In the twenty-first century, humanity will likely burn out in a nuclear holocaust or fade away amid the gradually mounting effects of climate change. That was Noam Chomsky’s prediction during a question-and-answer session in 2009 that still resonates today.

By moving forward with a missile defense policy that upsets the balance of nuclear deterrence with Russia, “we’re consciously increasing the threat of nuclear war,” Chomsky said. As for the effects of climate change, “nobody knows the exact details, but everybody knows that the longer you wait, the worse it’s going to be.”

—Alec Luhn

Noam Chomsky further eviscerates American foreign policy with his piece “Why It’s Legal When the US Does It.”