How to Stop a Nuclear War
There are roughly twelve thousand five hundred nuclear warheads in the world today, enough to extinguish all life on the planet. All life. The threat of their use has not diminished. The nuclear non-proliferation accord between the United States and Russia is expiring. AI systems are being given decision-making roles for launching commands.
Governments mislead their populations into thinking these weapons protect them. They don't. They won't. The existential threat to human life is real.
Filmmaker Paul Jay is making a documentary updating Daniel Ellsberg's work to the present day. A day in which one miscalculation, sensor error, or data glitch could mean the end. This is not hypothetical. It is not history. It is an ongoing, present-tense crisis about which the truth has long been buried and obscured for the economic benefit of governments and the industries that support them.
In a media landscape saturated with distraction, Jay's work presents stunning new insights and insists that we look at the truth. Consume the truth. Because, as difficult as it may be to swallow, understanding may keep us alive.
Jay believes that when you see the truth, you will feel differently about going about your day-to-day, trusting that everything will be okay and that knowledge will motivate you to act.
The Threat No One Sees
Get Involved in Reducing Nuclear Risks
This project was made possible through the bold, urgent support of the Alfred Kobacker & Elizabeth Trimbach Fund, which committed $1 million to enable Paul Jay to focus on creating this vital work without the distraction of endless fundraising.
As with their backing of visionary individuals tackling existential threats—from Rights of Nature to this documentary on nuclear war—the Fund acts decisively because someone must.
The film is planned for a theatrical premiere in the fall of 2026. Stay tuned for updates.
Trailer: How To Stop A Nuclear
Watch the trailer for How to Stop Nuclear War, the upcoming documentary by filmmaker Paul Jay based on powerful conversations with Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg. Narrated by Emma Thompson, the film exposes the realities of today’s nuclear threats, including the rise of AI-enabled weapons systems, and explores urgent steps to prevent catastrophe.
Exposing the Lies and Secrets of the Nuclear Era
At the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, filmmaker Paul Jay presents the trailer for How to Stop Nuclear War, his documentary rooted in conversations with Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg. The film confronts contemporary nuclear threats, including AI-enabled weapons systems, and highlights practical steps to reduce the risk of nuclear catastrophe. Watch the video to see the trailer and hear Ellsberg’s urgent message.