The episode explores the US nuclear chain of command, examining who has the authority to authorize the use of nuclear weapons and who can prevent their use. President Richard Nixon once claimed that he could kill 60 million people in 20 minutes with a single phone call. This raises the question of whether a military officer receiving such an order could refuse to carry it out. In the 1970s, an Air Force Major asked this question and suffered career consequences as a result. The episode profiles this Major and asks veterans at various levels of the nuclear chain of command about their responses to such an order. Their answers reveal whether there are any legal checks and balances in place to prevent the use of nuclear weapons. The episode is reported by Latiff Nasser and produced by Annie McEwen and Simon Adler. It is part of the Radiolab podcast, which is supported by listeners and foundations such as the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Listeners can sign up for the Radiolab newsletter, become a member of The Lab, and follow the show on social media. The episode credits include a list of individuals who contributed to the episode, including experts and library staff.