In this episode of Battleground, host Saul David is joined by acclaimed historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist James M. Scott to discuss his brilliant new book, Empire of Ashes: Truman, Hirohito, and the Descent into Total War.

Completing his gripping decade-long trilogy on the American aerial bombardment of Japan (following Target Tokyo and Black Snow), James delves into the dramatic final four months of the Second World War in the East. Together, Saul and James explore:

• The Scientific & Political Genesis: The massive secret undertaking of the Manhattan Project, the building of secretive atomic cities, and the heavy burden placed on President Harry Truman as he assumed office.
• Emperor Hirohito’s Delicate Peace Push: How the isolated Japanese leader navigated a military desperate for a catastrophic mainland showdown, ultimately pulling his nation back from total destruction.
• The Debate Over Use: The fierce moral and scientific opposition led by figures like Leo Szilard, the calculation of staggering potential invasion casualties, and whether Japan would have surrendered without the atomic bombs.

In the second half of the conversation, the discussion pivots from 1945 to the modern day, examining the ongoing shadow of nuclear proliferation, the threat posed by reckless actors like Putin's Russia, the future of non-proliferation frameworks following actions regarding Iran, and how the existence of nuclear weapons uniquely reshapes global conflict. Finally, James shares his candid perspective on recent geopolitical developments surrounding Ukraine, shifting US policies, and how upcoming midterm elections could completely alter the political landscape.

Join the Conversation: If you have a question about the war in Ukraine or any of the conflicts we cover, email us at podbattleground@gmail.com

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Producer: James Hodgson

A Goalhanger Podcast

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