Mimi Hall
Vice President, Communications
The Critical Mass Project
Building a critical mass of public support to eliminate nuclear weapons risks
Challenge
The public is largely disengaged on nuclear security and efforts to reduce nuclear risks lack political support in the United States.
Action
Research public attitudes, give advocates and storytellers tools to reframe the nuclear debate in news and popular culture, and demonstrate change is possible through timely public engagement campaigns.
Results
Increased public awareness and engagement shifts U.S. political incentives away from support for a new nuclear arms race and towards support for arms control and the elimination of nuclear weapons.
Details
Project Staff
Carmen E. MacDougall
Chief Operating Officer
Ravi Garla
Advocacy and Narrative Consultant
Elise Rowan
Deputy Vice President, Communications
Elizabeth Smith
Communications Officer
Ellen Leonard
Strategic Communications Consultant
Scott Nolan Smith
Senior Director, Communications
Grace Wankelman
Social Media Officer
The Critical Mass project harnesses the power of storytelling and campaigns to galvanize public support for policies that reject the dangerous idea that threatening annihilation somehow makes the world safer.
Public opinion research commissioned by Critical Mass shows most people would prefer a world without nuclear weapons, but they are split on whether they believe that future is possible. An even smaller slice believes they have a role to play in creating it.
At the same time, nuclear risks are on the rise. Nuclear-armed states are investing in more weapons and new capabilities. Conflicts and nuclear threats have increased in regions with nuclear weapons. Technology is adding complexities to an already-fragile system. The world is only one mistake, miscalculation, or blunder away from a disaster that could change everything.
At another risky moment in history—the Cold War—public demand, fueled partly by popular culture, helped reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the world from 70,000 in the 1980s to 12,000 today. Now, for the first time in decades, the number of nuclear weapons in the world is projected to go up.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
Meaningful progress to reduce the nuclear threat is only possible with an engaged and informed public pushing decision makers to reduce nuclear risks and support steps toward a world without nuclear weapons.
Creative Campaigning
Critical Mass leverages cultural moments to remind people that we can make nukes history and creates cultural moments by organizing digital demonstrations of support for a world without nuclear weapons. The Project reaches the persuadable public where they get their news online and identifies ways that leaders in civil society can take action to reduce nuclear risks or protect existing policies such as the long-held U.S. moratorium on nuclear weapons testing.
Cultural Organizing
Critical Mass engages cultural leaders to make nuclear weapons an ascendant issue. We know policy change is downstream from culture, and the stories we tell help build a critical mass of public demand to turn the tide.
The Critical Mass Pledge is a commitment from cultural leaders, including actors, directors, producers, writers, and creators, to use their craft and platforms to call attention to the dangers posed by nuclear weapons and imagine a safer future without them.
Critical Mass Advisory Council
2026
Nukes on Screen: The Entertainment Industry’s Go-To Resource on Nuclear Weapons
NTI's Critical Mass Project supports the creative community to tell stories about nuclear risks in film and television.
Get to Know NTI: Elise Rowan
Elise Rowan serves as the deputy vice president of NTI’s Communications team. She co-leads the organization’s Critical Mass project, which harnesses the power of culture and campaigns to change the narrative on nuclear weapons and shift political incentives toward policies that reduce nuclear risks.
What Do Americans Love More than Apple Pie? Arms Control.
In a political climate that feels more divided than ever, it seems nearly impossible to agree on anything—except, as it turns out, arms control. A YouGov poll commissioned by NTI and ReThink Media found that 91 percent of Americans support capping U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals, including 89 percent of Trump voters.
Americans Across Party Lines Want the U.S. to Keep Nuclear Limits with Russia, New Poll Finds
As the last remaining U.S.-Russia nuclear limitations treaty expires on Feb. 5, an overwhelming majority of Americans (91 percent) say the United States should negotiate a new agreement with Russia to either maintain current limits on nuclear weapons or further reduce both countries’ arsenals.
2025
Why A House of Dynamite is a Wake-Up Call for Gen Z
To younger generations, nuclear threats often feel like a thing of the past. Engaging Gen Z requires new tools, like art and film, to connect with people in ways they understand and humanize the issues.
Cultural Leaders for a Future Without Nuclear Weapons
"Together, we can build a critical mass to demand our leaders move us closer to—and eventually reach—a world without nuclear weapons."
Breaking Down A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE
NTI breaks down the nuclear themes in "A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE," a new film from Academy Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow, opening in theaters October 10, 2025 and available on Netflix on October 24.
Leave Nuclear Testing in the Past
August 29 is the International Day Against Nuclear Tests—a time to recognize the devastating toll of nuclear weapons tests and to recommit to a future without them.
Statement by Cultural Leaders on 80th Commemoration of Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Cultural Leaders for a future without nuclear weapons
NTI Awards Inaugural Development Grant to Alyssa Clark for “October Last,” a New Show Exposing the Effects Nuclear War
NTI announces Hollywood producer and writer Alyssa Clark as the recipient of a $10,000 grant to develop the pilot episode and treatment for a new show called "October Last" to spotlight the effects of nuclear war.
Oscar-Winning Filmmaker James Cameron Joins NTI Event to Discuss 80 Years Since the Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Legendary filmmaker James Cameron joined NTI CEO Ernie Moniz for an hour-long conversation moderated by Christiane Amanpour to mark 80 years since the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.
Nevada Legislature Passes Unanimous Resolution Supporting the U.S. Moratorium on Nuclear Weapons Testing
Resuming nuclear testing would risk the health and safety of Nevadans, U.S. national security, and global stability.
Past Event
Rewriting the Narrative on Nuclear Weapons
Virtual Webinar
|
12:30 - 2:00 PM ET
2024
NTI’s award-winning campaign reminded people that “Oppenheimer” was history, but nuclear weapons are not.
Elise Rowan peeks under the hood of NTI's award-winning "Make Nukes History" campaign.
NTI Organizes “Nevadans Against Nuclear Testing” Coalition
Nevada business leaders, environmental and community groups, and elected officials are joining forces to voice their strong opposition to growing calls to resume explosive nuclear testing in Nevada.
#CranesForOurFuture Takes Flight August 6-9
This August 6–9 join us for the fourth annual #CranesForOurFuture campaign, the world’s largest and most visible demonstration of support for a world without nuclear weapons.
Hollywood Voices Sound Alarm on Nuclear Threat as Oppenheimer Sweeps the Academy Awards
NTI's #MakeNukesHistory campaign breaks through Oscars coverage to remind people that while Oppenheimer is history, nuclear weapons are not.
An Open Letter from Hollywood on Oppenheimer and Nuclear Weapons
Cultural Leaders for a future without nuclear weapons
NTI Launches “Make Nukes History” Campaign to Spotlight Nuclear Weapon Risks Ahead of Academy Awards
While Oppenheimer is history, nuclear weapons are not, say advocates and Hollywood leaders.
2023
Nuclear Weapons and New Mexico’s Downwinders: Tina Cordova on “the legacy for us that no one ever talks about.”
NTI’s Mary Fulham and Rachel Staley Grant interviewed Tina Cordova about her advocacy work—including recent breakthroughs in Congress—and her take on the recent attention that Oppenheimer has brought to the history of nuclear weapons in New Mexico.
“At the Brink” Podcast Launches Second Season with Fallout from Oppenheimer’s Trinity Test
With Oppenheimer breaking box-office records, the first episode of the second season of the powerful At the Brink podcast is now out, featuring an exploration of the impact of the first test of the atomic bomb developed by J. Robert Oppenheimer.
Oppenheimer and Advocacy: You’ve Seen the Film, Now What?
Considering the current nuclear landscape, the power of Christopher Nolan’s film and the moral and ethical questions raised by J. Robert Oppenheimer’s work, movie viewers may be motivated to act to advocate for a world without nuclear weapons. But how?
#CranesForOurFuture Takes Flight August 4-9
NTI announces its third annual campaign to mark the anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and create a shared moment where people come together to show their support for a world without nuclear weapons.
The NTI Essentials: 10 things you should read (or watch) on reducing nuclear risks
If you want to learn more about Oppenheimer’s bomb and what we must do to protect the world today and for future generations, NTI’s online library is the perfect place to go.
Joan Rohlfing and James McKeon in USA Today: “Our nuclear weapons are much more powerful than Oppenheimer’s atomic bomb.”
Today, we have the capability to monitor and control nuclear weapons technologies that didn’t yet exist in Oppenheimer’s time.
“Oppenheimer” and Nuclear Risks Today
Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer is the most high-profile film about nuclear weapons ever made.
NTI Experts Available to Discuss Oppenheimer Film & Today’s Nuclear Threats
NTI experts are available to put the film in the context of today's nuclear risks.
Past Event
Reshaping Nuclear Narratives Online: Pope GIFs, TikTok stickers, and anime memes
4:00 PM ET
2022
#CranesForOurFuture Delivers Message of Hope for a World Without Nuclear Weapons
Thousands of people around the world, from celebrities and artists to citizens and global security leaders, joined the second annual #CranesForOurFuture campaign from Aug. 5-9 to share a message of hope about a future without nuclear weapons.
Past Event
Rewriting the Nuclear Story: U.S. Cultural Audit Research Findings
2:30PM EDT
2021
Past Event
Nuclear Narrative Research Briefing: Persuasive Stories, Persuadable Audiences
Virtual
|
4:00PM EDT