Yes, Prime Minister - Nuclear deterrent
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN commenters cite it as a funny but precise take on deterrence strategy and politics.
What it is
A sketch from the British sitcom Yes, Prime Minister in which Jim Hacker and the chief scientific advisor discuss the logic of the nuclear deterrent.
Recommended by 0 HN commenters across 0 different months, 2013 to 2026.
What Hacker News said
Cites rollo · 2014-07 · on “Germany turns up pressure in suspected US spy case”
It's precisely the other way arround. This sketch is a humorous but precise assessment of this strategic issue: [this video] Relying on nuclear deterrent against modern hybrid warfare means you will lose.
Cites RegW · 2014-11 · on “SpaceX Will Announce Micro-Satellites for Low Cost Internet Within Three Months”
A better explanation in "Yes, Prime Minister": [this video] ... and perhaps relevant to the discussions of states tampering with other people's satellites.
Cites upboundspiral · 2026-05 · on “Iran mulls taking control of all 7 cables passing through Strait of Hormuz”
Your solution (of tackling unemployment by tacking it onto national defense), is eerily close to what they discussed in an episode of Yes Prime Minister in the 80s. [this video] [LINK]
Cites einpoklum · 2026-08 · on “Anthropic's 'Watermark' Text Adulteration in Claude Is a Perversion of Writing”
It's very weird looking in from the outside. I mean, sure, the US is the dominant power and everything, so things like Iraq and Iran could be construed as just collateral damage from their imperial maneuvers. But it has just piled on, more and more, and even when they are hit right in the face with the massive bombing of NordStream, still practically nobody tries to draw any sort of line. Reminds me a bit of that 'Yes Prime Minister' sketch about nuclear deterrant, when the skeptical conversant asks the PM: "So what is the last resort, Picadilli?" [this video]