes for Ukraine's Future

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In this episode of NucleCast, host Manolis sits down with Tyler Hacker and Luke Widenhouse of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) to examine why advanced energetics remain one of the most underappreciated elements of U.S. military modernization. Drawing on historical lessons from World War II and their recent research, the discussion explores how improvements in energetic materials can dramatically enhance the performance, range, lethality, and effectiveness of modern weapon systems.
The conversation dives into the barriers that have slowed the development and fielding of next-generation energetics, the strategic consequences of continued neglect, and why even modest technological advances can deliver outsized operational impacts across multiple theaters. Tyler and Luke also discuss the growing importance of energetics for hypersonic weapons, unmanned systems, and the future of strategic deterrence.
Topics Covered:
Historical lessons from WWII and the adoption of advanced energetics
Why small improvements can produce large strategic effects
Barriers to developing and fielding new energetic materials
The role of energetics in hypersonic weapons and unmanned systems
Policy recommendations to accelerate innovation and investment
Link to report: https://csbaonline.org/resource/choosing-less-bang-for-buck-the-underutilization-of-advanced-energetics/

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