We are walking a fraying nuclear tightrope. Russia, China, and the U.S. are expanding their nuclear capabilities; extended deterrence is strained to the breaking point; and proliferation among middle and smaller powers appears inevitable.

But as history has clearly shown, the catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons are anything but hypothetical. The recently released PBS documentary "Bombshell" captures the human, political, and ethical toll of the bomb—both for its Japanese victims and for the United States, the democracy that chose to wield such destructive power—and the narratives constructed by America's leaders and media to justify its use.

This expert panel and Q&A, held in partnership with PBS, was moderated by acclaimed journalist Ann Curry as part of Carnegie Council's keynote public affairs series, "Values & Interests."

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Access all "Values & Interests" episodes: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-podcast

Watch "Bombshell" here: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/bombshell/