A nuclear weapon explodes in a major American city and no one can prove who is responsible. The devastation is horrifying, but even more alarming is the limited options available for the United States government to respond. Hypothesising an explosion in downtown Washington, D.C., Schwartz explores the likely outcomes while going deep into history to explore the range of options available to a Commander in Chief. Drawing from his experience as an analyst at the US Departments of Defense, State and Energy, Schwartz offers a fully panoramic view of a terrifying reality.