Morning Note

Lecturing foreigners about how they can never have a nuclear weapon is one of Washington’s favorite pastimes. Our leaders do not hold themselves to the same standard. 

The United States is producing nuclear weapons at levels not seen since the Cold War, Energy Secretary Chris Wright testified to Congress on Thursday. The ramp-up comes as China reportedly seeks to expand its nuclear arsenal, looking to increase its operational warhead total from its current level of roughly 600. The U.S. has nearly 4,000.

"Deterrence is expensive, but this is a competition we cannot afford to lose," Senator Roger Wicker said in support of Wright’s testimony. As is typical, he did not explain why 4,000 active nuclear warheads are purportedly not enough to keep Americans safe. 

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