Hypersonic Weapons - Gimmick or Game Changer?

Chris is on a big adventure, so Bryan and Melanie are left alone to discuss hypersonic weapons and the challenges and opportunities they present for America's national security. Do they represent a "game-changer" for defense planners, or simply an incremental shift in technology? Will developing hypersonic weapons increase the likelihood of war? While the United States is beginning to invest in the offensive side of these weapons, is it doing enough to defend against a Chinese or Russian threat? Finally, Bryan gives his expert opinion on the series finale of Game of Thrones and Melanie shows some love for a public interest law firm working to help military families.     Links Jyri Raitasalo, "Hypersonic Weapons Are No Game-Changer," National Interest, January 5, 2019 Heather Venable and Clarence Abercrombie, "Muting the Hype Over Hypersonics: The Offense-Defense Balance in Historical Perspective," War on the Rocks, May 28, 2019 John Dolan, Richard Gallagher, and David Mann, "Hypersonic Weapons – A Threat to National Security," Real Clear Defense, April 23, 2019 Mary Kate Aylward, "Hypersonic Weapons: Revolutionary or Just New?" Army, August 15, 2018 Andrew Siddons, "McConnell Introduces Bill Making the legal Smoking Age 21," Roll Call, May 20, 2019 Ed Kilgore, "Military Brass Warn Trump Against Memorial Day Pardons for War Criminals," New York Magazine, May 22, 2019 Palko Karasz, "Iran Slams U.S. After Middle East Troop Buildup Is Announced," New York Time, May 25, 2019 Rónán Duffy, "Theresa May on the Brink As Andrea Leadsom Resigns from Government," The Journal, May 22, 2019 Alexander Smith, "European Parliament Elections: 5 Takeaways from the Results," NBC News, May 27, 2019 Audra D.S. Burch, David Gelles, and Emily S. Rueb, "Morehouse College Graduates' Student Loans to be Paid Off by Billionaire," New York Time, May 19, 2019 Institute for Justice Dan Mihalopoulos, Tweets, May 23, 2019 AP West Region, Tweets, May 27, 2019